Accessory Structures in Wausau, WI (2026)
3 verified accessory structures rules for Wausau, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Wausau allows accessory dwelling units on a single-family lot under Municipal Code § 23.03.28(6), capping occupancy at one family plus a roomer or two unrelated people and requiring the unit to meet the underlying district's setbacks. Front-facing entrances on the main building are off-limits.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 23.03.28(6)(a)-(d)
(6)Accessory dwelling unit: Residential dwellings located directly above the ground floor of a building used for an office, commercial, or institutional land use, or a residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling unit, either in the same building as the single-family dwelling unit or in a detached building. Regulations: (a)The number of occupants of the accessor...
ADU Owner Occupancy
An accessory dwelling unit sharing a lot with a single-family home in Wausau requires the principal building to be owner-occupied. Municipal Code § 23.03.28(6)(e) also bars selling the ADU separately and caps its size at 75 percent of the main home's floor area, up to 800 square feet.
ADU Owner-Occupancy Rule in Wausau
Significant RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 23.03.28(6)(e)
(e)For accessory dwelling units located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling unit, the following additional regulations shall apply:1.The principal building must be owner-occupied.2.The accessory dwelling unit shall not be sold separately from the principal dwelling.3.The maximum size of an accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 75 percent of the principal dwelling's floor area, up to ...
Shed & Carport Rules
Sheds in Wausau are accessory structures under Title 23 of the Wausau Municipal Code. The City of Wausau Inspections, Zoning and Electrical Systems Division requires a building permit for any detached garage, lean-to, storage building, gazebo or similar accessory structure - including prefab sheds and buildings built off-site and placed on the lot. Permit applications are submitted through the city's Evolve Permit Portal and are reviewed by the Inspections Division at (715) 261-6780.
Shed Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Inspection & Zoning Division — Permit Information
Permits are REQUIRED for the following: New construction or an addition to a building. Alterations/remodeling (kitchen cabinets, drywalling, etc.). Construction of a detached garage, lean-to, storage building, gazebo, etc., or any additions or alterations thereto. This includes placement of prefab sheds, and buildings built off-site. Note: canopy (tent-like) structures are not allowed. Construc...
Looking for Marathon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wausau city rules.
Accessory Structures in Marathon County →