Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Potter, Wisconsin

Village of Potter’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, additions and alterations to one- and two-family dwellings inside Potter village

  • Alterations of $1000 or less value in any twelve month period do not need a permit
  • Restoration or repair to previous code-compliant condition, re-siding, re-roofing, interior surface finishing and cabinetry installation are exempt
  • Structural changes or major mechanical changes with extensions require permits
  • Separate 1981 ordinance 1981-6 also requires a clerk-issued permit for new structures, additions and moved structures including mobile homes

  alteration value threshold: > 1000 USD per 12 months (exempt work listed above)

  “no person shall alter, in excess of $1000.00 value in any twelve month period, build, add onto or alter any building within the scope of this ordinance without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Potter village

  • Scope: one and two family dwellings built since June 1, 1980, plus alterations/additions to older ones and detached garages serving them

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chs. comm. 20-25 of the wisconsin administrative code, and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference and shall apply to all buildings within the scope of this ordinance.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction of one- and two-family dwellings inside Potter village

  • Scope limited to one and two family dwellings, additions/alterations and detached garages serving them

  “the scope of this ordinance includes the construction and inspection of one and two family dwellings built since june 1, 1980.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All lands and waters within the corporate limits of Potter village, Calumet County

  • Jurisdiction covers all lands and waters within the corporate limits of the village
  • Compliance with other applicable local, county and state regulations is also required

  “this ordinance shall be known as, referred to, or cited as the zoning ordinance for the village of potter, calumet county, wisconsin.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Potter village zoning districts

  • Ten districts: R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, I, A, CON, REC, W
  • Boundaries delineated on the zoning district map (adopted zoning map PDF on village site, not opened)

  “for the purpose of this ordinance, the village of potter is hereby divided into the following districts: one and two-family residence district (r-1) multiple-family residence district (r-2) general commercial district (c-1) highway commercial district (c-2) extensive commercial district (c-3) industrial district (i) agricultural district (a) conservancy district (con) recreational district (rec) shoreland-wetland district (w)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family residences in the One and Two-Family Residence District (R-1), Potter village

  • Duplexes have higher minimums (1,500 sq. ft. one-story; 1,800 two-story)
  • Agricultural district floor-area rule not located

  min floor area one-story: >= 900 sq ft · min floor area two-story: >= 1150 sq ft · min floor area split-level: >= 1400 sq ft

  “minimum floor area: single-family residences one-story 900 sq. ft. two-story 1,150 sq. ft. split-level (3 or more floors) 1,400 sq. ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Agricultural District (A), Potter village

  • Minimum lot width 200 feet
  • Where public sewerage is unavailable, lot must allow an on-site system complying with ch. Comm 83

  min lot area: >= 5 acres

  “35 feet residential structures; no maximum on other structures. 25 feet 50 feet 20 ft. each side 5 ft. each side 5 acres 200 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family residences in R-1 district, Potter village

    “minimum lot area: single-family residences 8,500 sq. ft. zero lot line duplexes 7,250 sq. ft. per single- family unit”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural District (A), Potter village

  • Values read in the source's listed order: front, rear, side principal, side accessory

  front yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard: >= 50 feet · side yard, principal: >= 20 feet each side · side yard, accessory: >= 5 feet each side

  “35 feet residential structures; no maximum on other structures. 25 feet 50 feet 20 ft. each side 5 ft. each side 5 acres 200 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal and accessory buildings in R-1 district, Potter village

    “minimum side yard setback: principal building 35 feet 25 feet 25 feet 3 feet 8 ft. each side except zero lot line duplexes (sec. 2.17) 3 feet accessory building”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agricultural District (A), Potter village

  • No maximum on non-residential structures

  max height, residential structures: <= 35 feet (no maximum on other structures)

  “35 feet residential structures; no maximum on other structures.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 district, Potter village

    “minimum side yard setback: principal building 35 feet 25 feet 25 feet 3 feet 8 ft. each side except zero lot line duplexes (sec. 2.17) 3 feet accessory building”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  UDC building permits inside Potter village

  • Fee set by village board resolution, which was not located
  • Ordinance 1981-6 lists an older fee schedule ($50 new construction) that may be superseded

  state UDC permit seal included in fee: 25 USD (for any new dwelling)

  “the building permit fee shall be determined by resolution and shall include $25.00 to be forwarded to the wisconsin department of commerce for a udc permit seal that shall be assigned to any new dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Potter village
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Potter village
• Lot coverage — R-1 and Agricultural districts, Potter village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Potter village
• Camping on your land — Camping inside Potter village

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.