Racine County's Development Services office administers zoning and sanitation for the unincorporated county, and it enforces a strict order of operations: on a parcel without public sewer, the sanitary permit is a precondition to the zoning or building permit, not a parallel task.
The office handles private onsite wastewater systems and their violations, county zoning in the unincorporated towns, shoreland and floodplain regulation, and land division, working alongside the towns that issue the building permits themselves or through contracted inspectors.
This guide covers unincorporated Racine County. The City of Racine, Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Caledonia, Union Grove, Waterford, Burlington and the other municipalities permit their own construction — the city has its own Chapter 18 building regulations and an 18-month permit life.
The septic permit is the gate. Racine County states that a sanitary permit is required before a zoning or building permit can be issued for an unsewered parcel. Development Services issues it — and zoning fees and sanitation fees go to different payees, so a single cheque will not cover both.
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Get a free quote →What requires a building permit in Racine County?
Typically permit required
- County zoning permits for structures in the unincorporated towns under county zoning
- Sanitary permits for private onsite wastewater systems — before any zoning or building permit on unsewered land
- Shoreland and floodplain approvals near navigable water
- Land division and certified survey map review
- The town building permit, issued locally rather than by the county
Often exempt
- Minor structures — small movable accessory items such as birdhouses, tool houses, pet houses, play equipment and arbors
- Small detached accessory structures under 36 square feet, and movable lawn furniture, picnic tables and portable grills
- 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. Racine County's layer is land and water: county zoning in unincorporated towns, the sanitary programme, and shoreland rules under which no structures — including fences, ice fishing shanties, accessory buildings other than boathouses, minor structures and unapproved retaining walls — are permitted within the shore yard setback area.
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 Racine County?
Development Services, within Public Works and Development Services, administers county zoning and sanitation, issues sanitary permits and investigates system failures. Town building inspectors issue building permits. Storm water drainage concerns are directed to the local municipality rather than the county.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Racine County Development Services (Public Works and Development Services) |
| Phone | (262) 886-8440 — Development Services |
| County issues | Zoning, sanitary permits, shoreland and floodplain, land division |
| Payment | Zoning fees payable to Racine County Development Services; sanitation fees to the Racine County Treasurer |
| Building permits | Town or contracted town building inspector |
| Shoreland setback | Typically 75 feet from the ordinary high water mark of a navigable waterway |
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Racine County authorized 72 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Permit types
Residential permits
A rural house runs on the Uniform Dwelling Code with the town issuing the building permit and verifying the state Dwelling Contractor certification and Qualifier. Before that, the county's sanitary permit must be secured on an unsewered lot, and county zoning approval obtained where the parcel is under county zoning.
How Wisconsin contractor licensing works
Wisconsin certifies dwelling contractors and licenses electricians and plumbers at state level (see Wisconsin rules). Racine County licenses no trades; state credentials govern and the town inspector verifies them.
Commercial permits
Commercial development in the unincorporated county needs county zoning approval, and building code review routes to the state or a delegated municipality — the county holds no commercial plan review delegation. Water-oriented commercial and multiple-use piers, such as those serving marinas, resorts and planned residential developments, are regulated by the county even though private piers are not.
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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). Private piers and boatlifts for riparian landowners are not county-permitted, though the municipality or the state natural resources department may regulate them.
Racine County permit costs and fees
County fees are split between two payees, which trips up applicants more often than the amounts do. Building permit fees are set by the town.
| Item | Fee or rule |
|---|---|
| Zoning fees | Payable to Racine County Development Services |
| Sanitation fees | Payable to the Racine County Treasurer |
| Sanitary permit | Required before zoning or building permits issue on unsewered parcels |
| Building permit | Set by the town or its contracted inspector |
The shore yard is a no-structure zone. Within the shore yard setback area — typically 75 feet from the ordinary high water mark — the zoning ordinance permits no structures, a definition that expressly includes fences, ice fishing shanties, accessory buildings other than boathouses, minor structures and retaining walls not otherwise approved.
Trade permits and who may pull them
Trades are state-credentialed and permitted at town level; the county's involvement is sanitary and land use.
Rather not deal with the Racine County building department?
Get a free quote →Permit required
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC — state credentials; town permits
- Private onsite wastewater systems — county sanitary permit through Development Services
- Structures near navigable water — county shoreland review before anything is built
- One- and two-family general work — state Dwelling Contractor plus Qualifier
Typically exempt
- Minor structures and small accessory items under the county's stated thresholds
- Work inside incorporated municipalities, which follows municipal rules
How to apply for a Racine County building permit
The city, villages and towns each have their own arrangements; county jurisdiction is limited.
It is a precondition to the zoning and building permits.
Typically 75 feet, and no structures inside it.
Development Services administers zoning in the unincorporated towns.
Zoning fees to Development Services; sanitation fees to the County Treasurer.
The town or its contracted inspector issues and inspects.
Review, corrections and what actually causes delay
The characteristic Racine County delay is a septic evaluation started too late, because everything else waits on it. The second is a shore yard structure — a fence or shed — drawn inside a setback that permits none.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Racine County
Building inspections are performed by the town or its contracted inspector. The county inspects and enforces on private wastewater systems, including failing systems reported through Development Services.
Racine County permit search and official resources
- Racine County Development Services — sanitary, zoning and shoreland requirements in the county's words
- City of Racine Municipal Code Chapter 18 — for parcels inside the city rather than the county
- DSPS plan review — state triggers and delegated authority lists
- Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code — SPS 320 to 325 as published
Frequently asked questions
Does Racine County issue building permits?
No. The county issues zoning, sanitary and shoreland approvals in unincorporated areas; the town or its contracted inspector issues the building permit.
What comes first on an unsewered lot?
The sanitary permit. The county states it is required before a zoning or building permit can be issued for an unsewered parcel.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How close to the water can I build?
Typically no closer than 75 feet from the ordinary high water mark, and the shore yard setback area permits no structures at all.
Does a shed need a permit?
Except for minor structures — birdhouses, tool houses, pet houses, play equipment, arbors — a zoning permit is generally required. Small detached accessory structures under 36 square feet are treated as minor.
Who do I pay?
Zoning fees are payable to Racine County Development Services and sanitation fees to the Racine County Treasurer — two separate payees.
Does the county permit my pier?
Not a private pier or boatlift for a riparian landowner, though the municipality or the state natural resources department may. The county does regulate water-oriented commercial and multiple-use piers.
Simplify Racine County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Racine County projects run on a strict order: septic, then zoning, then the town's building permit. We start the sanitary track first, keep structures out of the shore yard, and file each approval with the right payee so nothing bounces.
Ready to break ground in Racine County sooner?
Send us the scope and the parcel. We confirm the review path with the Racine County Development Services Department, 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 Racine County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.