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

Town of Middleton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New buildings, structures, exterior decks, and enumerated construction work inside the Town of Middleton.

  • Minor repairs deemed minor by the Building Inspector or designee do not require a building permit.
  • Permit must be obtained from the Building Inspector or designee before the listed work begins.

  “no building of any kind shall be moved within or into the Town of Middleton and no new building, structure or exterior deck, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be erected”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction subject to Town of Middleton building permits and inspections.

  • Inspections are scheduled 48 hours before the requested inspection time under the Town webpage's stated State Building Code practice.

  inspection scheduling notice: >= 48 hours (Shorter times may lead to delays if the Building Inspector has conflicts.)

  “Per State of Wisconsin Building Code, inspections are to be scheduled 48 hours before the inspection time (two business days).”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private on-site wastewater treatment systems for Town of Middleton land divisions and lots.

  • POWTS must be evaluated, permitted, and connected through PHMDC.
  • Holding tanks are not an acceptable septic system in the Town.

  “Holding tanks shall not be considered an acceptable system in the Town for septic systems.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside the Town of Middleton.

  • Town Board action on a preliminary plat is subject to the procedures and timing in Chapter 15.
  • Other agencies may object to a preliminary plat.

  Town Board preliminary plat action deadline: <= 90 days (May be extended by agreement with the land divider.)

  “within 90 days of the date the preliminary plat was filed with the town office, the Town Board shall, taking into consideration the Plan Commission's recommendations, if any, approve, approve conditionally or reject such preliminary plat”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside the Town of Middleton.

  • Application must provide the listed ownership, site, designer, use, and other required information.
  • Applications may be presented in person by the owner or by an applicant with the owner's signed affidavit.
  • The Town webpage states that only PDF scans are accepted for submitted applications.

  “the permit shall be either: (i) presented to the town in person by the owner, or (ii) presented by an applicant with a signed affidavit by the owner that the applicant can apply for the permit on their behalf.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Middleton

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwellings in the Town of Middleton.

  • The Town incorporated applicable Wisconsin Administrative Code provisions and intended future amendments, revisions, and modifications to be part of the chapter.

  “The Administrative Code provisions, promulgated by the SPS, describing and defining regulations with respect to one- and two-family dwellings in the Wisconsin Administrative Code are hereby adopted and by reference made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Zoning issues for property inside the Town of Middleton are administered through Dane County.

  • Town residents must submit zoning approvals with building-permit and/or development-form materials to the Town Building Inspector.

  “Property owners need to work directly with Dane County on any zoning issues. Submit a copy of zoning approvals with building permits and/or development forms to the Town Building Inspector”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private septic systems inside the Town of Middleton, which is in Dane County.

  • The authority states its services are available to people who live in Dane County.
  • Town subdivision rules direct land dividers and lot owners to PHMDC for POWTS evaluation, permitting, and connection.

  “POWTS are regulated by the Department of Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC). Land Dividers and Lot owners are required to work with PHMDC to evaluate, permit and connect POWTS.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private septic systems inside the Town of Middleton, in Dane County.

  • Most systems require inspection every three years.
  • If tanks are one-third or more full with combined scum and sludge, they must be pumped.
  • Some systems require more frequent service.

  inspection interval: per 3 years (Most systems; state and county law.) · combined scum and sludge threshold: >= 1/3 tank capacity (Pumping is required when the inspection finds this level.)

  “Inspection frequency. State and county law requires an inspection every three years for most systems. If that inspection finds the tank(s) to be 1/3rd or more full with combined scum and sludge, the tank(s) also need to be pumped.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells inside the Town of Middleton, in Dane County.

  • A PHMDC well-location permit is required before building a well.
  • A Wisconsin DNR well-construction permit is also required.

  “you also need a well construction permit from the DNR.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside the Town of Middleton.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside the Town of Middleton.
• Zoning districts — Dane County zoning districts applicable to property inside the Town of Middleton.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside the Town of Middleton.
• Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside the Town of Middleton.

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.