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

Town of Waldwick’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and alterations inside Waldwick town subject to Iowa County zoning.

  • The county packet says the county permit is required regardless of whether a town permit is required.
  • The county packet characterizes the zoning permit as required for virtually all construction, rather than every possible project.
  • Construction cannot begin without a valid issued land-use permit; a late permit may include a penalty and the site may have to be returned to original condition if no permit can issue.

  “The Iowa County Zoning Ordinance, which requires a zoning permit for virtually all construction, is in effect in all 14 towns.”

• InspectionsRequired

  County land-use permits for development inside Waldwick town.

  • Inspection is for compliance with application specifications and use.
  • Where a discrepancy constitutes a violation, compliance must be sought.

  “Each permit will be inspected for compliance to application specifications and use. If a discrepancy is found to constitute a violation, compliance must be sought.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Waldwick town, which is within the 14 Iowa County towns subject to county zoning.

  • Iowa County, rather than the Town of Waldwick's published ordinance page, is the identified zoning rule-maker.
  • Uses not included in a particular county zoning district are prohibited; the applicable district must be determined from the official zoning map.

  “All but one town adopted the original county zoning regulations in 1969 and, by 1980, all 14 towns had adopted county zoning.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Proposed residential structures or structures with plumbing inside Waldwick town.

  • The private septic system must comply with the Iowa County Sanitary Ordinance and state law.
  • A county sanitary permit is a prerequisite to issuance of the zoning/building permit.

  “State law requires that no zoning/building permit can be issued until the county zoning office has issued a sanitary permit.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Proposed residential structures or structures with plumbing installed or stubbed in inside Waldwick town.

  • State law requires the county zoning office to issue the sanitary permit before a zoning/building permit can issue.
  • The system must comply with the Iowa County Sanitary Ordinance and state law.

  “State law requires that no zoning/building permit can be issued until the county zoning office has issued a sanitary permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sanitation serving structures used residentially for any period or with plumbing installed or stubbed in inside Waldwick town.

  • A private septic system must comply with the Iowa County Sanitary Ordinance and state law.
  • A county sanitary permit must issue before the zoning/building permit can issue.

  “Any proposed structure that is to be used residentially for any period of time or has plumbing installed or stubbed in must have a private septic system that complies with the provisions of the Iowa County Sanitary Ordinance and state law.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways or use of an existing driveway serving open land inside Waldwick town.

  • Town Board approval is required before a county zoning permit may issue.
  • If access is to a county or state highway, additional Iowa County Highway Department approval may be required.
  • The application also requires town approval for a town-road access; county, state, or federal highway access requires Highway Commissioner or WIDOT approval.

  “For any development involving a new driveway or proposing to use an existing driveway now serving open land, a driveway approval must first be obtained from the Town Board in which the land is located before a permit under the zoning ordinance can be issued.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development inside or near mapped Zone A (100-year flood) areas in Waldwick town.

  • The proposal must be reviewed for compliance with the Iowa County Floodplain Ordinance.
  • Development within 300 feet of a navigable stream ordinary high-water mark or 1,000 feet from a lake must be reviewed for the Iowa County Shoreland Ordinance as well.
  • Detailed plans including an aerial-photo plot plan are required for shoreland/floodplain jurisdiction review.

  navigable-stream shoreland review distance: <= 300 feet (from ordinary high-water mark) · lake shoreland review distance: <= 1000 feet (from lake)

  “Any development proposed within or near the area mapped as Zone A (100-year flood) on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) must be reviewed for compliance with the Iowa County Floodplain Ordinance provisions.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Iowa County zoning, shoreland, floodplain, address-sign, and airport-zoning permits for land inside Waldwick town.

  • Zoning fees vary by footprint/use category.
  • After-the-fact fees are triple for a first offense, quadruple for a second, and quadruple plus citation for a third; an offense is exonerated after 36 months without a subsequent offense by the property owner.
  • Natural-disaster rebuilding may receive a fee reduction or waiver by appeal to the Planning & Zoning Committee.

  zoning permit, footprint up to 999 square feet: 150 USD · zoning permit, footprint 1,000–1,999 square feet: 250 USD · zoning permit, footprint 2,000–4,999 square feet: 350 USD · zoning permit, footprint 5,000 square feet and greater: >= 500 USD · shoreland or floodplain zoning permit: per 200 USD (for each jurisdiction) · special-exception permit and public hearing: 500 USD (if special exception permit required)

  “Footprint of Structure/Use up to 999 sq. ft. 150.00 Footprint of Structure/Use 1,000 - 1,999 sq. ft. 250.00 Footprint of Structure/Use 2,000 - 4,999 sq. ft. 350.00 Footprint of Structure/Use 5,000 sq. ft. and greater 500.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Iowa County land-use permit applications for construction inside Waldwick town.

  • Applicants are to discuss proposed development with the Iowa County Office of Planning and Development.
  • The office has 30 days to approve or deny the application.
  • The application requires applicant and property information, project description, applicable access/town approvals, plot plan, and floor plan.
  • The permit expires 24 months after issuance unless a Certificate of Compliance is issued.

  county application review period: <= 30 days (under section 2.3 of the Iowa County Zoning Ordinance) · permit duration: 24 months (unless a Certificate of Compliance is issued)

  “The Office has up to 30 days to approve or deny this application. The permit shall expire 24 months from the date of issuance UNLESS a Certificate of Compliance is issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Waldwick

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

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

  • The source identifies the UDC program as governing one- and two-family dwelling units.
  • The source directs applicants to the municipality when it has delegated authority; otherwise application is submitted to DSPS.

  “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code. Enforces construction standards and inspection procedures including evaluation of building materials.”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new or altered dwellings inside Waldwick town.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applicable to parcels inside Waldwick town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Waldwick town.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Waldwick town.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Waldwick 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.