Building permits, zoning and septic rules in New Richmond, Wisconsin

At a glance

Building permit

Required for new one- and two-family homes; city review and payment precede construction¹

Zoning

City zoning; uses and development standards depend on the district⁵⁶

Septic permits

St. Croix County sanitary program; sanitary approval before the local building permit³⁴

Permit fees

Calculated during new-home review; payment required before issuance⁷

Home inspections

Construction-stage inspections and successful final inspection for a certificate of occupancy⁸⁹

RV and tiny-home living

We could not confirm city occupancy permissions; ask city Building/Zoning about the proposed use²⁶

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in New Richmond, WI?

New Richmond requires a building permit for new one- and two-family residential construction inside city limits.¹ Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code applies to these new homes, and New Richmond has delegated local enforcement authority.¹⁰ Submit the application and plans, wait for approval, and pay the calculated charges before starting construction.¹ New Richmond calculates building permit and special fee charges during review, so ask the city for the project-specific total rather than budgeting from a flat permit price.⁷

Who issues building permits in New Richmond, and how do you reach them?

New Richmond’s Building Inspection Department issues city building permits, performs required inspections and oversees zoning compliance.² Call the Building/Zoning coordinator at 715-243-0413 for the city counter, or use the new-home application route described in the city’s construction guide.²¹¹ The city accepts a new-home application packet or an online application through its website.¹¹ City building permit applications are processed in the order received, and the department does not guarantee a turnaround time during high demand.² Call ahead before meeting an inspector in person.²

Does New Richmond have zoning, and what about lot size and setbacks?

New Richmond administers its own zoning inside city limits; the Community Development Department enforces the ordinance.⁵⁶ The city ordinance regulates allowed uses and development standards by zoning district, and the city’s official zoning map identifies the property’s district.⁶ Ask Community Development to identify the applicable lot-area, setback, coverage and height standards for your proposed site before choosing a house plan.⁶ We could not confirm city-specific numeric standards for those dimensions or minimum dwelling size; request the standards for the parcel’s district from the city zoning office.⁶

How do septic permits work inside New Richmond?

Private septic systems inside New Richmond go through St. Croix County’s sanitary program.³ New private onsite wastewater treatment systems need a State Sanitary Permit, while repair, reconnection, rejuvenation and non-plumbing sanitation need a County Sanitary Permit.⁴ For a private-system project, obtain the sanitary permit before the city building permit; only a licensed plumber may submit the sanitary permit application.⁴¹² Private systems must be serviced or inspected at least every 3 years unless the management plan specifies otherwise.¹³ Existing sanitary records can be looked up through the county’s Ascent Permit Management system.¹²

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in New Richmond?

We could not confirm New Richmond’s permissions for living in an RV, camping temporarily on private land, or occupying a tiny home; ask city Community Development about the exact proposed use and zoning district.⁶ New Richmond’s zoning regulates uses by district, so ask about occupancy as well as where a structure may be placed.⁶ A new dwelling also raises building-code and inspection questions for the city Building Inspection Department.¹⁰² The city’s new-home process requires a successful final inspection before a certificate of occupancy is issued.⁹

Building a home in New Richmond: what are the steps?

Start by identifying the parcel’s city zoning district and asking Community Development about the proposed residential use and development standards.⁶ For a private septic project, have a licensed plumber submit the sanitary application before seeking the city building permit.¹² Submit the completed new-home application with building plans; online applicants upload a PDF of the plans.¹¹ Wait for city approval and pay the calculated charges before construction begins.¹ Schedule the required construction inspections, including water/sewer laterals, footings, foundation, rough-ins and insulation.⁸ Finish with a successful final inspection for the certificate of occupancy.⁹

What stays with St. Croix County, and what should New Richmond buyers check?

St. Croix County’s sanitary program remains the contact for private sewage systems inside New Richmond; city building approval does not replace sanitary approval.³⁴ New Richmond enforces its own zoning rather than the county’s general zoning for unincorporated land; consult the St. Croix County guide when comparing land outside city limits.¹⁴ We could not confirm whether New Richmond requires public water or sewer connection when available, or the city’s private-well and floodplain approval rules; ask city Community Development to resolve those parcel-specific questions before committing to a utility plan.⁶

Watch-outs

• New Richmond’s new-home building permit does not authorize occupancy by itself: a successful final inspection precedes the certificate of occupancy.⁹
• We could not confirm New Richmond-specific owner-builder procedures; ask the city Building Inspection Department which applications and trade credentials your project needs.²
• Confirm the expiration date printed on your New Richmond building permit with the city before scheduling a long construction project.²

Sources

1. Construction Guide: One & Two Family New Home Building Permit Process (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
2. New Richmond Building Inspection Department (newrichmondwi.gov)
3. Sanitary Program (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
4. Sanitary Program (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
5. City of New Richmond Municipal Code (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
6. New Richmond Community Development Department (newrichmondwi.gov)
7. Construction Guide: One & Two Family New Home Building Permit Process (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
8. Construction Guide: One & Two Family New Home Building Permit Process (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
9. Construction Guide: One & Two Family New Home Building Permit Process (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
10. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
11. New Richmond Building & Zoning Office — New Home Guide (cms8.revize.com)
12. St. Croix County Community Development Department (sccwi.gov)
13. Sanitary Program (New Richmond), quoted and re-checked
14. Land Use and Zoning, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.