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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Gurney

Town of Gurney 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 inside Gurney town, including stick-built, modular, and manufactured-home installations.

  • If the municipality has delegated authority, it issues the permit; otherwise the application is submitted to DSPS.
  • The cited requirement is for new one- and two-family dwelling units.

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

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  An owner-occupant seeking an erosion-control or construction permit for a dwelling inside Gurney town without Dwelling Contractor Certification.

  • The applicant must be, or will be, an owner-occupant and must make the quoted attestation when applying without Dwelling Contractor Certification.

  “You will leave those areas blank. At Step 5, you will check the box above your electronic signature”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured homes, inside Gurney town.

  • The cited UDC program governs one- and two-family dwelling units, including manufactured homes.

  program code chapter: SPS 320-325

  “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

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

  • The owner must notify the inspector identified on the UDC permit when ready for inspection.

  required inspections: Footings; foundation and foundation reinforcement; rough; insulation; final

  “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 Gurney town is comprehensively zoned under the Iron County Zoning Ordinance; the available official material identifies the county, rather than Gurney town, as the ordinance administrator.

  • The county plan states that incorporated communities Hurley and Montreal have statutory authority to develop and enforce their own zoning ordinances; Gurney is a town, not one of those incorporated communities.

  “For the purposes of this Chapter, the unincorporated areas of Iron County are hereby divided into the following types of districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for land inside Gurney town are determined by the Iron County official and detailed zoning maps.

  • If the official and detailed maps conflict, the detailed zoning map governs.
  • The maps and ordinance copy are kept at the County Zoning Administrator's Office for public inspection during office hours.

  official map set: Official Zoning Map, Iron County, Wisconsin; Detailed Zoning Maps number 1 to 13 (Exact district location is decided by the County Zoning Administrator and may be reviewed on appeal to the Board of Adjustment.)

  “The locations and boundaries of these districts are shown in a single map officially designated “Official Zoning Map, Iron County, Wisconsin””

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Sanitary-system permitting for land inside Gurney town, administered through Iron County Land and Zoning.

  • The county page identifies sanitary-system permitting as a department service; system-specific permit, design, inspection, and state-code requirements were not established by the opened page.

  “The Land and Zoning Department's duties include enforcement of the Iron County Zoning Ordinance and providing assistance in the permitting process for land use in the County.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Certified survey maps and subdivisions affecting land inside Gurney town.

  • The county zoning department identifies certified-survey-map and subdivision review as a service; the exact ordinance thresholds and approval process require further ordinance review.

  “Certified Survey Map and Subdivision review”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  UDC permit applications for new one- and two-family dwellings inside Gurney town.

  • The listed materials apply regardless of which agency has authority.
  • The application may be electronic or paper depending on the agency.
  • Local delegation determines whether the municipality or DSPS receives the application.

  required submission components: Permit application; contractor license numbers and expiration dates; plans; required data; permit application fee (The DSPS page specifies that the application may be electronic or paper depending on the agency.)

  “Regardless of which agency has authority, your application must include:”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for buildings inside Gurney town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Gurney town subject to Iron County zoning.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Gurney town subject to Iron County zoning.
• Building height — Buildings inside Gurney town subject to Iron County zoning.
• Living in an RV — Long-term occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Gurney 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.