Waukesha County, reaching into Walworth
Mukwonago roofing, siding and remodeling, village and town
Mukwonago is two municipalities with one name, and their roofing rules are opposite: the Village requires a permit to re-roof, and the Town of Mukwonago says none is needed. Half the village's homes were built in 1990 or later.
Covers the Village of Mukwonago and the Town of Mukwonago.
- Population, Village (2020 Census)
- 8,262 (8,040 in Waukesha County, 222 in Walworth County)
- Median year built, Village
- 1990 (ACS 2020–2024, ±4 yrs)
- Village homes built before 1980
- 36.1%
- Owner-occupied homes, Village
- 73.0%
- Drive from Muskego
- 14.7 mi west-southwest, about 23 min
- Re-roof permit
- Village: required. Town of Mukwonago: not required
A young village beside the Phantom Lakes
Half the Village of Mukwonago's homes were built in 1990 or later, and only 36.1% predate 1980, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 estimates. That makes it one of the younger communities C&L serves in Waukesha County, alongside Muskego.
Because the state's Uniform Dwelling Code governs any one- or two-family home begun on or after June 1, 1980, it covers most houses in the village. The work is first-round replacement: roofs, siding and windows that may be original, and kitchens and baths of the same age. Under the code, a re-roof on these houses can't go over two existing layers, and roofs of 4:12 slope or less over heated space need ice-dam protection at the eaves. The older homes, the 36.1% built before 1980 and 5.4% before 1940, call for the older-house approach: lead-safe prep on anything from before 1978 and a closer look at framing and flashing.
Water shapes part of the area. The Wisconsin DNR lists Lower Phantom Lake at 373 acres and only 12 ft at its deepest, and Phantom Lake at 110 acres and 29 ft. Houses near open water take more wind and sun on the lake side and stay damper on the shaded side, which shows first in paint, caulk and the bottom courses of siding.
What homeowners in Mukwonago most often need
Re-roofing: the Village files, the Town doesn't
In the Village, a roof replacement needs a permit, applied for online, and the Village notes that "the State Code allows a maximum of two layers of shingles." In the Town, the building inspection page says no permit is required for re-roofs. The standard of the work shouldn't change with the paperwork: tear-off where layers require it, ice-and-water membrane at the eaves, balanced ventilation and new flashing.
RoofingSiding on 1990s houses
The Village requires permits "for the installation of new and replacement siding, but not for gutters." On a 1990s house, siding fails first at openings and roof-wall intersections, so an estimate should name the water-resistive barrier, the window and door flashing, and kickout flashing where a roof eave meets a wall.
SidingGutters, permit-free in the Village
Because the Village exempts gutters from permits, gutter replacement can be scheduled on its own. Size gutters for the roof area, slope them to the downspouts, and discharge water at least 4 ft from the foundation. If a re-roof or re-side is coming, do the gutters after it so the drip edge and flashing tie in; the exterior project order guide explains why.
GuttersKitchens that keep their footprint
Village rules say a kitchen or bath remodel needs building, electrical and plumbing permits, but "if replacing cabinets only and the footprint remains the same, no building permit is required." That line sets the scope of a kitchen remodel: keep the footprint and the building permit may not apply; change it and you file.
Kitchen RemodelingVillage and Town of Mukwonago permits
The Village's building inspection pages state that "building permits are required for the installation of new or replacement roofs" and for "new and replacement siding, but not for gutters." Re-roofing permits for one- and two-family homes require the contractor's valid State of Wisconsin certifications. "All permits need to be applied for online" through BS&A, and contractors must register first.
Kitchen and bath remodels need building, electrical and plumbing permits; replacing cabinets only, in the same footprint, does not need a building permit. The Village's pages don't address window replacement, so ask before ordering. Mind the web address: villageofmukwonago.com is a parked domain, and the official site is villageofmukwonago.gov.
The Town of Mukwonago is a separate municipality. Its building inspection page states: "No Permits are required for fences and re-roofs." Its rules for siding, windows and remodeling were not part of the research for this page, so call the Town for those.
Village of Mukwonago Building Inspection Services (opens in a new tab)
Sources
- 1.Village of Mukwonago, Items Requiring Permits (opens in a new tab)
- 2.Village of Mukwonago, Building Inspection Services (opens in a new tab)
- 3.Town of Mukwonago, Building Inspection (opens in a new tab)
- 4.Wisconsin DNR, Lower Phantom Lake (opens in a new tab)
- 5.Wisconsin DNR, Phantom Lake (opens in a new tab)
- 6.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 (opens in a new tab)
- 7.U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year, B25035 (opens in a new tab)
- 8.OSRM route from Muskego City Hall (approximate) (opens in a new tab)
Two counties, two municipalities
The Village of Mukwonago reaches across the line into Walworth County, where 222 of its residents lived in 2020. The Town of Mukwonago, a separate municipality with 7,781 residents in 2020, includes the older place name Jericho. Both are in C&L's Waukesha County service area.
Questions from Mukwonago
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Mukwonago?
It depends which Mukwonago. The Village requires a permit for new or replacement roofs, applied for online. The Town of Mukwonago says no permit is required for re-roofs. If you're unsure which you live in, your property tax bill names the municipality.
Do gutters need a permit in the Village of Mukwonago?
No. The Village requires a permit for siding "but not for gutters."
Does C&L serve the Town of Mukwonago too?
Yes. C&L serves both the Village and the Town, about 15 miles west-southwest of its Muskego base by road. Estimates are free.
Can I swap kitchen cabinets without a permit in the Village?
Yes, if you are replacing cabinets only and the footprint stays the same. A remodel that changes the layout needs building, electrical and plumbing permits.
Free estimates · Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
A free estimate in Mukwonago.
What needs doing, roughly how old the house is, and when you would like it done. C&L will set up a time to look at it in person.