Town of Birnamwood
Shawano County, Wisconsin
Last verified September 17, 2026
Town of Birnamwood is a jurisdiction in Shawano County, Wisconsin, with an online portal for searching and pulling active or historical building permits. Use the contact information below to reach the local building department, or the mailing address if the jurisdiction needs to be listed as a certificate holder on a contractor's insurance documentation.
Certificate Holder Mailing Address
Mike Block, UDC Inspector715-490-4049 (town site) / 715-490-4069 (WI DSPS list) — discrepancy, unconfirmed
mikeblock67@icloud.com
Use this address when the jurisdiction needs to be listed as a certificate holder on a contractor's insurance documentation.
Additional Notes
Town of Birnamwood (Shawano County) and Village of Birnamwood (Marathon County) are UNRELATED governments despite the shared name. Per the town's own permits page, the Town of Birnamwood does not issue its own building permits; jurisdiction is with Shawano County Planning, Development & Zoning (appointment required; toll-free 866-526-2128). UDC (1 & 2 family dwelling) contact listed as Mike Block; the town page shows 715-490-4049 while the WI DSPS statewide list shows 715-490-4069 for the same person — minor phone discrepancy, hedge/confirm. Town Treasurer Deb Kessen (drcdeb@aol.com) is a general town website contact, not confirmed as a permit contact.
What You Need Before Applying for a Permit
Most building departments ask for the same core package before they'll issue a permit: a completed application naming the property owner and contractor, the contractor's state license number and proof of insurance (general liability, and workers' comp if employees are on the job), a notice of commencement or equivalent recorded filing for larger jobs where the state requires one, and scaled plans or a site plan for anything beyond minor repairs. Roofing, fence, pool, and solar permits typically have their own simplified checklists — Town of Birnamwood's department (above) can confirm exactly what applies to your project.
Why this matters for insurance: permit history is one of the first things an underwriter or adjuster checks. Unpermitted work — a finished basement, an added bedroom, a rebuilt roof — can complicate a claim or even void coverage for that portion of the loss, and it routinely surfaces during a home inspection. Pulling the right permit up front, and keeping the closed-permit record on file, protects both the property's value and its insurability at resale.
More in Shawano County
See Shawano County property and court records →
Other building permit jurisdictions in Shawano County: