Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Princeton, Wisconsin

Princeton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New buildings, additions (including decks), electrical, HVAC, plumbing and roofing work inside Princeton city

  • Exempt: interior finishing, cabinetry, siding replacement, replacement windows, minor repair, and accessory buildings not exceeding 150 sq ft as deemed by the inspector
  • Roofing permits carry no charge
  • UDC-scope work: permit needed if alteration or addition exceeds $1,000 in any 12 months
  • Permit lapses if work not begun within 6 months or not completed within 18 months

  accessory building exemption: <= 150 square feet

  “no building of any kind shall be removed within or into the city of princeton and no new building or structure, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be erected”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings and other buildings within the scope of Ch. 135, inside Princeton city

  • Also adopts SPS chs. 305, 316, 361-365, 375-379, 380-387 and Comm 70
  • City adopted certified municipality status under SPS 361.60
  • Agricultural buildings and children's play structures are not covered

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chs. sps 320 to 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 chapter.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Princeton city (Green Lake County, WI)

  • Zoning map is held by the city administrator/clerk-treasurer; floodplain zoning is Ch. 395 and shoreland wetland zoning Ch. 410

  zoning districts: 12 districts

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the city of princeton is hereby divided into the following 12 zoning districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Princeton city zoning districts

  • Districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, AT, WWT, GFP and FW
  • Zoning map available in the office of the city administrator/clerk-treasurer

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the city of princeton is hereby divided into the following 12 zoning districts:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single- and Two-Family Residential District (Low Density) inside Princeton city

  • Newly constructed two-family dwellings need 10,000 sq ft
  • Minimum lot width 80 feet

  minimum lot area, single-family: >= 8500 square feet · minimum lot area, new two-family: >= 10000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 80 feet

  “area (single-family homes; conversion of existing single-family home to two-family dwelling): minimum 8,500 square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AT Agricultural Transition District inside Princeton city (farm units)

    “farm units: five acres minimum; housing shall comply with the provisions of the r-1 district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single- and Two-Family Residential District (Low Density) inside Princeton city

  • 12 feet required between buildings

  street yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard: >= 15 feet · side yard: >= 6 feet (each side)

  “street: minimum 25 feet. (b) rear: minimum 15 feet. (c) side: minimum six feet each side, with 12 feet between buildings.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Single- and Two-Family Residential District (Low Density) inside Princeton city

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

  “maximum lot coverage: 50%. (2) building height: maximum 35 feet or three stories.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single- and Two-Family Residential District (Low Density) inside Princeton city

  • Limit is 35 feet or three stories

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (or three stories)

  “building height: maximum 35 feet or three stories.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in the R-1 district inside Princeton city

  • Mobile homes excluded from single-family dwellings
  • Foundation system approved by building inspector; wheels and axles removed
  • Foundation-type siding; roof pitched at least 2 in 12 with nonreflective covering; pitched roof with overhanging eaves

  minimum width: >= 24 feet (double wide) · minimum length: >= 36 feet

  “the home shall be a double wide of at least 24 feet in width and 36 feet in length.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New residential buildings inside Princeton city

  • Building permit is withheld until sewer and water are installed in the streets serving the property
  • Nonresidential buildings: contracts must be let for sewer, water, grading and graveling
  • Receipt for payment of electrical hookup must be presented

  “no building permit shall be issued for the construction of any residential building until sewer, water, grading and graveling are installed in the streets necessary to service the property for which the permit is required”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings under the city building code, inside Princeton city

  • Applies to Ch. 135 building code scope only; zoning rules for agricultural buildings were not checked

  “this code applies to all dwellings, commercial buildings/structures, swimming pools, garages, structures, buildings, and residential accessory buildings. not included are children's play structures and agricultural buildings.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications inside Princeton city

  • Application needs site plan to scale, three sets of plans and an erosion control plan
  • Permit must be displayed on site
  • Permit lapses if work not begun within six months

  “application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the city administrator/clerk-treasurer”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Princeton city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Princeton city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Princeton city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Princeton city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Princeton city

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.