Pierce County, Wisconsin Hudson, River Falls & the St. Croix Valley

Barndominium Builders in River Falls, Wisconsin

River Falls sits about 30 miles east of the Twin Cities metro, and a good share of the people asking us about barndominiums here commute west but want room for a shop, a few animals or simply more space than a subdivision lot gives them. Our crews put up steel-framed and post-frame houses in the city and the surrounding countryside, and we also supply barndominium kits to buyers who would rather finish the interior on their own schedule. Requests near River Falls lean toward a shouse with a heated workshop, pole barn homes on acreage in the surrounding towns, and metal building homes with a simple, durable exterior. The paperwork depends on where the lot sits. Inside the city, the River Falls Building and Inspections Division reviews the plans and issues a single permit for the whole house, by appointment. Outside the city limits, the town's building inspector handles it, and the county you land in matters, because the area around River Falls splits between Pierce County and St. Croix County. Barndominium contractors who pin down the jurisdiction first spend less time redrawing plans later. Send us the parcel details through the survey and we will map out the permit path, the site work and the build sequence for that lot.

River Falls at a glance

Principal county: Pierce County
Building permit: City or village building inspection
Local facts on this page: 6, each linked to its source

Tell us about your land

Before you build in River Falls

The local answers that shape a build here, each taken from the office or document that publishes it. Rules change, so we confirm them again against your parcel before drawing.

City or village permitWho issues the permit

City of River Falls Building and Inspections Division (City Hall, by appointment)

Inside the city limits, the Building and Inspections Division reviews plans, issues one permit for the whole project and inspects the work, including plumbing, HVAC and residential electrical. New-home permits are issued by appointment and stay valid for two years. Outside the city, the owner goes to the town's building inspector: the Towns of Clifton and River Falls in Pierce County, or Kinnickinnic and Troy in St. Croix County.

Source: Building and Inspections, City of River Falls (rfcity.org)

Who issues the permit: The City of River Falls Building and Inspections Division reviews plans, issues permits and inspects all new residential construction in the city, including plumbing, heating and air conditioning and residential electrical work. One permit covers the entire project, permits are valid for two years, and they are issued by appointment.
New-home paperwork: For new home construction the City of River Falls lists a New Home Application Checklist, the state's online new-home building permit application, a site and erosion control plan packet, and a new-construction application for utilities covering the electric service site plan and the water and sewer lateral inspection.
Two counties: The City of River Falls lies in two counties: the city's tax page directs owners of Pierce County properties within the city limits to the Pierce County Treasurer, and owners of St. Croix County properties within the city limits to the St. Croix County Treasurer.
Outside the city limits: The City of River Falls tells owners outside the city to get the permit from their town's building inspector, listing the Town of Clifton and Town of River Falls in Pierce County and the Town of Kinnickinnic and Town of Troy in St. Croix County.
Pierce County land use and septic: Pierce County's zoning office issues land use permits for structures 6 inches or more above the ground, including dwellings, and a sanitary permit is needed before a new dwelling is permitted and built. The office also administers the county's floodplain, shoreland, wetland, subdivision and St. Croix Riverway ordinances.
Kinnickinnic River: The City of River Falls describes the Kinnickinnic River as a 22-mile, spring-fed trout stream that flows through the city, with a 174-square-mile watershed.

Building on land near River Falls

Land shopping around River Falls starts with two questions: which county, and which town. On the Pierce County side, the county zoning office issues the land use permit and the sanitary permit, and it wants the septic permit settled before the house is permitted. On the St. Croix County side, that county's rules apply instead. Parcels along the Kinnickinnic or its tributaries may fall under shoreland or floodplain rules, so check the maps before you pick a building spot. Inside the city, new lots connect to municipal utilities, which is its own application. For the St. Croix side, see the [St. Croix County page](/areas/st-croix-county-wi/), and for the next city north, the [Hudson page](/areas/hudson-wi/).

Where we build in this part of Wisconsin

Hudson, River Falls & the St. Croix Valley

What we build in River Falls

Kits, custom plans and pole barn homes. The parcel decides the budget more than the floor area does, so we price against your land rather than a rate card.

Barndominium Kits

Barndominium kits for Wisconsin land: steel or post-frame shell packages sized for your snow zone and frost depth, with a set ready for plan review.

Custom Plans

Custom barndominium floor plans for your Wisconsin parcel: drawn around the lake setback, the septic site, the slope and the plan review ahead.

Pole Barn Homes

Pole barn homes in Wisconsin built as real houses: post-frame posts below frost, trusses sized for your snow zone, and walls built for heating season.

See every service

Have land in or near River Falls? Tell us about the parcel and what you want to build, and we will check it against the local rules before anything is drawn.

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Building in River Falls: questions

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How much does it cost to build a barndominium near River Falls?

The total depends on size, finishes, foundation and whether the lot has city utilities or needs a well and septic, so we quote only after seeing the site and the plan. The barndominium cost guide takes you through each part of the budget with third-party figures. A rural parcel in a surrounding town adds a soil test and septic design to the early costs.

Do I need a building permit for a barndominium in River Falls?

Yes. Inside the city, new home construction needs a permit from the Building and Inspections Division, applied for by appointment with the new-home checklist, the state's online application and an erosion control plan. A final inspection is required before the house is occupied. Outside the city, apply to your town's building inspector.

Is my River Falls lot in Pierce County or St. Croix County?

It can be either; the city itself spans both counties. Your tax bill shows which treasurer you pay, and that tells you which county's land records, shoreland rules and septic office apply to land outside the city. Check before you design, because the two counties run separate zoning offices.

Can I build a barndominium on acreage in the towns around River Falls?

Generally, where the town and county zoning allow a residence on the parcel. In the Pierce County towns, plan on a county land use permit and a sanitary permit alongside the town building permit. Our pole-frame building page explains the framing system and what it means for your plans.

Keep reading

What usually comes next once you know what River Falls allows.

Barndominium Cost Guide

Sourced per-square-foot ranges by tier and size, and what moves the number on your land.

Read it

Can You Live in a Pole Barn in Wisconsin?

Zoning, septic and who inspects, before you buy the land.

Read it

How Long Does It Take?

From parcel to move-in, and which steps set the clock.

Read it

Sources for this page

The published pages behind the River Falls facts above. Rules change, so check the current version with the office before you rely on it.

Barndominium builders near River Falls

Nearby places we also build in. Across a city limit, a town line or a county line the permit office, zoning and septic rules can change, so each has its own page.

Hudson

St. Croix County, Wisconsin

St. Croix County

Wisconsin county

Eau Claire

Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Building in River Falls?

Start with the survey. Tell us where the land is and what you want on it, and we will come back with which office permits it, what it will allow, and a plan to fit.

Start the survey