Kenosha County’s Department of Planning and Development runs zoning, sanitation and land conservation for the unincorporated townships of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland, administers zoning for the villages of Salem Lakes and Somers under contract, and administers building permits under contract for Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes — and it front-loads the process: a zoning permit must be issued before the building permit.
The department administers the Kenosha County General Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, which is Chapter 12 of the county's municipal code, alongside the sanitary code and private sewage ordinance, the land division ordinance and the stormwater, erosion control and illicit discharge ordinance.
This guide covers unincorporated Kenosha County, plus the county’s contract roles in Salem Lakes and Somers. The City of Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Twin Lakes, Paddock Lake, Bristol and the Village of Somers issue their own building permits — the city enforces the 2021 code editions from its own dated page.
The survey comes back after the build. County zoning code requires the owner to hire a Wisconsin professional surveyor to update the plat of survey after any building is constructed — house, detached accessory building or addition — to verify it was built to the approved size and setbacks. The due date is printed on the face of the zoning permit and can be no later than permit expiration. Decks, balconies, pools and fences are exempt.
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Typically permit required
- County zoning permits, issued before the town building permit for new construction, additions and expansions
- Sanitary permits for new residential construction on private systems, and septic evaluations for additions to existing structures
- Stormwater, erosion control and illicit discharge permits under county ordinance
- Land division approvals under the county land division ordinance
- Conditional use permits, at a published county fee
- The building permit, issued after the county’s zoning approval — through the county, under contract, in Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes, by the town inspector elsewhere
Often exempt
- Decks, balconies, pools and fences — from the foundation survey requirement, though zoning permits may still apply
- Anything inside an incorporated city or village, which is outside county jurisdiction
- Buildings used for farming — exempt from the state commercial building code under Wis. Stat. 101.05(5), with farming defined by DSPS rule; a produce stand stays exempt only while at least 90 percent of what it sells was grown or produced on the farm
- Primitive rural hunting cabins — carved out of municipal jurisdiction by Wis. Stat. 101.65(1g)
- Bed-and-breakfast establishments as defined by statute — outside the commercial building code under Wis. Stat. 101.05(2), though a third floor in use or a new addition must meet the Uniform Dwelling Code
What is actually local, and what is not
The building code is statewide; the county controls siting. Zoning district classification, setbacks, environmental asset proximity and sanitation capacity are the county's questions, and the answers determine whether the town can issue at all.
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
Who handles permitting in Kenosha County?
Planning and Development issues zoning permits and administers sanitation and land conservation. Building permits come from the county, under contract, in the Town of Brighton, the Town of Paris and the Village of Salem Lakes, and from the town building inspector in Randall, Somers and Wheatland. The county recommends meeting with development staff before submitting a zoning application to discuss sanitation, access, building design and setback requirements.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development |
| Phone | 19600 75th Street, Suite 185-3, Bristol, WI 53104 · (262) 857-1895 — Planning and Development, including Sanitation and Land Conservation; appointments required for in-person visits |
| Jurisdiction | Unincorporated townships of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland |
| Ordinance | Kenosha County General Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Ordinance — Chapter 12 |
| Order of operations | County zoning permit, then town building permit |
| Building permits | County, under contract, in Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes; town building inspector in Randall, Somers and Wheatland |
Permit types
Residential permits
New residential construction needs a county zoning permit application with a stake-out survey and construction drawings including floor plans and elevations, plus the appropriate fee. A sanitary permit is needed where the lot is on a private system; additions may need a septic system evaluation instead. After construction, the updated plat of survey closes the file.
How Wisconsin contractor licensing works
Wisconsin certifies dwelling contractors and licenses electricians and plumbers at state level (see Wisconsin rules). Kenosha County licenses no trades; state credentials govern and the town building inspector verifies them.
Commercial permits
New commercial, manufacturing and institutional construction follows its own published county procedure, with conditional use permits available for uses that need them at a published fee. Building code plan review routes to the state or a delegated municipality; the county holds no commercial plan review delegation.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Mechanical work, and where the state reviews directly
Commercial plans above set sizes go to the state for review first (see Wisconsin rules). Applicants also complete obligations for the foundation survey, waiver of liability where applicable, stormwater as-built requirements and any certificate of occupancy conditions.
Kenosha County permit costs and fees
County fees follow the Planning and Development fee schedule, and the penalty for starting early is triple.
| Item | Fee or rule |
|---|---|
| Zoning permit | Per the county fee schedule, by project type |
| Conditional use permit | $1,250 in the unincorporated towns (2026 schedule) |
| Work started before permitting | Triple fees, per the county's own statement |
| Minor structures | Zoning permits for decks, fences and outbuildings generally issued immediately, first come first served |
| Town building permit | County schedule in Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes; set by the town in Randall, Somers and Wheatland |
Triple fees for starting early. The county states plainly that triple fees shall be charged if work has started prior to applying for the appropriate permit (county code section 12.05.090).
Trade permits and who may pull them
Trades are state-credentialed; trade permits come through the county in Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes and from the town elsewhere, and sanitation work runs through the county sanitarian.
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- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC — state credentials; county permits in Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes, town permits elsewhere
- Private sewage systems — county sanitary permit; contact the County Sanitarian at Planning and Development
- Land disturbance — county stormwater and erosion control permits
- One- and two-family general work — state Dwelling Contractor plus Qualifier
Typically exempt
- Minor structures for the survey requirement — decks, balconies, pools and fences
- Work inside cities and villages, which follows municipal rules
How to apply for a Kenosha County building permit
Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers or Wheatland; call the county with a tax key number if unsure.
The county recommends it, to settle sanitation, access, design and setbacks.
With stake-out survey or site plan, floor plans, elevations and the fee.
New construction on a private system needs the permit; additions may need an evaluation.
Only after the zoning permit is issued — through the county (under contract) in Brighton or Paris, or to the town inspector in Randall, Somers or Wheatland.
A Wisconsin professional surveyor updates the plat by the date printed on the zoning permit.
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Minor structures move fast — deck, fence and outbuilding zoning permits are generally issued on the spot. New construction moves at the pace of the sanitation answer, which is why the county pushes a pre-application meeting.
Inspections in Kenosha County
Building inspections are done through the county, under contract, in Brighton, Paris and Salem Lakes and by the town inspector elsewhere. County follow-up also covers the foundation survey, stormwater as-builts and sanitary system compliance.
Kenosha County permit search and official resources
- Kenosha County new residential construction — the zoning-before-building sequence, in the county's words
- Kenosha County zoning and land development — Chapter 12 ordinance and permitting
- City of Kenosha Building Inspection — for parcels inside the city rather than the townships
- Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code — SPS 320 to 325 as published
Frequently asked questions
Does Kenosha County issue building permits?
In the Town of Brighton, the Town of Paris and the Village of Salem Lakes, yes — the county’s Planning and Development division administers building permits there under contract. In Randall, Somers and Wheatland the town building inspector issues it. Either way the county zoning permit must be in hand first.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →What is the foundation survey requirement?
After a house, detached accessory building or addition is constructed, the owner must hire a Wisconsin professional surveyor to update the plat of survey verifying size and setbacks. Decks, balconies, pools and fences are exempt.
What if I start work before permitting?
Triple fees are charged where work has started before the appropriate permit was applied for.
Which townships does the county cover?
Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland — the unincorporated townships.
How fast are small permits?
Zoning permits for minor structures such as decks, fences and outbuildings are generally issued right away, first come first served, if the application addresses all zoning issues.
Should I meet with staff first?
The county recommends it for new construction and additions, to discuss sanitation, access, building design and setbacks before applying.
Simplify Kenosha County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Kenosha County gates the building permit and triples the fee if you jump the gun. We take the pre-application meeting, file the zoning and sanitary tracks together, and diary the post-construction survey so the file closes clean.
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Send us the scope and the parcel. We confirm the review path with the Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development, assemble the submittal, file it, and track it through issuance — corrections included.
More Wisconsin permitting guides
More Wisconsin permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kenosha County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.