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

Town of Christiana’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, or repair inside Christiana town.

  • The owner or agent must obtain the permit from the Building Inspector before work begins.
  • Application must be in writing on a Town-designated form.
  • For new applications, two sets of plans are required.
  • The Inspector issues a permit only if the proposed building complies with Township and state code.

  plan sets required for new building permit applications: 2 sets

  “No construction shall be commenced, built, enlarged, or repaired unless a building permit for that work shall first be obtained by the owner or his/her agent from the Building Inspector. Application for building permit shall be made in writing upon a form, designated by the Town.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Plumbing repairs or installations in an owner-occupied single-family building inside Christiana town.

  • The property owner must own and occupy the single-family building as his or her home.
  • A permit must be issued.
  • The work must comply with the plumbing subchapter.

  “All plumbing work shall be done only by a plumber licensed by the State for such work, provided a property owner may make repairs or installations in a single-family building owned and occupied by him/her as his/her home if a permit therefor is issued and the work is done in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and one- and two-family dwelling work inside Christiana town.

  • Municipal enforcement is by inspectors certified by Wisconsin DSPS in UDC and non-UDC categories.
  • The Town adopts future amendments, revisions, and modifications to SPS 320-325 for one- and two-family dwellings.

  “The following Wisconsin Administrative Codes, their referenced codes and standards, and subsequent revisions are hereby made a part of this code and adopted for municipal enforcement by the building, electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) inspector, whom shall be certified as DSPS Inspector(s) by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services in both UDC and non-UDC (including commercial and industrial) and other categories.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a building permit inside Christiana town.

  • The permit holder or agent must ensure required inspections occur.
  • The Chief Inspector must receive 24 hours' advance notice of an inspection.
  • A failed inspection requires correction within 30 days after written notice unless an extension is granted.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “The permit holder or his/her agent shall see that all required inspections are made and that the Chief Inspector is notified 24 hours in advance of any inspection required.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Construction projects and vacant land occupied, used, or energized inside Christiana town, except as stated for one- and two-family dwellings.

  • A usage permit or temporary permit from the Inspector is required before occupancy, use, or energization.
  • Before issuance, the Fire Prevention Authority must certify a thorough inspection and that required systems are installed and functioning properly.
  • That certification is not required for one- and two-family dwellings.

  “No construction project or vacant land shall be occupied or used/energized unless a usage permit or temporary permit has been issued by the Inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Christiana town, where the Town applies the Dane County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The governing zoning text and maps are the Dane County Zoning Ordinance.
  • Individual land uses remain subject to applicable zoning district requirements.

  “The Town of Christiana will regulate land use through the following mechanisms: 1) Dane County Zoning Ordinance: Through zoning maps and text, the ordinance governs the use of publicly and privately owned land in the town.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems inside Christiana town.

  • The Town identifies Dane County Private Sewage System Ordinance and Health Ordinance, Chapter 46 of the Dane County Code of Ordinances, as covering the Town.

  “9) Sanitary Codes: The town is covered by the Dane County Private Sewage System Ordinance and Health Ordinance (Chapter 46 of the DCCO).”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private domestic sewage treatment and disposal-system plumbing work inside Christiana town.

  • No covered plumbing work may start until the Plumbing Inspector or authorized agent issues a permit.
  • A permit is not required for minor faucet repairs or removal of stoppages in soil and waste pipes.
  • The definition of plumbing includes private domestic sewage treatment and disposal systems.

  “No work contemplated by this subchapter shall be started until a permit therefor has been obtained from the Plumbing Inspector or his/her authorized agent, provided no permit shall be required for minor repairs to faucets or the removal of stoppages in soil and waste pipes.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Christiana town that create a parcel of 35 acres or less.

  • Approval of any plat or certified survey map requires full compliance with the Dane County Land Division Ordinance and the Town of Christiana Comprehensive Plan.

  created parcel size threshold: <= 35 acres

  “2) Dane County Land Division Ordinance: the town falls under the Dane County subdivision ordinance (Chapter 75 of the Dane County Code of Ordinances), which outlines provisions for subdividing parcels of land into smaller parcels. This ordinance applies to any division of land that creates a parcel of 35 acres or less in size. Approval of any plat or certified survey maps will require full compliance with the ordinance and with the Town of Christiana Comprehensive Plan.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Permits issued under Town of Christiana Chapter 14.

  • Fees are established by the Town Board.
  • Applicants must furnish an evaluation of purpose as a basis for the fee.
  • Project size computations are subject to Town Board review.

  “The fees for any permits issued under this chapter shall be as established by the Town Board.”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Christiana town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Christiana town.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Christiana town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Christiana town.
• Building height — Buildings inside Christiana 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.