Ashland County, Wisconsin Building Permit Guide

Ashland County requires its own permit from the Zoning Administration (Courthouse Room 109, 201 Main Street West, Ashland; 715-682-7014) for any structure used for living or occupancy and for every garage, pole barn and shed, and it issues the sanitary permits for private sewage systems. A new one- or two-family home also needs a Uniform Dwelling Code permit from the inspector serving its town. The county has no UDC delegation of its own; on Madeline Island the Town of La Pointe runs its own zoning office. A dwelling permit costs $500 on the schedule dated April 10, 2026.

What requires a permit in Ashland County?

The county’s rule is broad: a building permit from the Zoning Office is required for any structure used, intended or designed for human habitation or occupancy, whether permanent or temporary, and an accessory building permit is needed for all garages, pole barns and sheds. Starting before the permit is issued doubles the fee.

What the county decides and what the state holds

The county controls building sites, the placement of structures and land uses under ordinances that date back to the 1934 use districts, together with its subdivision control, wetland conservation (O07-2020-112), 2008 floodplain, mining, private sewage system, scenic area district and shoreland protection ordinances. The Zoning Committee oversees the office. Its setback sheet puts buildings 10 feet from a property line and 75 feet from the ordinary high-water mark of navigable water, boathouses 6 feet from the water and wells at least 2 feet from any structure. How a dwelling is built is set by the state Uniform Dwelling Code, and commercial buildings follow the state Commercial Building Code with state plan approval where it applies.

Ashland County building department: who handles permitting

Zoning Administration, led by Zoning Administrator Bruce Blakeman, issues the county’s building, land use, shoreland grading and sanitary permits and enforces the private sewage system ordinance. The county reminds applicants that the state, the town, a village or a city may also require permits and have zoning rules, and that the town chair or clerk is the contact for township permits.

Cities, villages and towns

The county does not hold the state’s UDC delegation, so the building code side of a new home is handled municipality by municipality. Most towns, Mellen and Butternut use T.A.K. Inspections under the county’s July 2025 sheet, which warns that the UDC permit is in addition to the county permit and that starting early adds 50 percent to the UDC fee.

Ashland County permit types

Through the Catalis portal the county takes accessory building, dwelling and shoreland grading permits online, with card payment; payments in person and by mail are also accepted. Everything else uses the county’s one-page Application for Permit, mailed or brought to Room 109 with the fee, checks payable to Ashland County Zoning Administration. Applications for Madeline Island go to Town of La Pointe Zoning instead.

Residential permits

The application is signed by the owner and needs a site plan that shows the existing and new buildings with north marked, the well and the septic tank, holding tank, mound, drainfield or privy, any lake or flowage within 1,000 feet and any river or stream within 300 feet, the distances from the building to every lot line, the road centerline and the water, floodplain or wetland, and the driveway. Proposed buildings and privies must be staked on the ground, and plans drawn by an architect, engineer, builder or contractor must be signed and dated by the owner.

The UDC permit for the house itself is obtained from the inspector for the town and must be issued before construction starts.

A privy or other non-plumbing system needs its own sanitary permit. A vault privy, composting toilet or incinerating toilet needs no soil test, but a pit privy does: the certified soil tester files a report, and the pit is dug within 5 feet of the boring and holds at least 200 gallons. Composting and incinerating toilets must be state approved and carry the NSF mark. A portable restroom may serve as a temporary system for up to 30 days, and an RV or camper on a lot needs a non-plumbing permit. The non-plumbing agreement is signed by every owner, notarized and recorded with the Register of Deeds.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit filing, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial and industrial buildings take a $350 county permit and alterations or additions $225, and a conditional use permit where the district requires one. Building code review for commercial work follows the state’s plan approval rules before local permits issue.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit expediting through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

• Sanitary permit. A house on a private system needs its sanitary permit; holding tanks need no soil test, while other septic systems need one from a certified soil tester.
• Shoreland. Shoreland grading needs its own permit, and accessory buildings in shoreland pay the higher fee.
• Floodplain. The 2008 floodplain ordinance applies; the county sells Day Lake Dam flood maps and FEMA flood maps.
• Variance or conditional use. A conditional use permit ($250) or variance ($1,000) must be granted before the permit.
• Driveway. A county trunk highway access permit before the approach is built.
• Address. A 911 address application for the new site.

Ashland County permit costs and fees

The Zoning office’s fee schedule dated April 10, 2026 sets flat fees by permit type. Fees are paid before the permit issues, and failing to obtain a permit doubles the fee. The 2025 application form still prints a single $200 accessory structure fee; the 2026 schedule splits it into $200 in shoreland and $75 on unrestricted land.

Worked example. A new house on a mound system pays $500 for the dwelling permit and $450 for the sanitary permit, $950 to the county, plus the $40 soils test filing fee and $250 for a 911 address if the site has none. The UDC permit fee is separate and set by the town’s inspector.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Ashland County issues no electrical, plumbing or HVAC permits; on a new home those inspections come with the UDC permit from the town’s inspector. The county’s contact list of soil testers, plumbers, pumpers, electricians, well drillers and surveyors is posted with the zoning documents.

• Septic. A sanitary system must be installed by a licensed Master Plumber, who completes the state sanitary application and plans. The county reviews holding tanks and conventional systems under its agent status, while mound, at-grade and pressurized in-ground systems, holding tanks over 3,000 gallons a day and commercial systems go to DSPS.
• Holding tanks. The servicing contract is signed by the pumper and notarized; the holding tank agreement is signed by a local government official, notarized and recorded with the Register of Deeds for $30.
• Builders. Contractors on new homes hold the state Dwelling Contractor credentials; the owner-occupant may build without them.
• HVAC and electrical. State registration and licenses; the county adds none.

How to apply for an Ashland County permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

No permit is issued until every fee is paid, and the county holds the applicant responsible for the accuracy of the application. Mound and at-grade designs go to the state for review rather than to the county, so allow for that step. Driveway requests move faster when the driveway location is already marked in the field. Work started before either the county or the UDC permit raises the fee.

Inspections in Ashland County

The county inspects sanitary installations: plumbers must request the inspection 24 hours ahead, or 48 hours for Madeline Island, where the owner pays the ferry fee before the inspection day. A sanitary re-inspection is $100. The office also responds to complaints and checks locations across the townships for septic servicing under the 2001 Private Sewage System Ordinance, which carries a $767.50 fine for a first offense and $1,267.50 for each further one; there is no grandfather clause for older systems.

Building inspections for a new home, from footings to final, are scheduled with the town’s UDC inspector, and the county permit form has its own space for an inspection date.

Wisconsin building code

Ashland County enforces zoning, shoreland, floodplain, wetland and sanitary ordinances; the building code for houses is enforced through the UDC inspectors listed by town. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Ashland County as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, community 550004, with a current map dated February 15, 1978.

Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code covers one- and two-family homes. Its Commercial Building Code covers public buildings, workplaces and buildings of three or more units. Local ordinances must conform to both. Wisconsin rules

Ashland County permit search and official resources

The Zoning office posts lists of the permits it has issued for each year from 2017 to 2026, which is the quickest public check of whether a permit was taken out. Parcel zoning can be found on the county’s GIS web map, with a how-to sheet on the zoning page; for anything older, call the office at 715-682-7014.

• Ashland County Zoning: Catalis portal, contacts, notices
• Building permit information and UDC contacts
• Zoning fee schedule (April 10, 2026)
• Ashland County Application for Permit (2025)
• Uniform Dwelling Code contact sheet by town (July 2025)
• Sanitary permit information
• Non-plumbing sanitary permits
• Zoning ordinances
• Zoning documents and resources
• Zoning issued permits by year
• Setback requirements
• County trunk highway driveway permit request
• Town of La Pointe Zoning (Madeline Island)
• DSPS UDC delegated agents list
• DSPS Inspector Lookup Tool
• FEMA Community Status Book, Wisconsin

Ashland County permit FAQs

Does Ashland County issue building permits?

Yes, a county building permit for any structure used for living or occupancy and accessory permits for garages, pole barns and sheds. The state UDC permit for a new home comes separately from the town’s inspector.

How much is a dwelling permit?

$500 on the April 10, 2026 schedule, doubled if work starts first.

Do I need a permit for a shed?

Yes. An accessory structure permit is $75 on unrestricted land and $200 in shoreland.

Where do I apply on Madeline Island?

Town of La Pointe Zoning, 240 Big Bay Road, 715-747-2707.

Who inspects new homes in the towns?

The county’s July 2025 sheet names T.A.K. Inspections for most towns, Mellen and Butternut; La Pointe and the City of Ashland use a separate inspector.

Does a holding tank need a soil test?

No, not in Ashland County. Other septic systems need a test by a certified soil tester, and so does a pit privy.

Can I apply online?

Yes, through Catalis for dwelling, accessory building and shoreland grading permits.

Simplify Ashland County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Wisconsin. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Ashland County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.