Buffalo County, WI zoning map, flood zone and property lines by address
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Towns in Buffalo County: Mondovi, Alma, Buffalo City.
Flood zone by address
ParcelSheet reads FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer at the lot: the zone, whether it is a high risk area where lenders ask for flood insurance, and the base flood elevation where FEMA lists one. FEMA's countywide study for Buffalo County has 81 FIRM panels, the newest effective May 2010; no coastal V zones are mapped in it.
The official panel and any Letter of Map Amendment are at FEMA's Map Service Center. An elevation certificate for a Buffalo house comes from a licensed surveyor and is often on file with the county or city building office.
Property lines
The parcel outline, parcel number and mapped size come from the Wisconsin statewide parcel layer (from each county, compiled by the State Cartographer), so a Buffalo lot shows the same lines the real property lister draws. Buffalo County covers about 432,507 acres of land and 21,634 acres of water.
Mapped lines are approximate. The Buffalo County real property lister keeps the parcel record (Buffalo County website); a licensed surveyor sets the true corners.
Zoning
In Wisconsin zoning is set by the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is: in Buffalo County, Mondovi, Alma, Buffalo City each zone the land inside their limits. ParcelSheet shows the use code on the lot's parcel record and the municipality it sits in; the county, town or city zoning office has the district, the uses it allows and the lot size it needs. The Buffalo County website lists the county's municipalities.
ADU and guest houses
Under Wisconsin's zoning laws (Wis. Stat. 59.69 for counties, 60.61 for towns and 62.23 for cities), the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is can allow an accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a house. Whether a Buffalo lot can add one depends on its district; the county, town or city zoning office has the rule. ParcelSheet shows the mapped lot size and the ground's slope, the first two things the question turns on.
Septic and soil
ParcelSheet reads the USDA soil survey at the lot: the soil's name, its septic absorption rating and whether it is prime farmland. Buffalo County is soil survey area WI011, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, last updated September 2026, on Web Soil Survey.
A new or changed septic system in Buffalo County needs a permit from the Buffalo County sanitary permit office under the state POWTS rules (Department of Safety and Professional Services).
Setbacks
Setbacks in Buffalo County come from the zoning district: the front, side and rear distances a house must keep. ParcelSheet does not draw setback lines; the county, town or city zoning office gives them for the lot's district, and Mondovi, Alma, Buffalo City for land inside their limits.
Hazards that apply
- Wetlands and wildfire. ParcelSheet shows the National Wetlands Inventory near a Buffalo lot and the Forest Service wildfire hazard rating at it.
Questions
Is my house in a flood zone in Buffalo County?
Type the address in the box above and ParcelSheet reads FEMA's flood zone at the lot's center. FEMA's countywide flood map for Buffalo County has 81 panels, the newest effective May 2010. A lender or insurer uses the official FIRM panel; FEMA's Map Service Center has it.
How do I find property lines in Buffalo County?
Open the Wisconsin map, type the address, and the parcel outline from the Buffalo County real property lister shows on the map with its parcel number and mapped size. Mapped lines are approximate; only a licensed surveyor sets the true corners.
What is my property zoned in Buffalo County?
Zoning in Buffalo County is set by the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is (such as Mondovi, Alma). ParcelSheet shows the use code on the parcel record and names the municipality; the county, town or city zoning office has the final word.
Can I build an ADU in Buffalo County?
Under Wisconsin's zoning laws (Wis. Stat. 59.69 for counties, 60.61 for towns and 62.23 for cities), the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is can allow an accessory dwelling unit, and each sets its own rules. In Buffalo County ask the county, town or city zoning office for the lot's district first; ParcelSheet shows the lot size as mapped so you can see the room you have.
Do I need a septic permit in Buffalo County?
Yes. A new or changed septic system in Buffalo County needs a permit from the Buffalo County sanitary permit office under the state POWTS rules (Department of Safety and Professional Services). ParcelSheet shows the USDA soil survey's septic rating at the lot, from survey area WI011 (Buffalo County, Wisconsin).
What can I build on 5 acres in Buffalo County?
Zoning in Buffalo County is set by the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is (such as Mondovi, Alma). The zoning district decides the uses, how many homes and the smallest lot it allows on 5 acres. ParcelSheet shows the lot size as mapped and the use code on the parcel record; the county, town or city zoning office has the district and its rules. See the Buffalo County website.
What are the residential setbacks in Buffalo County (2026)?
Setbacks in Buffalo County come from the zoning code of the municipality the lot sits in: the front, side and rear distances depend on the lot's district. ParcelSheet does not draw setback lines or give a number it did not read; the county, town or city zoning office gives them for the district. See the Buffalo County website.
Next to Buffalo County: Eau Claire County, Pepin County, Trempealeau County.
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