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

Village of Ephraim’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New buildings, additions and alterations inside Ephraim village

  • Code applies to buildings requiring footings/foundation or of a size the planning committee determines requires inspection; children's play structures excluded
  • No ground broken or trees cut until a paid building and/or land disturbance permit is obtained

  “no owner or contractor may commence construction of any building or mechanical system prior to obtaining a valid permit from the municipal building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Ephraim village

  • Adopts Wisconsin SPS chapters incl. Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320-325), commercial (361-366), plumbing (381-387), electrical (316) with subsequent revisions

  “the following chapters of the wisconsin administrative codes, as well as all subsequent revisions, are adopted by the village and shall be enforced by the building inspector.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New construction inside Ephraim village

  • Inspections by a licensed inspector engaged by the village (Inspection Specialists of Northeast Wisconsin per village zoning page)

  “all new construction in the village of ephraim shall be subject to regular inspections by a licensed building inspector engaged or authorized by the village to carry out such inspections”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings constructed inside Ephraim village

  • Issued after all required inspections pass
  • Temporary occupancy permit for 30 days or a specified term for minor noncompliance
  • Completion deposit is forfeited if occupancy occurs before final inspection

  “an occupancy permit is required prior to the occupancy of any newly completed or remodeled structure or the whole or any part of any building that has not been continuously occupied for the previous twelve (12) months.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Ephraim village limits

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the lands in incorporated areas of the village are hereby divided into the following use districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Ephraim village

  • Districts: R-1, R-R, Commercial, Protected Waterfront, Wetland overlay, Shoreland-wetland overlay

  “a) single family residential (r-1) b) rural residential (r-r) c) commercial (c) d) protected waterfront (pw) e) wetland-overlay (w) f) shoreland-wetland overlay (s-w)”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Camping on public or private property inside Ephraim village, all districts

  • Listed among excluded uses for all districts in 17.16(10); cross-reference to 17.15(16) not reviewed

  “e) camping on public or private property with or without the use of tents or similar shelters.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning permits inside Ephraim village

  • Application forms published; full process steps not reviewed

  “almost every building-related project in the village requires permitting and the zoning administrator is here to assist you through this process.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Ephraim village
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Ephraim village
• Building height — Principal buildings inside Ephraim village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Ephraim village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Ephraim 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.