Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of St. Marie, Wisconsin

Town of St. Marie’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside the Town of St. Marie, Wisconsin.

  • Green Lake County identifies shoreland, floodplain, and land-division regulations as continuing to apply.

  “refrained from adopting general zoning requirements”

Rules another office applies inside Town of St. Marie

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

• Building permitLimited

  Land-disturbing activity and structures inside St. Marie town that are within the jurisdiction of County-administered shoreland or floodplain regulations.

  • The county page limits its general land-use-permit statement to zoned towns or ordinances administered by the department.
  • St. Marie refrained from adopting general zoning requirements.
  • A land-use permit handout specifically identifies activity within 1,000 feet of a lake or flowage or 300 feet of a river or stream.

  lake or flowage distance: <= 1000 feet (Land-disturbing activity) · river or stream distance: <= 300 feet (Land-disturbing activity)

  “Any land-disturbing activity within 1,000ft of a lake or flowage, or within 300ft of a river or stream”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside St. Marie town, an unincorporated town in Green Lake County.

  • The chapter applies throughout the county's unincorporated areas.
  • The County Land Use Planning and Zoning Department administers and enforces the chapter under its director.

  “responsible for the administration and enforcement”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private onsite wastewater treatment and sanitation systems inside St. Marie town.

  • County staff review and approve plans, issue or deny permits, and inspect properties for compliance.
  • A soil and site evaluation is required before issuance of a sanitary permit.

  “shall require a separate application and permit”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Property owners with septic systems inside St. Marie town.

  • The county page attributes the requirement to state law.
  • The inspection is for pumping and is at least once every three years.

  inspection interval: per 3 years (At least once every three 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.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Plumbing fixtures inside St. Marie town.

  • Connection is required where public sewer is available.
  • The local sanitary district determines sewer availability.
  • Where no public sewer is available, a private sewage system must be used.

  “connected to a public sewer where available”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division inside St. Marie town.

  • The county identifies land division as one of the continuing guiding ordinances in St. Marie.

  “These Towns still have guiding ordinances related to land division as well as development standards for shoreland and floodplain areas, among other regulations.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Floodplain development inside St. Marie town.

  • Green Lake County is required by state statute to maintain and enforce its Floodplain Zoning Ordinance.
  • The county identifies floodplain development standards as continuing to apply in St. Marie.
  • Land-use permits are required for activity within the jurisdiction of County-administered ordinances.

  “maintain and enforce a Floodplain Zoning Ordinance”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County land-use permit applications applicable to regulated shoreland or floodplain activity inside St. Marie town.

  • The Zoning Office may require a Certificate of Survey before issuing a permit.
  • Building plans and side-elevation drawings are required for all new homes and other principal structures.
  • Shoreland zoning may require additional information.

  “The Zoning Office reserves the right to require the submittal of a Certificate of Survey prior to permit issuance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside St. Marie town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside St. Marie town.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside St. Marie town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside St. Marie town.
• Well permit — Private wells inside St. Marie 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.