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

Town of Ruby’s own rules

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Ruby town

  • The county ordinance is administered county-wide.
  • The system requirements cited apply to structures or premises intended for human habitation or occupancy that are not served by public sewer and have running water plumbed into the structure.

  “The Chippewa County Private Sewage System Ordinance is administered county-wide. The purpose of the ordinance is to promote and protect public health, safety, and the environment by assuring the proper siting, design, installation, inspection, and management of private sewage systems.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Structures or premises inside Ruby town that are intended for human habitation or occupancy, are not served by public sewer, and have running water plumbed into the structure

  • The condition applies only where the structure or premises is permanently or intermittently intended for human habitation or occupancy.
  • The condition applies only where the structure is not served by public sewer and has running water plumbed into it.
  • A system for holding or treatment and dispersal of sewage and wastewater is required.

  “required to have a system for holding or treatment and dispersal of sewage and wastewater.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells and private water systems inside Ruby town

  • Chapter 62 applies to the entire county, including towns.
  • A county well-location permit is required unless the owner has arranged to acquire it by notifying the administrator before construction.
  • The county does not require or issue a well-location permit for private water systems requiring written plan approval from the department.
  • A permit may not be issued while the owner or designated agent is in violation of the article, except where the permit is to allow correction of that violation.

  permit application lead time for contamination-source information: >= 2 working days (The owner or well constructor must be interested in receiving information about potential contamination sources.)

  “No person may install a private well or water system unless the owner [...] holds a valid well location permit issued by the county”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County Planning and Zoning permits and applications affecting land inside Ruby town where county administration applies

  • The county page identifies the 2026 fee schedule as effective January 1, 2026.
  • The opened page does not establish that every listed county fee applies to every permit or parcel in Ruby town.

  “View or download the 2026 Fee Schedule (PDF), which is effective on January 1, 2026.”

• Permit processPartial

  County well, address, sanitary, and zoning permit applications affecting land inside Ruby town where county administration applies

  • As of January 16, 2026, only sign and private-well applications were accepted online.
  • Addresses, sanitary permits, and zoning applications were to continue on paper until further notice.
  • Online submittals are charged a 2.99% credit-card fee.
  • The page does not establish the process for a general residential building permit inside Ruby town.

  online credit-card fee: 2.99 percent (Charged on online submittals.)

  “Signs and Private Wells are the only on-line applications being accepted. [...] Please continue to use paper applications for the other applications”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Ruby town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Ruby town
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Ruby town
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Ruby town
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Ruby town

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.