Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Richmond, Wisconsin

Town of Richmond’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New buildings, additions (including decks), structural alterations, HVAC/electrical/plumbing work and moves inside Richmond town.

  • Permit must be obtained from the building inspector before work begins (sec. 15-1-2(a)).
  • Permit required for new buildings; for additions that increase physical dimensions including decks; for alterations to structure or heating, electrical or plumbing; for electrical wiring for new construction; for HVAC and plumbing for new construction; and for handicapped ramp construction.
  • Exempt: in-kind replacement of major HVAC equipment; window replacement, re-roofing (up to two layers without structural calculations), finishing of interior surfaces, cabinetry, minor repairs as determined by the building inspector; agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts (zoning setbacks still apply; electrical service permit still required); interior or exterior improvements that do not affect structure.
  • Non-residential buildings over 120 square feet require town permits (agricultural structures exempted).
  • Residential buildings: no building permit issued until a sanitary permit is issued (see septic_permit claim).
  • If a required permit is not obtained before construction, fees are doubled (sec. 15-1-15(b)).

  non-residential building size requiring town permit: > 120 sq ft (agricultural structures exempted)

  “No building of any kind shall be moved within or into the Town of Richmond and no new building or structure, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be erected, or ground broken for the same, or enlarged, altered, moved, demolished, razed or used within the Town, except as herein provided, until a permit therefor shall first have been obtained by the owner, or his/her authorized agent, from the Building Inspector or his/her designee.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction, alterations, moves and demolitions of buildings and structures inside Richmond town (building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC).

  • Adopted under sec. 101.65, Wis. stats. (state uniform dwelling code authority).
  • Applies to all dwellings, commercial buildings/structures, swimming pools, residential garages and residential accessory buildings.
  • Not included: children's play structures and agricultural buildings (zoning setbacks still apply to agricultural buildings and an electrical permit is required if electrical service is installed).
  • Building code repeals conflicting prior ordinances.

  “Title 15, Chapter 1 of the Town of Richmond Code of Ordinances regarding Building, Electrical, Plumbing and Heating and Ventilation Codes adopted to read as follows; any conflicting prior ordinances are repealed:”

• InspectionsRequired

  UDC construction inspections for buildings inside Richmond town.

  • The inspection list in sec. 15-1-2(j) is requested 48 business hours in advance by the applicant/contractor or property owner. The list continues beyond the footing/foundation item; the remaining items were not fully read.
  • Inspections are performed by the town's UDC building inspector.

  inspection request lead time: >= 48 business hours

  “The following UDC inspections shall be requested forty-eight (48) hours (business work days) in advance by the applicant/contractor or property owner as applicable:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Parking or use of recreational vehicles on private land outside a mobile home park inside Richmond town.

  • Recreational vehicles are treated as temporary structures under sec. 15-1-14.
  • Wheels may not be removed except for repairs and the RV may not be fixed to the ground in a way that prevents ready removal.
  • RVs may not be permanently attached to a private sewage system.
  • RVs must be state-licensed annually for road travel.
  • No permanent-type construction may be added or attached to an RV.

  “The wheels or any similar transporting devices of any recreational vehicle shall not be removed except for repairs, nor shall any such recreational vehicle be otherwise fixed to the ground in any manner that would prevent ready removal.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Residential buildings inside Richmond town.

  • A sanitary permit must be issued for the property before a building permit is issued for a residential building.
  • Issuing body for the sanitary permit not confirmed on an official page (see septic_authority).
  • Applies alongside the electrical hookup receipt requirement in the same section.

  “No building permit shall be issued for the construction of any residential building until a sanitary permit has been issued to service the property for which the permit is required and a receipt for payment of electrical hookup is presented to the Building Inspector.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings (building on a parcel where 50% or a significant portion of personal income derives from farming) inside Richmond town.

  • Agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts are exempt from building permit requirements.
  • Applicable zoning setback requirements must still be met and an electrical service permit is still required.
  • This is a building-permit exemption only; it is not a general farm exemption from zoning or other rules.

  “Agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts (however, applicable zoning setback requirements shall be complied with), except an electrical service permit is required.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creation of new lots (land division) inside Richmond town.

  • No building permit is issued until the subdivision and required improvements are accepted by the town board, unless the town board has authorized the use of a private road.
  • A parcel not on an existing town road or town-approved private road must show a recorded ingress/egress easement to the town.
  • Fee schedule: minor subdivision (4 lots or less) $500 through final CSM; major subdivision (5 lots or more) $500 through preliminary plat plus $500 for final plat; attorney and engineer fees billed separately.
  • The town Subdivision Ordinance (2025-01, Ordinance to Regulate Land Division) appears on the ordinances page but was not opened; lot dimensions and design standards not confirmed.

  minor subdivision threshold: <= 4 lots

  “No building permits shall be issued until the subdivision and required improvements are accepted by the Town Board, unless the Town Board has authorized the use of a private road.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways (residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, temporary, field) that access town roads inside Richmond town.

  • A town driveway permit is required for driveways accessing town roads.
  • Driveways accessing county, state or federal highways need approval from that road authority and are exempt from the town driveway permit.
  • Specific standards apply to the segment within the town road right-of-way.
  • Ordinance 2021-02 contents read: permit requirements (sec. 6), application (sec. 7), design standards (sec. 9), rural address sign and mailbox placement (sec. 14-15). Only the jurisdiction and county-highway exemption were read in full.

  “All new driveways proposed to be installed or modification of any existing driveway shall require a permit and inspection by the Town Board’s representative designated by the Town Board.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town fees for new homes and land division in Richmond town.

  • The fee schedule lists the building permit fee as 'see All Croix Inspections'; the amount was not stated on the page read.
  • Fees for building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits are set under sec. 1-3-1 (per building code sec. 15-1-15(a)).
  • Double fees apply if a required permit is obtained after construction starts (sec. 15-1-15(b)).
  • Schedule adopted September 11, 2025; burning permit no charge but dispatch call required.

  impact fee per new home: 3000 USD · road damage deposit: 1500 USD (refunded after construction if no damage) · minor subdivision fee (4 lots or less): 500 USD (attorney and engineer fees billed separately) · major subdivision fee (5 lots or more): 500 USD (plus additional $500 for final plat; attorney and engineer fees billed separately)

  “town of richmond fee schedule adopted september 11, 2025 license type amount building permit see all croix inspections”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for construction inside Richmond town.

  • Application is made to the building inspector or designee; permit must be obtained before work starts.
  • Inspections requested 48 business hours in advance.
  • Sanitary permit and electrical hookup receipt required before residential permit issues.
  • The 2025 fee schedule names All Croix Inspections for building permits; its role relative to the town's building inspector was not confirmed.
  • No application form or step-by-step process page was opened.

  “Application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the Town, its Building Inspector or designee”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Richmond or St. Croix County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-occupant building of own home inside Richmond town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new homes inside Richmond town.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and list for land inside Richmond town (St. Croix County zoning).
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwelling minimum floor area for land inside Richmond town (St. Croix County zoning applies).
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district inside Richmond town (St. Croix County zoning applies).

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.