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

Village of Montfort’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Altering, adding to or building new buildings within Chapter 14 scope inside Montfort village

  • No permit for replacement of existing roofs, furnaces, electrical or plumbing fixtures, sidewalks or retaining walls, except electrical permits per SPS 316.012(1)
  • Restoration or repair to previous code-compliant condition is exempt
  • Commercial buildings and camping units also need a village zoning permit, issued only after the state building permit
  • Permit lapses unless work starts within 6 months and is completed within one year; new dwellings expire 24 months after issuance if exterior not completed
  • A separate zoning permit is required for all new structures under 12.2.3

  “if a person alters a building, adds to, or builds or constructs a new building, within the scope of this ordinance, they shall first obtain a building permit for such work from the building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings within the scope of Chapter 14 inside Montfort village

  • Scope: 1 & 2 family dwellings, commercial buildings, camping units, decks and detached accessory buildings over 200 sq ft
  • Does not apply to 1 & 2 family swimming pools, agricultural buildings, or children's play structures
  • Village is a certified municipality under SPS 361.60
  • Commercial building code SPS 360-366 and electrical code SPS 316 also adopted

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chs. sps 320-325 of the wisconsin administrative code, and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference and shall apply to all buildings within the scope of this ordinance.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction within Chapter 14 scope inside Montfort village

  • Village building inspector must be DSPS-certified (UDC construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing)
  • Completion deposit of $400 for projects costing $15,000 or more, refunded after the inspector finds code compliance

  completion deposit: 400 USD (projects costing $15,000 or more)

  “there is hereby created the position of building inspector, who shall administer and enforce this ordinance and shall be certified by the department of safety and professional services, as specified by wis. stat. sec. 101.66 (2), in the category of uniform dwelling code construction inspector.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings within Chapter 14 scope inside Montfort village

  • Temporary occupancy permit for 30 days or a specified term if only minor code deficiencies
  • Deposit forfeited if occupancy occurs before final inspection

  “no person may have occupancy of a building until an occupancy permit is issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land and water within Montfort village limits

  • Adopted under Wis. Stat. 61.35 and 62.23
  • Zoning map dated 6-17-2021, amended from time to time

  “the jurisdiction of this chapter shall include all lands and waters within the corporate limits of the village of montfort.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Montfort village zoning districts

  • Districts: R-1 single-family, R-2 multi-family, R-3 mobile home, C-1 commercial, M-1 industrial, A-1 agricultural, A-2 modified agricultural, CON conservancy
  • Annexed land is placed in A-1 unless the annexation ordinance says otherwise

  “for the purposes of this chapter, the village of montfort is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: r-1 r-2 r-3 c-1 m-1 a-1 a-2 con”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, Montfort village

  • Minimum dwelling width 18 feet

  minimum floor area: >= 960 square feet

  “percent of lot coverage maximum 30% minimum floor area 960 square feet minimum dwelling width 18 feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 agricultural district, Montfort village

  • Minimum lot width 500 feet
  • Conditional use allows single-family residences on parcels of not less than 20,000 sq ft for a family member of the owner

  minimum lot area: >= 10 acres (20,000 sq ft conditional-use family residence)

  “minimum lot width 500 feet minimum lot area 10 acres”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single-family residential district, Montfort village

    “minimum lot width 65 feet minimum lot area for single family 8,500 square feet minimum lot area for twofamily 12,500 square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, Montfort village

  • Corner lots have two front yards
  • Stricter state/county standards may apply on lots abutting state or county highways
  • Accessory buildings 3 ft rear yard only; detached garage 8 ft side

  front yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard, principal: >= 25 feet · side yard, principal: >= 8 feet each side (20 total)

  “minimum front yard setback 25 feet from the edge of the street r.o.w. line corner lots have two front yards.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 agricultural district, Montfort village

    “minimum front yard setback 50 feet from the edge of the street r.o.w. line minimum rear yard setback 50 feet minimum side yard setback principal buildings: 20 feet accessory buildings: 10 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, Montfort village

  • Detached accessory structures may not occupy more than 20 percent of the rear yard area

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “percent of lot coverage maximum 30% minimum floor area 960 square feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district, Montfort village

  • Detached accessory structures other than garages may not exceed 15 feet

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “maximum building height 35 feet minimum front yard setback 25 feet from the edge of the street r.o.w. line”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 agricultural district, Montfort village

    “maximum building height 35 feet minimum front yard setback 50 feet from the edge of the street r.o.w. line”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes as permanent residences inside Montfort village

  • Existing mobile homes and their manufactured home replacements are excepted
  • Otherwise only within a mobile home court (R-3 district)
  • Existing mobile homes may not be replaced in the C-1 district

  “no mobile homes (other than presently existing mobile homes and their manufactured home replacements) shall be permitted to be used as permanent residences within the village unless they are located in a mobile home court.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New residential structures inside Montfort village (zoning permit application requirement)

  • No distance or availability threshold is stated; the requirement is part of the zoning permit application contents

  “sewage disposal. all new residential structures shall be served by the public sewer system.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Montfort village

  • Fee amounts are set by resolution and not stated in the code
  • New dwellings include the state UDC seal (currently $33.00)
  • Double fee if work begins before permit issued
  • Zoning permit fee comes from the official fee schedule on file at the village office

  state seal: 33 USD (new dwellings)

  “building permit fees shall be determined by resolution and adjusted from time to time.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permits inside Montfort village

  • Applications in duplicate to the zoning administrator with plat/survey, sewer and water information, and fee
  • Construction to be completed within 1 year
  • Conditional uses need plan commission review and village board approval after public hearing

  decision deadline: <= 30 days

  “zoning permit shall be granted or denied in writing by the zoning administrator within thirty (30) days. the permit shall expire within six (6) months unless substantial work has commenced.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Montfort village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Montfort village
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Montfort village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Montfort village
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Montfort 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.