Campgrounds
We inspect and license all Waukesha County Campgrounds
All Waukesha County campgrounds must be licensed and inspected each year. We do this to make sure they meet all requirements of Wisconsin law related to general public health.
Prior to operating a campground, you must have a permit from the Department of Parks and Land Use, Environmental Health Division. There are no exemptions to the permitting requirement for private, family-owned, or not-for-profit campgrounds.
Campground plan approval is required prior to beginning the construction phase for a new campground and for the expansion of capacity in an existing campground. A campground plan approval application is required to be completed by the operator and submitted with a map of the new or expanded campground to Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, Environmental Health Division. The map is not required to be created by an architect or engineer.
What is a campground?
A campground is defined as any parcel or tract of land, owned by a person, the state, or a local government, which is used for the purpose of providing campsites for:
- Non-permanent overnight use by four or more campsites or
- Non-permanent overnight use by one to three campsites if the parcel or tract of land is represented as a campground. Note: Represented as a campground means to advertise using the media, a sign, or a symbol.
If you intend to expand the capacity of an existing campground, contact Waukesha County Environmental Health to begin the process of approval to operate the expanded portion. An increase in the size of your campground may also change your permit category, which could increase your permit fee.
How to License a New or Change of Ownership Campground
To apply for a license for a new campground or when there is a change of ownership:
Complete and submit an application and pay fees to Waukesha County Environmental Health Division. Fees and application must be submitted to our office 30 days prior to opening. You may submit the application and payment in the following methods:
- Email - Payment can by made by credit card by calling into the office at 262-896-8300 once you have received confirmation that the application has been received
- Mail or in-person:
- 515 W Moreland Blvd., Room AC260, Waukesha, WI 53188
Zoning:
- Zoning: Find out if you need to meet Waukesha County zoning conditions by visiting the jurisdictional app otherwise contact your local municipality
Duration:
- Each license issued by Waukesha County expires June 30 of each year.
- License dates extend from July 1 of one year through June 30 of the following year.
- If a license is granted after April 1 of a license year, that license will extend to June 30 of the following year.
- Example: If a business is licensed on April 1, 2023, then its license will expire June 30, 2024.
- Renewal fees for existing establishments shall be submitted to Waukesha County Environmental Health before June 30 each year.
