Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Howard, Wisconsin

Town of Howard’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, addition, or alteration of one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 inside Howard town

  • Permit required before the work begins; work may proceed after the building inspector issues the permit.
  • Threshold: the ordinance reads '$25,000.00 value, in any twelve (12) month period' against alterations; the same sentence requires a permit to build or add onto any building within scope without a stated threshold. The sentence is read as written here.
  • Structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems that involve extension require permits.
  • Exempt: restoration or repair of an installation to its pervious code-compliant condition as determined by the building inspector (the source spells 'pervious').
  • Exempt: residing, re-roofing, finishing or interior surfaces, and installation of cabinetry.

  alteration value threshold within any 12-month period: > 25000 USD (Stated in the ordinance as 'in excess of'; other building and addition work listed without a threshold)

  “no person shall alter, in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) value, in any twelve (12) 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 built since June 1, 1980 inside Howard town

  • Adoption covers only one- and two-family dwellings; the ordinance states its scope as the construction and inspection of one-and-two family dwellings built since june 1, 1980.
  • The ordinance adopts the state Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, chapters Comm 20-25, and all amendments by reference.
  • The ordinance's adoption or amendment date is not stated in the text read; no effective date recorded.

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chapters comm. 20-25 if 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.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction and inspection of one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 inside Howard town

  • Inspection authority is limited to the UDC scope (one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980).
  • The building inspector administers and enforces the ordinance; the town page lists a building inspector.
  • Inspection stages and frequency are not stated in the text read.

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions of land inside Howard town

  • Land suitability: the town plan commission may find land unsuitable for subdivision for flooding, drainage, soils, water supply, sewerage or similar reasons.
  • Where public sewer is not available, the plan commission determines the minimum lot size based on the soil rating even if zoning allows a smaller lot.
  • Final plat is filed with the town clerk and reviewed by the town plan commission; the ordinance sets plat and CSM procedures.

  “the commission shall determine the minimum lot size required if public sewer is not available even though the minimum lot size allowed under the zoning is less than the soil rating might require.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Land division and building sites in floodable areas inside Howard town

  • Stated in the subdivision ordinance: where floodplains are delineated on a zoning district map or determined by the plan commission, the plat must be designated so building sites allow private disposal systems.
  • Building sites must be set so the lowest floor is two feet above the normal high water line.
  • The subdivision chapter also says building permits shall not be issued in areas it designates for drainage easements.
  • Floodplain zoning district maps were not located; no separate floodplain permit rule was found.

  “so that the lowest floor level of a building shall be two (2) feet above the normal high water line”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit and inspection fees for UDC work inside Howard town

  • Fees are set by town resolution, not in Chapter 5 itself.
  • The town's Chapter 16 Schedule of Fees and Forfeitures is listed on the ordinance index but was not opened; amounts are not stated here.

  “section 5.7 building permit and inspection fees the building permit and inspection fees shall be determined by resolution.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for UDC work inside Howard town

  • Permits are issued by the town building inspector (Chapter 5, section 5.6).
  • Application contents, timing, and review steps are not stated in the text read.
  • Fees are set by resolution (section 5.7).

  “without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the building inspector.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Howard

Town of Howard does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems for structures inside Howard town (administered countywide by Chippewa County, which covers the town)

  • Applies to structures not served by a public sewer that have running water plumbed in.
  • The county page states the ordinance is administered countywide; it does not separately name the town as an administrator.
  • The state statute on town building permits and sanitary permits was seen only in search snippets and is not cited here.

  “the chippewa county private sewage system ordinance is administered county-wide.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Howard or Chippewa County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder or owner-occupant exemption for UDC work inside Howard town
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Howard town: whether a certificate of occupancy is issued
• Local zoning — Land inside Howard town limits (Town of Howard, Chippewa County, WI): whether a town zoning ordinance exists
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for land inside Howard town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Howard town, main single-family residential district

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.