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

Town of Dodgeville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of buildings or mechanical systems inside Dodgeville town covered by Chapter 10.

  • The code lists new residential buildings, additions, specified alterations, new/remodel electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and pools as examples requiring permits.
  • Minor repairs, re-siding, re-roofing, interior finishes, cabinetry, and normal listed equipment repairs are excepted; a third or greater roof layer requires a permit with structural calculations.

  “no owner or contractor may commence construction of any building or mechanical system prior to obtaining a valid permit from the municipal building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction regulated by Town of Dodgeville Chapter 10, including one- and two-family dwellings, commercial buildings/structures, pools, and decks.

  • Chapter 10 does not apply to children's play structures.
  • The ordinance adopts the listed Wisconsin Administrative Code chapters and subsequent revisions.

  “The following Chapters of the Wisconsin Administrative Codes, as well as all subsequent revisions, are adopted by the Municipality and shall be enforced by the Building Inspector.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted building projects inside Dodgeville town.

  • Owner or contractor must request listed inspections under the applicable Wisconsin Administrative Code timeframe or at least 48 hours in advance.
  • Failure to request an inspection is the contractor's and/or owner's responsibility; approval is not implied by lack of inspection.

  “In order to permit inspection of a building project at all necessary phases without causing delay for the owner, the owner and/or contractor shall request all of the following inspections in conformity with the appropriate time frame defined in the Wisconsin Administrative Code or at least 48 hours in advance by the applicant/contractor or property owner as applicable.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings subject to Town of Dodgeville Chapter 10.

  • The inspector may issue a temporary occupancy permit for minor noncompliances other than health or safety items, typically 30 days or less.
  • Occupancy may not occur until an occupancy permit is issued.

  “If no non-compliances are found by the Building Inspector, the Inspector shall issue an occupancy permit. If minor non-compliances, (other than health or safety items) are in existence, the Inspector may issue a temporary occupancy permit for a specific term, typically 30 days or less. Occupancy may not be taken until an occupancy permit is issued.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the portion of Dodgeville town covered by Chapter 18 (Greater Heights zoning).

  • The ordinance expressly limits its zoning districts to the portion of the Town covered by Chapter 18.
  • The zoning-map boundaries are established by the map dated October 1, 1997, on file with the Town Clerk.

  “for the purposes of this chapter, the portion of the town covered by this chapter is hereby divided in to the following districts: 1) r-1 single and two family residential district 2) r-m multi family residential district 3) b-h general highway business district”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  The Chapter 18 Greater Heights zoning area in Dodgeville town.

  • The chapter applies to only a portion of the Town.
  • The zoning map dated October 1, 1997, is on file in the Town Clerk's office.

  “boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled “zoning map, town of dodgeville, wisconsin,” dated october 1, 1997, which is on file in the office of the town clerk.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Residential use of motor homes or camping trailers in the Chapter 18 zoning area of Dodgeville town.

  • A licensed mobile-home park is the stated exception.
  • The County sheriff may permit overnight parking in emergency situations.

  “no motor home, mobile home or camping trailer shall be used for residential purposes unless located in a licensed mobile home park, except that county sheriff may permit the overnight parking of such vehicles in the town in emergency situations.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Residential use of mobile homes in the Chapter 18 zoning area of Dodgeville town.

  • Residential use is allowed only when the mobile home is located in a licensed mobile-home park.
  • Emergency overnight parking may be permitted by the County sheriff.

  “no motor home, mobile home or camping trailer shall be used for residential purposes unless located in a licensed mobile home park, except that county sheriff may permit the overnight parking of such vehicles in the town in emergency situations.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions in Dodgeville town.

  • A subdivision includes four or more lots, four or more lots created by successive division within five years, or proposed, potential, or actual public streets.
  • A subdivision or land division requires a subdivision plat or certified survey map under the ordinance.

  “Any person, firm or corporation dividing land which results in a subdivision or a land division shall prepare a subdivision plat or a certified survey map in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction of driveways inside Dodgeville town.

  • Application must include a driveway plan and an Iowa County Zoning Office statement verifying compliance with county ordinances.
  • The permit is valid one year and has a one-year automatic extension if requested in writing before expiration.
  • Field-access driveways and specified small platted lots have stated exemptions from particular provisions, not from the application-and-permit section.

  permit validity: 1 year (One-year automatic extension if timely requested in writing.)

  “As part of the driveway permit, the applicant must receive and attach as part of driveway permit application, a statement from the Iowa County Zoning Office verifying compliance of the proposed driveway with any County ordinance. The permit shall be issued prior to any person beginning construction of a driveway within the Town of Dodgeville.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits in Dodgeville town.

  • Fees are established periodically by the Municipality.
  • If work commences before permit issuance, the permit fee doubles.

  “At the time of building permit application issuance, the applicant shall pay fees as established periodically by the Municipality. If work commences prior to permit issuance, the permit fee shall double.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications for proposed construction or demolition.

  • The inspector issues the permit when state, county, and local submission requirements are satisfied.
  • Permit cards must be posted visibly from the street.
  • Permits are valid for two years and can be extended 30, 90, or up to 180 days with inspector approval and payment of permit fees.

  permit validity: 2 years (May be extended with Building Inspector approval and payment of permit fees.)

  “The Inspector shall issue the requested permit if the owner or contractor demonstrates that all state, county and local submission requirements are satisfied. If a permit card is issued, it shall be posted at the job site in a visible location from the street. Permits are valid for two years. Permit may be extended for 30, 90, or up to 180 days with the Building Inspector's approval and payment of permit fees.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Dodgeville town.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Dodgeville town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Dodgeville town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Dodgeville town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Dodgeville 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.