Winnebago County, WI Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 23.7-271 requires a zoning permit before any deck is established, expanded, moved, reconstructed, or enlarged, unless specifically exempted. A deck attached to the house must meet the same yard, height, and separation standards as the principal building; a free-standing deck follows accessory-building standards and still counts toward the maximum number of detached accessory buildings on the lot. Patios must sit at least 5 feet from any property line but are exempt from separation and accessory floor-area limits. These rules bind only the unincorporated towns that adopted Winnebago County's zoning ordinance under Wis. Stat. § 59.69, not Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, or Appleton.