Permits
Town Road Right-of-Way, Driveway, and Road Construction Permits
Doing work in a Town road right-of-way? New or modified driveways, utility installations, road crossings, grading, and temporary obstructions all need a permit from the Town Board. Apply online below.
Jurisdiction. The Town's permit authority extends only to roads it maintains. County Trunk Highways W, J, K, and O pass through Winchester but are maintained by Vilas County. Work on those roads requires a permit from the County, not the Town.
Building a new home, cabin, or structure? A driveway permit is your first step. Apply below, then continue with the full seven-step sequence at New Construction & Fire Number Application →.
⚠️ Fix emergency work immediately. Then call the Clerk within 48 hours at 715-686-2123 so the permit can be issued retroactively.
Permitted Work in Progress
Active and Upcoming Permits
Select any marker for dates and the on-site contact. Questions about active work should be directed to the contact listed for that project.
Before You Apply
Which agency issues my permit?
This page covers Town roads only. County and state highways are permitted by different agencies.
| Road Type | Authority | Apply To |
|---|---|---|
| Town roads (Townsite Rd, Rock Lake Rd, etc.) | Town of Winchester | Use the form below |
| County highways (CTH W, CTH J, CTH K, CTH O) | Vilas County Highway Dept | vilascountywi.gov |
| State highways (US 51, WIS 47, etc.) | WisDOT | wisconsindot.gov |
Requirements
Driveway Permits
Governed by Ordinance 2026-01. Key specifications:
| Fee | $100 non-refundable |
| Approval | Town Board at a regular or special meeting |
| Width at road | 16–32 ft |
| Side lot line setback | ≥ 5 ft |
| Slope within 50 ft of road | ≤ 10% preferred; 10–15% requires Board approval; >15% prohibited |
| Culvert | Required when ditch is present; size set by Town |
| Surface | Gravel minimum within ROW; match road surface when paved |
| Private roads | Not maintained by the Town; connecting to one still requires a permit if it crosses Town ROW |
| Insurance | Certificate of insurance required before work begins |
| Diggers Hotline | Call 811 before excavating |
Right-of-Way & Utility Permits
Utility installations, road crossings, grading, vegetation removal, and any other work within Town right-of-way.
| Fee | None |
| Approval | Town Board at a regular or special meeting |
| Depth of cover | Per utility standards; state on application |
| Traffic control | Flaggers, signage, or lane closure — describe in application |
| Restoration | Right-of-way must be restored to at least its previous condition at applicant's cost |
| Insurance | Certificate of insurance required |
| Diggers Hotline | Call 811 before excavating |
Use the application form below for all permit types.
County zoning, building inspection, and fire-number contacts are listed on the New Construction & Fire Number Application → page.
Apply
Driveway Permits
Complete the form below and submit the $100 non-refundable fee to the Town Clerk. Applications must be received in advance of the Board meeting at which they will be considered.
Right-of-Way & Utility Permits
Complete the form below to initiate the application. The scope and requirements vary by project. All permits require Town Board approval at a regular or special meeting.
County zoning permits, building inspection, or a fire-number application? All handled on the New Construction & Fire Number Application → page, with current contact info.
Permit Application
Select the type of application below. Each form collects the information required for that permit type.
Permitting authority: Town Ordinance 2026-01 (driveways); Wis. Stat. §§ 86.07 and 86.16 (right-of-way & utility). Driveway permit fee $100 per the current Fee Schedule.