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

Town of Forestville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Forestville town.

  • Permits are issued by the town's identified building inspector, Brett Guilette of Inspection Specialists, LLC.

  “The Town of Forestville requires building permits.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Forestville; zoning is administered under Door County comprehensive zoning rather than a town zoning ordinance.

  • The Town directs applicants to Door County Planning for zoning permits.
  • County zoning is administered and enforced by Door County bodies and staff.

  “The Town of Forestville has adopted County Zoning.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County-zoned land inside Forestville town; the exact district is parcel-specific under Door County zoning maps.

  • The ordinance divides unincorporated Door County into listed districts and provides a zoning map for each town.

  “The zoning maps shall be entitled, Zoning Maps of Door County.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Forestville town.

  • The official county page describes the County Sanitarian Division's POWTS program for Door County.

  “The Sanitarian Division deals with private onsite wastewater treatment systems (POWTS) in Door County.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division and subdivision inside Forestville town.

  • The county Land Division ordinance applies in all 14 Door County towns.

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways, and existing driveways being reconstructed, rerouted, or having their slope altered, inside Forestville town.

  • Applicant must own or have a current legal interest and legal access to the affected land.
  • A state or county driveway permit is additionally required where access is to a state highway or county road.
  • The town ordinance applies to new driveways constructed after its adoption and driveways altered or replaced after its adoption.

  “A Town Driveway Permit is required for: 1. Establishing a new driveway construction connecting a private property to any State, County, Town, or Private Road within the Town.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town driveway permits inside Forestville town.

  • The application fee is non-refundable.
  • The Town Board may change the fee without notice or amendment to the ordinance.

  “The non-refundable application fee for a driveway permit shall be determined by the Town Board from time to time and may be changed without notice or amendment to this ordinance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town driveway-permit applications inside Forestville town.

  • Application requires fee, site plan, proposed driveway size/use, and an approved state or county permit when accessing a state highway or county road.
  • The Town Chair reviews completeness and inspects the property.
  • The permit remains active for 12 months; a new application and fee are required if not constructed by then.

  permit active period: 12 months (If the driveway has not been constructed by the end of the period, a new application and fee must be submitted and approved.)

  “SECTION VII - APPLICATION AND PERMIT PROCESS”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Forestville

Town of Forestville 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)

  Residential construction and reconstruction inside Forestville town.

  • The county plan describes the Uniform Dwelling Code as chapters 320 through 325 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

  “All municipalities in Door County have adopted the state’s Uniform Dwelling code (UDC)”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Forestville town.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Forestville town.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Forestville town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Forestville town.
• Minimum lot size — New lots inside Forestville 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.