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

Town of Colfax’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Anyone who wants to build any kind of structure inside Colfax town, including outbuildings and new homes

  • Dunn County zoning permit is needed, plus a Town of Colfax land use permit.
  • Outbuildings such as detached garages, pole buildings, agricultural buildings, sheds and greenhouses need county zoning approval before work starts.

  “in addition to the dunn county zoning permit you must also apply for a town of colfax land use permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New residential construction and alterations inside Colfax town under the Uniform Dwelling Code as adopted by the town

  • The town lists Ordinance 005, Uniform Dwelling Code, among its ordinances; the adoption text was not opened.
  • Town building inspector collects permit and inspection fees.

  “ordinance 005 uniform dwelling code ordinance 006 adoption of comprehensive land use plan ordinance 007 subdivision/land division ordinance”

• InspectionsRequired

  New residential construction and listed alterations inside Colfax town, through the town building inspector

  • Contact the town building inspector after the county approves zoning.
  • The town page names Weber Inspections as the inspector. The Dunn County zoning page links to a list of UDC building inspectors; the current inspector should be confirmed with the town.

  “once the county has approved your zoning you should contact our town building inspector, fred weber at weber inspections.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Any lot created by a land division in Colfax town under the Town of Colfax subdivision/land division ordinance

  • Where the county and town rules differ, the more restrictive requirement applies (town zoning information page).
  • Town page example: a 40-acre property can be made into 5 lots with no lot smaller than 4 acres.

  minimum lot size created by land division: >= 4 acre

  “the town of colfax subdivision/land division ordinance requires that any lot created by a land division be a minimum of 4 acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Any structure built on land in Colfax town under the Town of Colfax subdivision/land division ordinance

  • Town page explains the 30-foot distance is meant to keep emergency access and septic separation workable.
  • Applies in addition to the county setbacks; the stricter requirement governs.

  distance from property line: >= 30 feet

  “the colfax subdivision/land division ordinance also requires that any structure built on your land to be at least 30 feet from the property line.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions creating new lots inside Colfax town under the Town of Colfax subdivision/land division ordinance (Ordinance 007)

  • Lots must be at least 4 acres.
  • Structures must be at least 30 feet from the property line.
  • Land held unsuitable for its proposed use (flooding, drainage, soils, water supply, sewerage capability) may be denied.
  • Parcel density under county zoning is limited to 1 residential parcel per 8 acres in GA.

  “ordinance 007 subdivision/land division ordinance”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways in Colfax town

  • Driveway permit application to the town, site inspection by a town representative, and Town Board approval.
  • Town board may deny a driveway that is a safety hazard, may damage town roads, or serves property out of compliance with zoning or other ordinances (town zoning information page).

  driveway permit fee: 0 USD

  “all new driveways require prior approval by the town board.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town-collected land use administrative fees for building permits in Colfax town (the building inspector's fees are separate and not listed here)

  • Driveway permits carry no fee.
  • Current fee schedule is not published on the page; the figures below are the town's stated amounts.

  land use administrative fee, new one- or two-family dwelling: 50 USD · land use administrative fee, other permits by building inspector (addition, improvement or repair): 20 USD

  “additional fees collected by the building inspector on behalf of the township include a $50 land use administrative fee for new one- or two-family dwellings and a $20 land use administrative fee for any permits issued by the building inspector for any other contraction or addition, improvement, or repair.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Sequence of permits for building in Colfax town

  • Step 1: Dunn County zoning permit. Step 2: Town of Colfax land use permit. Step 3: town building inspector for new homes, after county zoning approval.
  • Town and county permit applications are linked from the town page.

  “anyone who desires to build any kind of structure in the town of colfax must first contact dunn county zoning, at 715-231-6522”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Colfax

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts that apply inside Colfax town through the Dunn County Chapter 13 zoning ordinance

  • The town page says the majority of the township is zoned General Agriculture (GA); other districts in the county ordinance are not mapped for Colfax here.

  “the ga district shall have a minimum lot size of one acre, excluding road right-of-way.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential structures inside Colfax town in the General Agriculture (GA) district under the Dunn County zoning ordinance

  • Agricultural structures such as barns, silos, tanks and windmills are exempt from the height limit if the front, side and rear setbacks are each increased at least one foot for each additional foot of height above 35 feet.

  maximum height, residential structure: <= 35 feet (agricultural structures exempt if setbacks increased)

  “the maximum height of a residential structure shall be 35 feet”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Mobile recreational vehicles used as a home on land inside Colfax town under the Dunn County zoning ordinance

  • Applies to recreational vehicles as defined in Section 13.2.2(a) (built on a single chassis, 400 square feet or less, self-propelled or towable).
  • Short-term use as a camper is not addressed in the text quoted here; see the temporary camping claim.

  “(a) a mobile recreational vehicle shall not be used as a permanent principal residence”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on parcels inside Colfax town under the Dunn County zoning ordinance (General Agriculture district)

  • No more than one ADU is permitted per lot or parcel.
  • Zoning administrator must approve the ADU; zoning permit required (Section 13.3.17.04).
  • Property owner must record a deed restriction before zoning permit issuance; the deed restriction bars separate sale unless the lot is legally subdivided and bars condominium conversion.
  • ADU must meet the development standards of the district, including setbacks, lot coverage and height.

  “zoning permits are required for accessory dwelling units subject to the provisions ofthe ch. 13 comprehensive zoning ordinance and approval by the zoning administrator.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite sanitary systems for homes inside Colfax town, administered by Dunn County under the county sanitary ordinance

  • Dunn County sanitary ordinance applies to all towns in Dunn County.
  • County zoning administrator issues zoning and sanitary permits under Chapter 13 Section 13.4.0.02(b).

  “dunn county's shoreland, floodplain, land division, and sanitary ordinances apply to all towns in dunn county.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building a home inside Colfax town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Colfax town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for homes inside Colfax town
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits for structures inside Colfax town in the GA district
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Colfax 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.