Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Pewaukee’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, moving, enlarging or altering structures inside Pewaukee city

  • Permit issued by the building inspector, zoning administrator or deputy
  • Structure must conform to district regulations
  • Applies also to temporary structures and pods
  • Fence and other supplemental structures have a separate permit section (17.0205)

  “no structure, land, or water shall hereafter be used; no existing use changed; and no permanent or temporary structure, 'pod' or similar container or enclosure shall hereafter be located, placed, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered except in conformity with the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located and until after the owner or his agent has secured a building and/or zoning permit from the building inspector, zoning administrator or his duly appointed deputy.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Pewaukee city limits (Waukesha County)

  • Chapter 17 entire chapter repealed and recreated by ordinance #12-12; PDF shows revision stamp 10/2014 (not an effective date)
  • Zoning administrator works under the city planner; plan commission advises the common council

  “this ordinance shall be known as, referred to, and cited as the "zoning ordinance" of the city of pewaukee, wisconsin.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  One- or two-story dwelling units in Rs-4 single-family residential district, Pewaukee city

  • No bedroom shall be less than 100 square feet exclusive of closets
  • Minimums vary by bedroom count; other districts differ

  minimum total area, one bedroom: >= 1200 square feet · minimum total area, two bedrooms: >= 1300 square feet · minimum total area, three bedrooms: >= 1500 square feet · minimum total area, four or more bedrooms: >= 1700 square feet · minimum first floor area: >= 1200 square feet

  “number of bedrooms per dwelling unit minimum total area minimum first floor area one 1,200 square feet 1,200 square feet two 1,300 square feet 1,200 square feet three 1,500 square feet 1,200 square feet four or more 1,700 square feet 1,200 square feet no bedroom shall be less than 100 square feet in area exclusive of closets.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Rs-4 single-family residential district, Pewaukee city

  • Other districts differ; A-1/A-2 and other Rs districts not captured here (Rs-2 shown as 2.0 net acres, Rs-5 15,000 sq ft in same chapter)

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet · minimum lot width at building setback line: >= 110 feet

  “lots shall have a minimum area of 20,000 square feet. (2) lots shall have a width of not less than 110 feet at the building setback line.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Rs-4 single-family residential district, Pewaukee city

  • Also 75 feet from the 100-year floodplain of streams and water bodies and 25 feet from any designated wetland
  • Other districts differ

  street setback: >= 40 feet · side yard each side: >= 20 feet · rear yard: >= 35 feet

  “there shall be a minimum building (or street) setback of 40 feet from the right-of-way of all public streets, roads, or highways. (2) there shall be a side yard on each side of all structures not less than 20 feet in width. (3) there shall be a rear yard of not less than 35 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Rs-4 single-family residential district, Pewaukee city

  • Measured as first floor area of principal and accessory buildings
  • Other districts differ (e.g. Rs-1 2.5 percent)

  maximum first floor building area: <= 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

  Rs-4 single-family residential district, Pewaukee city

  • Other districts differ

  principal building max height: <= 35 feet · accessory structure max height: <= 18 feet

  “no principal building or parts of a principal building shall exceed 35 feet in height. (2) no accessory structure shall be more than 18 feet in height.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Rs-4 single-family residential district, Pewaukee city

  • District lists public sanitary sewerage and water supply facilities as a minimum utility service; no distance or availability threshold stated in the passage reviewed

  “minimum utility service electricity and public sanitary sewerage and water supply facilities.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Pewaukee city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Pewaukee city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Pewaukee city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy permits inside Pewaukee city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Pewaukee city

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.