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

Town of Maple’s own rules

• Building permitNot required

  Town-issued building permits inside Maple town

  • Applies to the town only; the county land use permit described in the county claim still applies.
  • Statement is an FAQ answer on the town website and a December newsletter item; both say 'at this time'.

  “the town of maple does not issue building permits at this time.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family residences inside Maple town

  • Inspection is performed by a contracted inspector, Inspector Rob LLC, for the town.
  • Applies to new one- and two-family residences only; inspection scope for other structures not stated.

  “all new 1 and 2 family residences must be inspected for compliance with the uniform dwelling code by inspector rob llc, our building inspector.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway installation inside Maple town

  • Town driveway permit required; the town board decides after site review by the town foreman.

  “if you are installing a driveway, please be sure to submit a driveway permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  Driveway permit process inside Maple town; general building permit process is handled by Douglas County

  • Application goes to the town clerk, then the planning commission and town foreman; the board decides after a site review, with at least two weeks' notice before the board meeting.
  • Building permits are processed by Douglas County (land use permit) rather than the town; county process not opened.

  “complete the site drawing and form and return it to the town clerk.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Maple

Town of Maple 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)

  New one- and two-family residences in Maple town, under the Uniform Dwelling Code as applied by the town

  • The town states the Uniform Dwelling Code applies to new one- and two-family residences; the state code text itself was not opened in this research pass.

  “all new 1 and 2 family residences must be inspected for compliance with the uniform dwelling code by inspector rob llc, our building inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Maple town (an unincorporated town in Douglas County) to the extent no town zoning ordinance applies; the county ordinance is the candidate rule, not a Maple town ordinance

  • The county ordinance regulates the unincorporated portions of Douglas County, which includes Maple town.
  • The Maple town website (maple.wi.gov) lists no town zoning ordinance in the pages opened; an official statement that Maple town has not adopted zoning was NOT located, so this is not recorded as absent.
  • Research budget was exhausted before the county ordinance zoning-district tables or the town board ordinance index could be opened to confirm whether the town has adopted its own zoning.

  “an ordinance regulating and restricting the location, construction and use of buildings, structures, and the use of land in the unincorporated portions of douglas county”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  County zoning districts in the unincorporated portions of Douglas County, including land inside Maple town where no town zoning applies

  • Districts listed: R-1, R-2, RR-1, A-1, A-2, C-1, RRC-1, I-1, F-1, W-1, SP-1 (overlay), PUD, UVD (overlay).
  • The district map and district standards were not opened.

  “the unincorporated areas of douglas county are hereby divided into the following types of districts”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater (septic) systems for dwellings on land inside Maple town

  • Plans are reviewed under the Douglas County Sanitary Code and a sanitary permit is issued before a building with a private waste system is authorized.
  • Shoreland and floodway rules in the county ordinance add further limits not checked here.

  “the county land services director or designee shall not hereafter authorize a building to be erected, structurally altered, or relocated which has a private waste disposal system unless the plans for the system have been reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the douglas county sanitary code, and a sanitary permit has been issued.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New dwellings with a private waste disposal system on land inside Maple town

  • Sanitary permit issued under the Douglas County Sanitary Code before the building is authorized.
  • Permit fees, application form, and licensed-installer rules not opened.

  “the county land services director or designee shall not hereafter authorize a building to be erected, structurally altered, or relocated which has a private waste disposal system unless the plans for the system have been reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the douglas county sanitary code, and a sanitary permit has been issued.”

• Well permitRequired

  Residential use where the home is not connected to a public water system, on land inside Maple town

  • Applies where connection is not made to a public water system.
  • Permit is issued under the Douglas County Sanitary Code.

  “where connection is not to be made to a public water system, no residential use shall be permitted unless provision is made for a safe and adequate supply of drinking water located on the premises, a permit for which has been obtained in accordance with the provisions of the douglas county sanitary code.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Maple town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Maple town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the main single-family residential district in Maple town
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-1 residential district inside Maple town (county district, applies only if the town has no own zoning)
• Setbacks — Yard setbacks for the main residential district inside Maple 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.