Waukesha County

Construction Activities
Construction Activities Zoning Permit Procedure and Flow Chart

A Zoning Permit is required when a structure or part thereof is located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered in all areas of the Towns of Oconomowoc and Ottawa; or the shoreland/floodland areas (generally within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a stream) in the Towns of Brookfield, Delafield, Eagle, Genesee, Lisbon, Merton and Mukwonago.

Per the Ordinance definition, a structure includes, but is not limited to, buildings, pergolas, gazebos, signs, swimming pools, hot tubs, patios, decks, sidewalks, walkways, firepits, retaining walls, monuments, entrance gates, and towers.

Permit Requirements
1. To assist with electronic submittals of Zoning Permits during the COVID-19 outbreak, we have developed a fillable Zoning Permit application form (which includes a checklist described above) for your use and submittal. ***Please note: The form must be saved to your local desktop BEFORE filling in the application.***
2. The following supplemental forms may be necessary. See descriptions below for applicability.
- Land Owner Authorized Agent Form if agent is signing forms on behalf of the Owner.
- Preliminary Site Evaluation if lot is served by a private well and/or septic system. Please contact the Environmental Health Division for more information.
- Impervious Surface Permitting Worksheet if proposing improvements on a lot abutting a navigable waterway and within 300 ft. of the waterway or on a lot that does not abut a navigable waterway, but is located entirely within 300 ft. of the waterway.
- Treated Impervious Surface Worksheet and TIS Fact Sheet (fillable) if proposing to exclude impervious surfaces from the impervious surface calculations.
- Nonconforming Use and Structure Value Worksheet if improvements are proposed to a structure with a nonconforming use, or if the structure is located in the floodplain. Contact the Planner of the Day for more information.
- Mitigation Permitting Worksheet (fillable) if one or more of the following apply, which may require mitigation*:
- Lateral expansion of a principal structure within the shore setback.
- Lateral expansion of a principal structure within the wetland setback.
- Relocation of a principal structure within the shore setback.
- Impervious surface percentage that requires mitigation. See below:
General Standard Highly Developed Shorelines (HDS)**
>15%-30% >30%-40% residential use or >40%-60%

*See Mitigation Handbook for more information.
** Contact the Planner of the Day to see if your property qualifies as a HDS,
or once activated, go to https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/interactivemap/.
- Form A if necessary to ensure that the lowest level of a structure meets the 1 ft. separation to seasonal high groundwater requirement.
- Stormwater Permit if extensive land altering activities are proposed to prevent sediment from leaving your site. Please contact the Land Resources Division for more information.
Please contact the Planner of the Day for more information.
Minor Grading

Minor Grading Zoning Permit Procedure and Flowchart

A Minor Grading permit is necessary for land altering activities or projects of less than 3,000 square feet in area and/or less than 15 cubic yards in aggregate.

•Application Form (fillable form) ***Please note: The form must be saved to your local desktop BEFORE filling in the application.***
•Land Owner Authorized Agent Form
•Wetland Notice Form (fillable form) This form applies to all Zoning Permits and must be signed by the owner in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 59.691. This information is provided to give you notice regarding potential wetlands.

You may also need a Storm Water Permit from the County Land Resources Division. Please contact them at (262) 896-8300.
Vegetation Removal
Vegetation Removal Zoning Permit Procedure and Flowchart

A permit is necessary for certain tree cutting and/or vegetative removal activities in the Shoreland and Floodland Jurisdictional areas (generally within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a stream), within Primary Environmental Corridors, on lands with preservation restrictions, and on properties zoned EC Environmental Corridor District.
- Application Form (fillable form) ***Please note: The form must be saved to your local desktop BEFORE filling in the application.***
- Land Owner Authorized Agent Form
- Wetland Notice Form (fillable form) This form applies to all Zoning Permits and must be signed by the owner in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 59.691. This information is provided to give you notice regarding potential wetlands.
Floodplain Development in C-1
Floodplain Development in C-1 Zoning Permit Procedure and Flowchart

A permit is necessary for any permitted uses allowed in the C-1 Conservancy District, including road right-of-ways.
- Application Form (fillable form) ***Please note: The form must be saved to your local desktop BEFORE filling in the application.***
- C-1 Conservancy District Permit Proposal Checklist (fillable form)
- EFD Existing Floodplain Development District Permit (fillable form)
- Land Owner Authorized Agent Form
- Wetland Notice Form (fillable form) This form applies to all Zoning Permits and must be singed by the owner in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 59.691. This information is provided to give you notice regarding potential wetlands.
If you have a non-conforming structure or use, you may need to complete the Non-Conforming Structure Worksheet and/or the Non-Conforming Structure and Use Worksheet. Contact the Planner of the Day for more information.

You may need a Preliminary Site Evaluation for impact on your well and septic system or a Storm Water Permit to prevent sediment from leaving your site.
Airport Height Ordinance
Airport Height Zoning Permit Procedure and Flowchart

A permit is required to regulate the use of property and restrict the height of structures, including cranes, within certain distances of the Waukesha County Airport (aka Crites Field) boundaries. Please contact the Planner of the Day for more information at (262) 548-7790.
- Application Form (fillable form) ***Please note: The form must be saved to your local desktop BEFORE filling in the application.***
- Landowners Authorized Agent Form
- Wetland Notice Form (fillable form) This form applies to all Zoning Permits and must be signed by the owner in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 59.691. This information is provided to give you notice regarding potential wetlands.
You may need a Preliminary Site Evaluation for impact on your well and septic system or a Storm Water Permit to prevent sediment from leaving your site.

Zoning Permits

Application Fees
Permit Guide
Please click on the type of Zoning Permit listed below for more information.

Back to Types of Permits

Mailing Address: 515 W. Moreland Blvd. Room AC 230, Waukesha, WI 53188
Reception Desk: Room AC260
Business Hours: M-F, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (excluding Holidays)
Email is the preferred method of communication and forms and plans
should be submitted electronically to pod@waukeshacounty.gov. Please note, the Planner of the Day is available by phone,
email or virtual meeting appointments only.
Phone: (262) 548-7790 | Fax: (262) 896-8071

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