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

Village of Mukwonago’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures and development inside the Village of Mukwonago

  • Exempt under § 100-16: accessory building or shed under 60 sq ft; repairs/improvements of $250 or less in materials/labor that do not change use or size/position and do not involve bearing walls, plumbing or electrical.
  • Application filed electronically via the village website.
  • Double fee if work starts before permit is issued (§ 100-24).

  accessory building exemption: < 60 square feet

  “no structure or development shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged or structurally altered until after the owner or his/her agent has secured a building permit from the building inspector, unless otherwise exempted pursuant to § 100-16 of this chapter.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside the Village of Mukwonago

  • Also adopts Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321-325 (one- and two-family), SPS 361-366 (commercial) and SPS 375-379 (commercial built before 1914) with subsequent amendments.

  “the wisconsin uniform building code, prepared by the building inspectors association of southeastern wisconsin in january 1967, together with all subsequent revisions, amendments and supplements, is hereby adopted and incorporated into this chapter by reference as if fully set out in this section”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Newly constructed single- and two-family dwellings inside the Village of Mukwonago

  • Occupancy of any addition or modification area also requires an occupancy permit.
  • Business/manufacturing buildings need a new occupancy permit for a new tenant, owner or changed use.
  • Occupancy permit may be issued with conditions for remaining exterior items.

  “the property owner of a newly constructed single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling as defined in § 100-29 is required to apply for and obtain an occupancy permit prior to any occupancy of the structure.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside the Village of Mukwonago, Waukesha County

  “this chapter shall be known as, referred to, or cited as the "zoning ordinance, village of mukwonago, waukesha county, wisconsin."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside the Village of Mukwonago (residential districts R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-7, R-8, R-9, R-10, R-15 and others)

  “§ 100-101 r-1 single-family medium lot residential district.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Medium Lot Residential District, Village of Mukwonago

  • Other districts differ (e.g. R-2 1,200 sq ft total; R-8 2,500 sq ft total).

  minimum floor area per dwelling unit, total: >= 1800 square feet · first floor of bi-level or 2-story: >= 1200 square feet · each other floor of bi-level or 2-story: >= 600 square feet

  “minimum floor area per dwelling unit total: 1,800 square feet 1st floor of bi-level or 2-story: 1,200 square feet each other floor of bi-level or 2-story: 600 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Medium Lot Residential District, Village of Mukwonago

  • Table amended 8-17-2022 by Ord. No. 1007.
  • Other districts differ (R-2 8,712 sq ft; R-3 10,000; R-7 25,000; R-8 37,500; R-10/R-15 1 acre).

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet · minimum lot width interior: >= 100 feet · minimum lot width corner: >= 120 feet

  “category standard minimum lot area 15,000 square feet minimum lot width 100 feet interior lot/120 feet corner lot”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Medium Lot Residential District, Village of Mukwonago

  • Under conditional use approval the plan commission and village board may require increased setbacks.

  street yard: >= 35 feet · interior side yard, one-story: >= 15 feet each side · interior side yard, other dwellings: 20 one side, 15 other side feet · rear yard: >= 40 feet

  “minimum building setbacks** street yard: 35 feet interior side yard: a. one-story dwellings: 15 feet each side b. other dwellings: 20 feet one side, 15 feet other side rear yard: 40 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Medium Lot Residential District, Village of Mukwonago

  • Minimum greenspace 60% of lot; submerged land counts at one-half.

  principal building coverage: <= 25 percent of lot · accessory building coverage: <= 5 percent of lot

  “maximum building coverage on lot - principal building 25% of total lot size, not including any public right-of-way maximum building coverage on lot - accessory building 5% of total lot size, not including any public right-of-way”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Medium Lot Residential District, Village of Mukwonago

  • Accessory building standards also in general chapter 100 provisions.

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

  “maximum building height, principal building 35 feet maximum height, accessory building*** 15 feet”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permits inside the Village of Mukwonago

  • Dollar amounts are in a Village Board resolution and were not opened.
  • Double fee if work starts before permit issued.
  • Property record maintenance fee applies when assessor must view site (§ 18-27).

  “building permit fees shall be specified in the most current village board resolution on the subject.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside the Village of Mukwonago

  • Permit expires in six months unless substantial work has commenced, and within 18 months if not substantially completed.
  • Applications filed electronically on the village website.

  decision deadline: <= 30 days

  “a building permit shall be granted or denied in writing by the building inspector within 30 days after application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside the Village of Mukwonago
• Inspections — Inspections of construction inside the Village of Mukwonago
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside the Village of Mukwonago
• Camping on your land — Camping inside the Village of Mukwonago
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside the Village of Mukwonago

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.