Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Holstein, Wisconsin

New Holstein’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, plumbing and electrical work inside New Holstein city

  • Building inspector may authorize minor repairs valued under $500 that do not change occupancy, area, structure, fire protection, exits, light or ventilation without a permit
  • Plans may be waived for alterations, repairs or moving costing $2000 or less
  • Permit lapses if work is not commenced within 6 months

  “no building, plumbing or electrical work shall be performed in the city unless a permit therefore is obtained as required by the provisions of this chapter.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside New Holstein city

  • Sec. 11.02(2)(a) adopts the dwelling code chapters by reference with respect to additions or remodeling of existing dwellings; 11.02(2)(e)(1) also requires new one- and two-family structures to meet the uniform dwelling code
  • Sec. 11.02(2)(b) adopts state commercial building code chapters for the classes of buildings to which it applies

  “the wisconsin administrative code, chapters 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, are hereby adopted by reference as part of this chapter with respect to all additions or remodeling of existing dwellings.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New buildings and alterations inside New Holstein city

  • Builder must notify the inspector for foundation and pre-lath/paneling inspections

  “after completion, he shall make a final inspection of all new building and alterations.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside New Holstein city limits

  “an ordinance to repeal and recreate chapter 12 of the municipal code of the city of new holstein, also referred to as the zoning code of the city of new holstein. adopted january 20th, 2016.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Inside New Holstein city

  • Districts: R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, I-1, I-2, flood plain districts, plus planned unit development
  • Official zoning map dated August 17, 2011 is kept by the city clerk

  “a) residential districts 1) "r-a" residential-agricultural district 2) "r-1" single-family residential district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  One- and two-family dwellings in any zoning district inside New Holstein city

  • Minimum width 25 feet
  • Board of appeals may vary these size requirements only upon finding compensating design features
  • Structures conforming as of August 20, 2003 are considered in conformity

  minimum living area, 1-story: >= 900 sq ft · minimum first floor living area, 2-story: >= 700 sq ft

  “a one (1) story structure shall have a minimum living area of at least nine hundred (900) square feet and a two (2) story structure shall have a minimum 3 printed 8/20/2022 first floor living area of at least seven hundred (700) square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside New Holstein city

  • Lots of record below minimum may be used if within 70% of area and width requirements
  • Minimum lot frontage 80 feet

  minimum lot area, single family: >= 8000 sq ft

  “(a) minimum lot area 8,000 square feet; single family”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-A residential-agricultural district, inside New Holstein city

    “(a) minimum lot area (b) minimum lot frontage (c) maximum height (d) minimum setback (e) minimum side yard (f) minimum rear yard 5 acres 330 feet 30 feet 30 feet 20 feet 50 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside New Holstein city

  • Side yard 8 feet (20 feet aggregate) for 1 story; 10 feet (25 feet aggregate) for more than 1 story
  • Detached accessory buildings may be no closer than 6 feet to rear and side lot lines

  front setback: >= 30 feet · rear yard: >= 25 feet

  “(b) minimum lot frontage (c) maximum height (d) minimum setback (e) minimum side yard (f) minimum rear yard 80 feet 30 feet 30 feet - 8 feet; 20 feet in aggregate 1 story - 10 feet; 25 feet in aggregate in excess of 1 story 25 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-A residential-agricultural district, inside New Holstein city

    “(a) minimum lot area (b) minimum lot frontage (c) maximum height (d) minimum setback (e) minimum side yard (f) minimum rear yard 5 acres 330 feet 30 feet 30 feet 20 feet 50 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  All residential (R) districts inside New Holstein city

  • Applies to total building coverage including the main building

  maximum total building coverage: <= 35 percent

  “in all "r" districts, accessory buildings shall be built so that the total building coverage of the lot (including the main building area) does not exceed 35 percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside New Holstein city

  • Detached accessory buildings limited to 12 feet or principal building height, whichever is less (12.08.02(3))

  maximum height: <= 30 feet

  “(b) minimum lot frontage (c) maximum height (d) minimum setback (e) minimum side yard (f) minimum rear yard 80 feet 30 feet 30 feet - 8 feet; 20 feet in aggregate 1 story - 10 feet; 25 feet in aggregate in excess of 1 story 25 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-A residential-agricultural district, inside New Holstein city

    “(a) minimum lot area (b) minimum lot frontage (c) maximum height (d) minimum setback (e) minimum side yard (f) minimum rear yard 5 acres 330 feet 30 feet 30 feet 20 feet 50 feet”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupancy of trailers/recreational vehicles inside New Holstein city

  • Exception refers to section 10.04.01 on recreational vehicles/campers, which was not opened
  • Sec. 12.08.13 also bars use of a trailer as a dwelling unit except mobile homes in an approved mobile home park

  “no basement, tent, trailer, or accessory building shall at any time be used as an occupied dwelling, except as provided for in section 10.04.01 regarding recreational vehicles/campers.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside New Holstein city

  • Mobile home parks are a conditional use in the R-2 district
  • Manufactured homes placed outside parks must also meet ch. 11 foundation, size, width and roof-pitch design requirements for dwellings

  “no cellar, basement of unfinished home, garage, tent, trailer or accessory building shall at any time be used as a dwelling unit except mobile homes located in an approved mobile home park.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lots inside New Holstein city

  • Lots of 3 acres or less created for erecting a structure must be approved by the city council after plan commission review (12.08.12)

  “lots contained in the city of new holstein shall not be redivided or subdivided in any way without the approval of the plan commission and common council of the city of new holstein.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside New Holstein city

  • Amounts are set by common council resolution and are not stated in the code chapter; additions of 250 sq ft or more are charged as new-home fees

  “(d) all additions which are 250 sq. ft. or more shall be charged fees under section 11.01(2)(a).”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside New Holstein city

  • Two complete sets of plans and specifications are required unless waived
  • Zoning matters also go to plan commission/council as described in ch. 12

  “application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the building inspector”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask New Holstein or Calumet County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Inside New Holstein city
• Certificate of occupancy — Inside New Holstein city
• Camping on your land — Inside New Holstein city
• Tiny homes — Inside New Holstein city
• Accessory dwellings — Inside New Holstein city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.