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

Village of Ferryville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New dwellings, additions and alterations inside Ferryville village

  • Permit needed for alterations over $3,500 in any 12 months, additions over 100 sq ft in 12 months, or any new building
  • Restoration/repair to previous code-compliant condition, residing, re-roofing, interior finishing and cabinetry are exempt
  • Detached structures over 100 sq ft not under UDC need a village permit (Ch. 14); alterations over $3,500 in 12 months or additions over 100 sq ft also require one

  alteration threshold: > 3500 USD per 12 months (repair/restoration, siding, re-roofing, interior finish, cabinetry exempt) · addition threshold: > 100 sq ft per 12 months

  “if a person alters a building in excess of $3,500.00 value in any twelve-month period, adds onto a building in excess of 100 square feet in any twelve-month period, or builds a new building, within the scope of this ordinance, they shall first obtain a building permit for such work from the village building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One and two family dwellings inside Ferryville village

  • Scope covers one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980, plus alterations and additions to earlier dwellings
  • Detached structures not under the UDC or commercial code are handled under Chapter 14

  “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

  Dwellings within the scope of Chapter 15 inside Ferryville village

  • Building inspector is a contracted, annually renewed position certified in UDC construction, HVAC, electrical and plumbing
  • Detached structures: a two-member village board site inspection committee reviews standards in 14.04 (Ch. 14)

  “there is hereby created the position of building inspector, which shall be by contract with the village board, and the contract renewed annually, who shall administer and enforce this ordinance”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  New dwellings in the Eagle Mountain subdivision only, inside Ferryville village

  • Excludes basement and garage area
  • Variance available from village board for hardship
  • No village-wide minimum found

  minimum habitable living space: >= 700 sq ft (variance under 15.10(2))

  “(c) inside habitable living space, excluding basement and garage area must be 700 square feet or greater (see definition).”

• SetbacksSpecified

  New dwellings in the Eagle Mountain subdivision, inside Ferryville village

  • Not applicable to Eagle Mountain lots 1 south through 9 south
  • Variance available for hardship
  • Detached structures closer than 10 ft to a dwelling or 3 ft to a property line are subject to Comm 21.08 (Ch. 14)

  road right-of-way setback line: >= 30 feet (lots 1 south thru 9 south exempt)

  “(b) no part of the dwelling can be placed within the road right-of-way set back line of 30 feet.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Eagle Mountain subdivision only, inside Ferryville village

  • Restrictions subject to a village board variance for hardship under 15.10(2)
  • Rest of the village: no rule found

  “(d) no permit may be granted for placement of a manufactured home or trailer.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  New dwellings inside Ferryville village not connected to village sewer

  • Village board approves the POWTS or holding tank; the county sanitarian gives the holding tank permit
  • Village sewer connection required if within 100 feet of an existing village sewer main

  “shall be hooked up to the village sewage system if within 100' of an existing village sewer main, or an approved waste water system (powts) or an approved holding tank permit given by the county sanitarian and approved by the village board.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  New dwellings inside Ferryville village

  • Privies and non-water-based toilets are barred per the note to 15.09
  • Only village sewer, an approved POWTS or an approved holding tank is accepted

  “note: no privies (earthen, cement vault or chemical type privies or a composting, incinerating and non-water based toilets, installed or placed within the village limits)”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New dwellings inside Ferryville village

  • Sewer hookup required if within 100 feet of an existing village sewer main; otherwise an approved POWTS or holding tank
  • Dwelling must have a private potable well or be able to hook onto an open well share (no village water connection requirement found)

  sewer main distance: <= 100 feet (approved POWTS or holding tank alternative)

  “shall have a private potable well or be able to hook onto an open well share.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land and platting inside Ferryville village

  • Certified survey maps need village board approval
  • Chapter 20 is adopted under Wis. Stats. 61.34 and 236.45

  “this chapter is adopted pursuant to sec. 61.34, 236.45, wis. stats., which permits the adoption of regulations more restrictive than those contained in chapter 236, wis. stats.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Land inside Ferryville village covered by the regional or base flood

  • Chapter 11A has floodway, floodfringe and general floodplain districts with standards and a nonconforming-use section
  • Detailed standards not extracted

  “this ordinance regulates all areas that would be covered by the regional flood or base flood.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Dwelling building permits inside Ferryville village (detached structures: $55 flat)

  • Dwelling permit fees are set by village board resolution, which was not located
  • Detached structure permit application fee is $55.00

  detached structure permit application fee: 55 USD

  “(3) the building permit application fee shall be $55.00.”

• Permit processPartial

  Detached structure permits inside Ferryville village

  • Village board approves after site inspection committee recommendation; clerk issues permit
  • Permit must be completed within 12 months, with one 12-month extension
  • Dwelling permit procedure is issued by the village building inspector (Ch. 15)

  application lead time: >= 30 days

  “(2) applications shall be obtained from and returned to the village clerk thirty (30) days prior to start of intended construction. the village clerk shall issue permits following approval of the application by the village board.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Ferryville village
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new dwellings inside Ferryville village
• Local zoning — General zoning inside Ferryville village
• Zoning districts — General zoning districts inside Ferryville village
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Ferryville 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.