Sauk County, WI Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Sauk County Code § 7.052 sets the zoning framework for home-based businesses across the unincorporated county's Land Resources and Environment jurisdiction. A home-based business runs as an accessory use to an existing residential use on the same lot, and it is permitted, subject to a land use permit from the Zoning Administrator, in the SFR, MFR, RUC, EA, AG, and RC districts. That standard-permit tier limits the operation to one full-time-equivalent employee who does not live on the lot, and caps the business's floor area at 30 percent of the combined gross floor area of the dwelling and any accessory building, never more than 600 square feet.

A second, more intensive tier is available only in the EA, RC, and AG districts, but it requires approval of a conditional use by the Agency in addition to the land use permit; that tier allows up to two non-resident employees and a floor area of up to 50 percent of combined gross floor area, capped at 1,200 square feet. Either way, retail sales are restricted to goods grown, produced, or assembled on the premises, outdoor storage or display is prohibited, all mechanical equipment must run inside a structure, and the business cannot generate detectable odor, dust, smoke, vibration, light, or noise beyond the property line.

Structural additions built for the business must look residential so they can revert to residential use later, and the only outward sign of the business permitted is the sign allowed under Subchapter X.