Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Chenequa, Wisconsin

Village of Chenequa’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, altering, moving or demolishing structures inside Chenequa village

  • No permit required if estimated cost of construction or repair is under $2,000.
  • Separate grading permit when grade change is 12 inches or more or erosion risk exists.

  permit exemption cost threshold: < 2000 USD (grading permit may still apply)

  “no permit shall be required under section 5.03(1) (a) if the estimated cost of construction or repair is less than $2,000.00”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One and two family dwellings inside Chenequa village

  • Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code applies to initial construction of one- and two-family dwellings; older-dwelling additions have separate thresholds (pre-1978/1980 dates).

  “chapter comm 22, wisconsin administrative code, energy conservation, and all amendments thereto, as adopted in section 5.14 of this code, and incorporated by reference therein, shall apply to the initial construction of all one and two family dwellings in the village of chenequa”

• InspectionsRequired

  New structures and alterations inside Chenequa village

  • Village building inspector performs final inspection.

  “the building inspector shall make a final inspection of all new structures and alterations, and shall issue (a) a certificate that all new structures are located on the lot as approved by the plan commission;”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of new or altered structures inside Chenequa village

  • Issued by the village building inspector; construction deposit is forfeited if occupancy occurs before final inspection.

  “the construction bond shall be forfeited if occupancy occurs before final inspection or extends after temporary occupancy permits expire.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Chenequa village (Waukesha County area)

  • Copy opened is the 4/2023 version of Chapter 6; newer 2025 versions exist on the village site but were too large to open.

  “the village board of the village of chenequa, for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, aesthetics and general welfare of the residents of the village of chenequa, has enacted this zoning code pursuant to sections 61.35 and 62.23 (7) wisconsin statutes.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Chenequa village zoning districts

  • Districts: Residence, Shoreland Wetland, Special Commercial.

  “the village is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: 6.5 (1) residence district. (2) shoreland wetland district. (3) special commercial district.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single family structures in the Residence District inside Chenequa village

  • Does not apply to buildings with a valid building permit issued on or before July 10, 1972, which may not decrease heated living area.

  one-story living area: > 2000 sq ft · two or more stories living area: > 2500 sq ft · two or more stories first floor living area: > 1500 sq ft

  “the living area of a one-story single family structure shall be greater than two thousand (2,000) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New or modified lots not abutting a lake in the Residence District inside Chenequa village

  • Lots abutting a lake need 150 ft average width and the lake frontage and area set in section 6.6.
  • Lot width measured by a four-sided envelope containing at least 80% of minimum lot area.

  minimum area, non-lake lot: >= 5 acres · minimum average width, non-lake lot: >= 200 ft

  “no lot shall be modified, including but not limited to by way of a lot line adjustment, and no new lot shall be created, which is not abutting any lake unless such lot shall have an average width of not less than two hundred (200) feet and shall contain at least five (5) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures in the Residence District inside Chenequa village

  • Highway 16 has a different setback rules (rear lot line 10 ft).
  • Lake lots: 75 ft minimum from lake frontage, 100 ft if lake-facing elevation exceeds 4,000 sq ft.
  • Side yard 6 inches per foot of structure height, minimum 10 ft; larger for big lakefront homes.
  • Never nearer than 25 ft to a rear or front lot line.

  street setback: >= 75 ft (except highway 16) · front/rear lot line minimum: >= 25 ft (rear 10 ft on highway 16) · minimum side yard: >= 10 ft (6 in. per foot of height)

  “no structure shall be erected, modified or moved on any lot in the village where a street wall is nearer than seventy-five (75) feet to the right-of-way or boundary line of any public street, road or highway;”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single family structures in the Residence District inside Chenequa village

  • Height may rise to 40 ft (lake lots) or 45 ft (non-lake lots) with added side yard setback.
  • No single family structure may exceed three stories.

  base maximum height: <= 35 ft (up to 40 ft lake lot / 45 ft non-lake lot with larger side yards)

  “a single family structure which complies with the minimum side setback requirements of section 6.5, for all side yards, may be erected, modified or altered to a height not exceeding thirty five (35) feet on any lot.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Human habitation in camp trailers, motor homes and similar vehicles inside Chenequa village

  • Also no lot may park or accommodate more than one camp trailer, motor home or other vehicle designed for human habitation.

  “no camp trailer, motor home, trailer or other vehicle shall be used for human habitation within the village.”

• Mandatory utility hookupNone

  New homes inside Chenequa village

  • Village has no municipal water or sewer system, so each residence must have its own well and sewage system; no public connection requirement exists.

  “there is no municipal water or sewer system in the village, and it is necessary for each residence to be equipped with its own such systems”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Chenequa village

  • Detailed text of sections 6.16-6.18 not read.

  “6.17 land divisions constituting subdivisions. (1) purpose. the purpose of this section is to regulate the subdivision of land to promote public health, safety and general welfare of the village;”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications inside Chenequa village

  • Application accompanied by plans, fees and deposits; incomplete applications are returned.

  “application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the village clerk-treasurer and shall state the name and address of the owner of the land”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Chenequa village
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Chenequa village
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Chenequa village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Chenequa village
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Chenequa village

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.