Bolthole Index

St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Roberts, Wisconsin

New homes in the Village of Roberts, Wisconsin need a building permit under the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code; start with the village-listed Building Inspector.12 Roberts sets its own zoning, while St. Croix County administers private septic requirements inside the village.34 Public utility availability can rule out private water and septic systems in the Rs-2 district.5

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new one- and two-family homes, including manufactured-home installations1
Zoning
Village zoning; use and dimensional standards depend on the district36
Septic permits
St. Croix County sanitary program; licensed plumber submits the application47
RV living
Floodfringe and campground restrictions are confirmed; private-lot residential occupancy is unconfirmed89
Minimum home size
Rs-2 minimum total floor area ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 square feet by bedroom count10
Owner-builder
Contractor-certification exemption for a resident or future resident owner; building permit still required11
Private water and sewage
Rs-2 prohibits private systems where public facilities are available5

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Roberts Building Inspector

Building inspection contact and village-listed building application forms

(715) 377-2152

Zoning

Village of Roberts Plan Commission / Village Office

Village office contact for routing zoning and Plan Commission questions

(715) 749-3126

107 E Maple Street Roberts, WI 54023

Septic permits

St. Croix County Community Development Department

Private onsite wastewater and non-plumbing sanitation permits, inspections and records inside Roberts

715-386-4680

[email protected]

Online permits →

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

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Roberts means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Roberts, WI?

New one- and two-family dwellings in Roberts require a Uniform Dwelling Code building permit, including stick-built, modular and manufactured-home installations.1 Roberts applicants must supply plans and supporting documentation with the application.12 Required inspections include footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough work, insulation and final inspection; notify the inspector identified on the UDC permit.13

An owner who lives or will live in the Roberts dwelling may qualify for the contractor-certification exemption, but the exemption does not waive the building permit or UDC requirements.11

Who handles building applications and zoning questions in Roberts?

The Village of Roberts lists a Building Inspector at (715) 377-2152 and publishes application links for new residential construction and manufactured homes.2 The village forms page also lists Building Permit Fees, a Plan Commission Review Application, a Conditional Use Permit and a Variance Questionnaire.2 Ask the Building Inspector which application and inspections fit the proposed work, and request the current building fee schedule before budgeting.2

For Roberts zoning and Plan Commission questions, start with the village office at (715) 749-3126, at 107 E Maple Street, Roberts, WI 54023.14 Private septic approval remains a separate St. Croix County sanitary-program responsibility inside village limits.4

Does the Village of Roberts have zoning, lot-size and home-size rules?

Roberts has village zoning with district-specific use, dimensional and utility standards; a residential or agricultural label does not give every parcel the same building rights.36 In Rs-2, minimum total dwelling floor area is 1,000 square feet for 1 bedroom, 1,100 for 2, 1,300 for 3, and 1,500 for 4 or more; the minimum first-floor area is 1,000 square feet.10

In Rs-6, combined first-floor area of principal and accessory buildings cannot exceed 25 percent of the lot, and height limits are 35 feet for principal buildings and 15 feet for accessory buildings.1516 In A-2, the agriculture-related activity and structure rule covers parcels from 10 through 34.9 acres and requires 250 feet of width at the building setback line.17 Ask the village office to identify the parcel district and confirm setbacks before designing the building footprint.14

How do septic permits and off-grid sanitation work inside Roberts?

St. Croix County administers private onsite wastewater requirements inside Roberts: installation requires a State Sanitary Permit, while specified repairs, reconnections, rejuvenations and non-plumbing sanitation require a County Sanitary Permit.4 A licensed plumber must submit the sanitary application, and the sanitary permit comes before the municipal building permit where private sanitation is required.7

Roberts zoning also decides whether private utilities are an option: Rs-2 prohibits an onsite sewage system or private water supply where the corresponding public facilities are available.5 The A-2 dwelling standards require approved private water and onsite soil-absorption sewage disposal.18 County staff inspect work requiring a sanitary permit, and private wastewater systems require servicing or inspection at least every 3 years unless a management plan says otherwise.19 Existing sanitary records can be searched through the county’s Ascent system.20

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Roberts?

We could not confirm permission for residential RV occupancy on a private Roberts lot or for an RV while a house is being built; ask the village office about the proposed address and use.14 Roberts P-1 campground rules limit a trailer or camping unit to 21 days on the same site in a calendar month, but that rule concerns campgrounds rather than residential use of a private lot.9

In Roberts floodfringe areas, a mobile recreational vehicle onsite for 180 consecutive days or more, or not fully licensed and ready for highway use, must meet the applicable manufactured-home elevation and anchoring standards; that provision does not itself establish residential occupancy permission.8 We could not confirm a separate tiny-home or accessory-dwelling permission; ask the village office how the design would be classified.14 A proposed small dwelling in Rs-2 must account for that district’s floor-area minimums.10

Building a home in Roberts: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Ask the village office to confirm the parcel’s Roberts zoning district, permitted use and applicable dimensional standards.614
  2. Establish the water and sewage arrangement: Rs-2 restricts private systems where public facilities are available; for a private septic proposal, have a licensed plumber secure sanitary approval before the building permit.57
  3. Contact the village-listed Building Inspector and prepare the UDC application with plans and supporting documentation.212
  4. Obtain the required building permit and arrange inspections with the inspector named on the permit, through final inspection.113

Before buying, ask the village about floodplain status: Roberts floodfringe residential standards address elevation, fill, dryland access and sewage protection.21 For land outside village limits, use the St. Croix County guide; incorporated villages enforce their own zoning codes.22

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a separate Roberts certificate of occupancy requirement; ask the Building Inspector what approval is needed before moving in.2
  • Rs-2 public utility availability can prevent the private well and septic arrangement planned for an off-grid home.5
  • Roberts campground stay limits and floodfringe RV standards do not establish permission for residential RV living on a private lot.98

Sources

  1. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Roberts Building Inspector (robertswisconsin.com)
  3. Sec. 70-110. Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sanitary Program (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 70-106. Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 70-106. Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sanitary Program (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 18-83. Standards for development in floodfringe areas (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 70-134. P-1 Park and Recreation District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sec. 70-106. Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  11. Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  12. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  13. UDC permit and inspection requirements (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  14. Village of Roberts Plan Commission / Village Office (robertswisconsin.com)
  15. Sec. 70-110. Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  16. Sec. 70-110. Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  17. Sec. 70-104. A-2 Agricultural District (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  18. library.municode.com (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  19. Sanitary Program (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  20. St. Croix County Community Development Department (sccwi.gov)
  21. Sec. 18-83. Standards for development in floodfringe areas (Village of Roberts), quoted and re-checked
  22. St. Croix County Land Use & Zoning FAQs, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Roberts

Village of Roberts’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Roberts village limits; Roberts Code of Ordinances Chapter 70 contains local zoning districts and standards.

    “The Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District is intended to provide for single-family residential development at densities not exceeding 3.5 dwelling units per net acre and served by public sanitary sewer and water facilities.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Roberts village zoning districts, including Rs-2, Rs-4, Rs-5, Rs-6, Rs-7, A-2, and P-1.

    • District-specific use, dimensional, utility, and conditional-use standards vary by district.
    “The Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District is intended to provide for single-family residential development at densities not exceeding 3.5 dwelling units per net acre and served by public sanitary sewer and water facilities.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    One- or two-story dwelling units in the Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District.

    • Minimum total area varies by bedroom count: 1 bedroom 1,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms 1,100; 3 bedrooms 1,300; 4 or more bedrooms 1,500. Minimum first-floor area is 1,000 square feet. No bedroom may be less than 100 square feet exclusive of closets.
    “The minimum floor area of a one- or two-story dwelling unit shall be as follows: Number of Bedrooms Per Dwelling Unit Minimum Total Area (square feet) Minimum First-Floor Area (square feet) 1 1,000 1,000 2 1,100 1,000 3 1,300 1,000 4 or more 1,500 1,000”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Agriculture-related activity or structures in the A-2 Agricultural District.

    • The A-2 rule applies to parcels from 10 acres through 34.9 acres and requires 250 feet of width at the building setback line.

    minimum parcel area: >= 10 acres (maximum 34.9 acres) · minimum width: >= 250 feet at building setback line

    “No agriculture-related activity and/or structure shall be erected, moved, enlarged or structurally altered on a parcel of land less than ten acres nor more than 34.9 acres in area and no such activity shall be conducted on a parcel that is less than 250 feet in width at the building setback line.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Principal and accessory buildings in the Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District.

    • The combined first-floor area may not exceed 25 percent of lot area.

    maximum combined first-floor coverage: <= 25 percent of lot area

    “The sum total of the first-floor area of the principal building and all accessory buildings shall not exceed 25 percent of the lot area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District.

    • Principal buildings are limited to 35 feet; accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet.

    principal building height: <= 35 feet · accessory building height: <= 15 feet

    “No principal building shall exceed 35 feet in height. No accessory building shall exceed 15 feet in height.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Mobile recreational vehicles in Roberts floodfringe areas.

    • A mobile recreational vehicle on site for 180 consecutive days or more, or not fully licensed and ready for highway use, must satisfy the applicable elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes.

    continuous onsite period: >= 180 days (or the vehicle is not fully licensed and ready for highway use)

    “All mobile recreational vehicles that are on site for 180 consecutive days or more or are not fully licensed and ready for highway use shall meet the elevation and anchoring requirements in section 18-83 (11)b and c.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Travel trailers and camping units in P-1 campgrounds inside Roberts village.

    • Campgrounds are conditional uses in the P-1 district; the district requires a minimum five-acre campground, limits sites to ten per acre, and prohibits a trailer or camping unit from remaining on one site more than 21 days in a calendar month.

    minimum campground size: >= 5 acres · maximum campsite density: <= 10 campsites per acre · maximum stay on one site: <= 21 days per calendar month

    “No trailer or camping unit shall be located on one site for a period of more than 21 days in a single calendar month. No trailer shall be stored in a trailer park, campground, or camping resort.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in Roberts floodfringe areas.

    • Manufactured homes outside existing manufactured-home parks, including new parks and single units, must meet the residential floodfringe development standards; existing parks have separate elevation and anchoring requirements.
    “Outside of existing manufactured home parks, including new manufactured home parks and all single units outside of existing parks, all new, replacement and substantially improved manufactured homes shall meet the residential development standards for the floodfringe in section 18-83 (1).”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private water and onsite sewage systems for dwellings inside Roberts village.

    • Rs-2 permits approved private water and onsite soil-absorption systems only where public sanitary sewerage and water supply are unavailable; if public facilities are available, private systems are prohibited. A-2 requires approved private water and onsite soil-absorption sewage disposal for a dwelling.
    “Electricity, approved private water supply, and an approved on-site soil absorption sanitary sewage disposal system. All on-site soil absorption sanitary disposal systems must be approved by the county health department prior to installations. If public sanitary sewerage and/or water supply facilities are available to the property, no on-site sewage disposal system or private water supply system will be permitted.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Dwellings in the Roberts Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District.

    • Private water and onsite sewage systems are required where public facilities are unavailable; if public sanitary sewerage and/or water supply facilities are available, private systems are not permitted.
    “If public sanitary sewerage and/or water supply facilities are available to the property, no on-site sewage disposal system or private water supply system will be permitted.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development and structures in Roberts floodplain and floodfringe areas.

    • Residential structures must meet elevation, fill, dryland-access, sewage-system, and applicable floodproofing requirements; onsite sewage systems must also comply with local ordinances and Wisconsin Administrative Code ch. COMM 83.
    “The elevation of the lowest floor, excluding the basement or crawlway, shall be at or above the flood protection elevation on fill. [...] All on-site sewage disposal systems shall be floodproofed, pursuant to section 18-115 , to the flood protection elevation and shall meet the provisions of all local ordinances and ch. COMM 83, Wis. Adm. Code.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Roberts

Village of Roberts does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    New one- and two-family dwelling units inside Roberts village.

    • The permit may be issued by the municipality if delegated or by another authorized agency under Wisconsin law.
    “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner of a dwelling inside Roberts village who resides or will reside in it and applies for a permit to work on that dwelling.

    • The exemption applies to the contractor-certification requirements described on the source page; the building permit and UDC requirements still apply.
    “Per Wisconsin Administrative code the above does not apply to an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to work on that dwelling.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured-home installations, inside Roberts village.

    • Local or authorized inspection-agency administration may determine the issuing agency.
    “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings inside Roberts village.

    • Required inspection stages include footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough, insulation, and final.
    “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private onsite wastewater treatment systems and non-plumbing sanitation systems inside Roberts village, because the St. Croix County sanitary ordinance applies throughout the county and incorporates state sanitary requirements.

    • State sanitary permits govern installation of private POWTS; county sanitary permits govern specified repairs, reconnections, rejuvenations, and non-plumbing sanitation.
    “A State Sanitary Permit is required for the installation of a private on-site wastewater treatment system (POWTS). A County Sanitary Permit is required for the repair, reconnection, or rejuvenation of a POWTS, or the installation of a non-plumbing sanitation (i.e. privy, composting toilet, etc.)”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private POWTS installation, repair, reconnection, rejuvenation, and specified non-plumbing sanitation inside Roberts village.

    • State permit required for installation; county permit required for listed repairs and non-plumbing sanitation; application may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.
    “A Sanitary Permit is required before obtaining a building permit from your local municipality. A Sanitary Permit may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Work requiring a sanitary permit inside Roberts village and ongoing private wastewater maintenance.

    • County staff conduct at least one inspection for work requiring a sanitary permit; private systems must be serviced or inspected at least every three years unless a management plan specifies otherwise.

    maintenance interval: >= 3 years (unless otherwise specified in a management plan)

    “Staff will conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.”
  • Permit processPartial

    New one- and two-family dwelling permit applications inside Roberts village.

    • Applications require plans and supporting documentation; the issuing jurisdiction depends on delegated authority.
    “Regardless of which agency has authority, your application must include:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Roberts village limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Roberts village limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Roberts village limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside Roberts village limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural buildings and activities inside Roberts village limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Roberts publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Croix County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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