Camping Regulations/Permit

Per the Sauk County Zoning Ordinance, Camping is allowed ONLY in the following zoning districts with a land use permit:  Agricultural, Resource Conservancy, Exclusive Agricultural, and Recreation-Commercial.    The following provisions must also be met:

Section 7.055  (1) PROVISIONS. The following general provisions shall be followed:

(a) Camping is limited to either no more than 6 stays per year, and each stay is limited to 15 consecutive days, or one stay per year which is limited to 45 days. At the completion of each stay, all camping units and equipment shall be removed from the camping parcel or stored within a permitted structure which has both a cover and sides. The property must be free from all camping units and equipment for at least 3 consecutive days prior to commencing another stay.   

(b) State approved sanitary provisions, such as metro units, self-contained units or commercially available portable toilet units, shall be available.

(c) Arrangements shall be made for the proper disposal of trash and garbage. Littering shall be prohibited.

(d) Sufficient land area shall be available to accommodate all campers.

(e) Land disturbance activities likely to result in significant erosion, destruction of vegetation or alteration of existing topography, insofar as primarily related to any proposed camping, shall be prohibited.

(f) Camping units shall comply with all setback requirements for the zoning district in which they are located.

(g) Occupation of a camping unit by a person having no other regular place of abode at the time the camping unit is so occupied shall be prohibited.

(h) A camping unit shall not be connected to water or electric except when it is in use.

(i) A camping unit must be properly stored when not in use in a fully enclosed structure or next to a single-family residence.

(2) PERMITS. A land use camping permit for one or more camping stays during one calendar year, may be issued by the zoning administrator under the following conditions:

(a) Camping, when located on a lot or parcel where an existing residential dwelling does not exist, may be permitted in any zoning district except single family residential if it meets the following standards.  All of the provisions in s. 7.055(1) shall be met, and:
1. An owner of record of any lands being used for camping either shall be personally present, or have provided written permission to those persons actually camping.
2. No more than 3 camping units shall be allowed on any lot or parcel.

(b) Camping by organizations or groups on any lot or parcel under one ownership outside of licensed campgrounds may be permitted if it meets the following standards:
1. All of the provisions in s. 7.055(1) shall be met.
2. An owner of record of any lands being used for camping either shall be personallypresent, or have provided written permission to those persons actually camping.