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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Berlin

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

• Building permitRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings, including stick-built, modular, and manufactured-home installations inside Berlin town.

  • Town of Berlin, Green Lake County is listed by DSPS as delegated for UDC authority.
  • The state UDC requirement cited is limited to new one- and two-family dwelling units.

  “town of berlin, green lake county (24002) delegated pdf letter”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New one- and two-family dwelling units, including manufactured-home installations, inside Berlin town.

  • The cited Uniform Dwelling Code applies to new one- and two-family dwelling units and specified manufactured-home installations.

  “a permit under the udc is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. this includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Berlin town subject to the UDC.

  • Required inspections are footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough, insulation, and final inspections.
  • Town of Berlin is listed as a DSPS-delegated municipality.

  “the following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. when ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your udc permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Berlin town, which adopted the Green Lake County Zoning Ordinance; the County Land Use Planning and Zoning Department administers the ordinance.

  • The town adopted the County Zoning Ordinance rather than a separately evidenced town-administered zoning ordinance.

  “of the ten towns in green lake county, six have adopted the county zoning ordinance: town of berlin, town of brooklyn, town of green lake, town of mackford, town of manchester, and town of marquette.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Berlin town where public sewer service is unavailable.

  • The County administers POWTS under County Code Chapter 334 and Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 381-387.
  • The County page describes POWTS as used in areas without public sewer service.

  “green lake county administers a program using guidelines and mandates set forth in the code of green lake county chapter 334 and wisconsin administrative code sps 381-387.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Properties inside Berlin town with a septic system.

  • Inspection for pumping is required at least once every three years.

  inspection interval: <= 3 years

  “all property owners with a septic system are required by state law to have the system inspected for pumping at least once every three years.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Berlin town.

  • County Land Use Planning and Zoning administers and enforces County land-use ordinances, including land division responsibilities.

  “basic ordinance responsibility covers general zoning, shoreland zoning, floodplain zoning, private sewage, land division, and nonmetallic mining reclamation.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Land-disturbing development inside Berlin town that is within County floodplain-zoning jurisdiction.

  • The County land-use permit requirement applies to land-disturbing activity within the jurisdiction of the Department-administered ordinances, including the federally required Floodplain Zoning Ordinance.

  “a land use permit is required for any land-disturbing activity, including the placement or alteration of any building or structure, within the zoned towns or within the jurisdiction of the ordinances this department administers.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Berlin town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential construction inside Berlin town.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applicable inside Berlin town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family and rural/agricultural residential development inside Berlin town.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family and rural/agricultural residential development inside Berlin 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.