Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

Town of Baileys Harbor’s own rules

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner occupying premises connecting to the Town sewer system inside Baileys Harbor town.

  • The owner may dig the trench outside the structure and perform inside plumbing work.
  • The owner must obtain a separate permit from the Building Inspector for inside work.
  • Both permits must be signed by the owner.

  “The Owner who occupies the premises may dig the trench outside the structure for the lateral and do the inside plumbing work himself.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings seeking an occupancy permit under the Town sewer ordinance inside Baileys Harbor town.

  • The Building Inspector must complete all required inspections and find construction compliant with applicable codes before issuing occupancy.
  • A temporary occupancy permit may be issued for 30 days or a specified term for minor noncompliance not threatening safety, health, or welfare.

  “If the Building Inspector, after completing all required inspections, finds that a building has been constructed in accordance with the applicable codes, then the Inspector shall issue an occupancy permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings inside Baileys Harbor town governed by the Town sewer ordinance.

  • No person may occupy a building until an occupancy permit is issued.
  • For buildings served by municipal sewer, all capacity charges must be paid before the occupancy permit is issued.
  • A temporary permit may be issued for 30 days or a specified term for minor code noncompliance that does not threaten occupant safety, health, or welfare.

  “No person may have occupancy of a building until an occupancy permit is issued. The occupancy permit will only be issued after all capacity charges are paid for buildings served by municipal sewer.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Baileys Harbor town, where zoning and planning are handled through Door County comprehensive zoning rather than a town-administered zoning ordinance.

  • The Town directs zoning and planning inquiries to the County department.
  • Door County comprehensive zoning applies because Baileys Harbor is one of the nine enrolled towns.

  “For Zoning and Planning inquires please contact the County department”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties inside Baileys Harbor town that receive official notice to connect to the Town sanitary sewer.

  • Suitable toilet facilities must be connected directly to the proper public sewer at owner expense.
  • Connection is required within three months after official notice from the Approving Authority.
  • New connections are allowed only if downstream wastewater facilities have available capacity.

  connection deadline after official notice: 3 months (Owner expense; applies when facilities are required to connect under the ordinance.)

  “new connections to the town sanitary sewer system will be allowed only if there is available capacity in all of the downstream wastewater facilities.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Baileys Harbor town.

  • Door County's Land Division Ordinance is in effect in all 14 towns.
  • Activities may be exempt.
  • All divisions into new lots smaller than 10 acres are reviewed under the ordinance.

  new-lot review threshold: < 10 acres (Some activities are exempt.)

  “The Door County Land Division is also in effect in all 14 towns.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A new or relocated driveway inside Baileys Harbor town.

  • Permission is required from the authority overseeing the road accessed.
  • For a County Highway, the owner completes the County Driveway Permit Application and submits it with a check payable to the Door County Treasurer.
  • For State Highways 42 or 57, contact the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Regional office.
  • For a town or village road, contact the town office.

  “Property owners looking to create a new driveway or move an existing one must receive permission from the department that oversees the road that your property will access.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General residential building work inside Baileys Harbor town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Baileys Harbor town.
• Minimum lot size — New residential lots inside Baileys Harbor town.
• Setbacks — Residential structures inside Baileys Harbor town.
• Lot coverage — Residential development inside Baileys Harbor 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.