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

Village of Dorchester’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, additions and alterations within the scope of the UDC ordinance inside Dorchester village

  • Alterations of $1,500 or less in any 12-month period do not need a permit
  • Restoration or repair to previous code-compliant condition is exempt
  • Re-siding, re-roofing, finishing interior surfaces and cabinetry are exempt
  • Structural changes or major mechanical extensions require permits
  • Fee set by village board resolution
  • Penalty forfeiture $25 to $1,000, each day a separate offense

  alteration value threshold: > 1500 USD per 12 months (repair/restoration, re-siding, re-roofing, interior finishing, cabinetry exempt)

  “no person shall alter, in excess of $1,500.00 value in any 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 inside Dorchester village

  • Scope is as defined in the Uniform Dwelling Code, one and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chapters comm. 20-25 of the wisconsin administrative code, and all amendments or re-enactments or re-codifications thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference”

• InspectionsRequired

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Dorchester village

  • Village board appoints or contracts a certified UDC inspector at its discretion

  “the village board, shall in its discretion, appoint or contract for building inspection services by a certified uniformed dwelling code inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Dorchester village

  • Zoning ordinance covers the village in Clark and Marathon counties; amended April 19, 2016

  “zoning ordinance village of dorchester clark & marathon counties adopted: september 16, 1992 amended: april 19, 2016”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residence District, inside Dorchester village

  • Other districts (R-2 and others) were not checked for floor area

  minimum floor area, one family: >= 900 sq ft · minimum floor area, two family: >= 1600 sq ft

  “minimum required floor area of principal building: one family - 900 square feet; two family - 1600 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residence District, inside Dorchester village

  • R-2 district: 15,000 sq ft for single- and two-family; multiple-family is the larger of 12,000 sq ft or 2,000-3,500 sq ft per unit by bedroom count

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet

  “lot size: (see section 3.02) a. minimum lot area: 15, 000 square feet. b. minimum lot width: 100 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residence District principal building, inside Dorchester village

  • Accessory buildings: side/rear yard 6 feet (20 feet for garages facing an alley)
  • Corner-lot side street yard rules in section 3.03 apply
  • The source shows a hand-written notation on the original near these figures

  front yard: >= 30 feet · side yard: >= 6 feet (20 feet aggregate) · rear yard: >= 25 feet

  “minimum front yard: 30 feet. b. minimum side yard: 6 feet, 20 feet aggregate. c. minimum rear yard: 25 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residence District, inside Dorchester village

  • Accessory building maximum 14 feet
  • Section 3.04 height regulations apply

  principal building height: <= 35 feet · accessory building height: <= 14 feet

  “maximum building height: (see section 3.04) a. principal building: 35 feet. b. accessory building: 14 feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicle camps inside Dorchester village; a conditional use only in the C-2 General Commercial District

  • Requires at least 1,800 sq ft of lot area per cabin, RV or tent
  • Camp must be bounded by a fence or hedge
  • HSS 178 and other applicable codes are minimum standards, which the planning commission may supplement
  • Dependent mobile homes and RVs are prohibited in mobile home parks
  • Mobile homes or RVs on construction projects may be permitted when approved by the zoning administrator

  lot area per RV site: >= 1800 sq ft

  “recreational vehicle camps, when such camps provide not less than 1,800 square feet of lot area for each cabin, recreational vehicle or tent, and when such camp is clearly bounded by a fence or hedge.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside Dorchester village

  • Occupancy requires a permit from the zoning administrator
  • Mobile home parks are subject to section 4.11 and are a conditional use in the R-2 district
  • Temporary mobile homes on construction projects may be permitted when approved by the zoning administrator

  “no mobile home as defined in this ordinance shall be occupied or used for living or sleeping purposes unless it is located in an area that has been granted an appropriate permit by the zoning administrator”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Buildings, structures and man-made changes to real estate inside Dorchester village

  • Application fee $100
  • Village president is the responsible official
  • Flood-prone sites need anchoring and flood-resistant construction
  • Penalty fine $50 to $100 per day
  • Ordinance written for a community without a FHBM or FIRM

  application fee: 100 USD

  “no person shall erect, construct/ enlarge/ alter/ repair/ improve/ move/ or demolish any building or structure without first obtaining a separate permit for each building or structure from the designated responsible official.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Dorchester village
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Dorchester village
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Dorchester village
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Dorchester village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Dorchester 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.