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

Town of Cleveland’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Town administrative building permit applications for projects inside Cleveland town.

  • Submit to the Town Clerk before the project starts; Jackson County land-use permitting may also be required.

  “Submit to Town Clerk PRIOR to starting project.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Onsite inspections under the Town administrative building permit inside Cleveland town.

  • This statement concerns the municipality's administrative permit only; other governmental inspections may apply.

  “onsite construction inspections will not be performed by the municipality.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction of a driveway adjacent to a Town road inside Cleveland town.

  • Submit to Town Chair; site inspection occurs before approval.

  driveway permit fee: 25 USD

  “For construction of a driveway adjacent to a Town Road”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town residential/outbuilding building permits and town-road driveway permits.

  • Fee schedule states it is effective May 1, 2023 per Resolution 2023-01.

  residential building permit fee: 100 USD · outbuilding permit fee: 25 USD · driveway permit fee: 25 USD

  “Building Permit – $100 Residential, $25 outbuilding Driveway Permit - $25”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town administrative building permits inside Cleveland town.

  • Incomplete applications may be returned without processing; applicant remains responsible for applicable governmental permits.

  “an incomplete application may be returned without processing.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Cleveland

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Proposed land divisions inside Cleveland town.

  • Minimum is subject to a more restrictive local ordinance, a specific county/state code allowing a smaller lot, or a county Board of Adjustment variance after required public-hearing procedures.

  minimum proposed lot size: >= 1.5 acres (Unless a listed exception applies.)

  “All proposed lots are to be a minimum of 1.5 acres in size, unless one of the following applies: Local municipality has passed an ordinance which is more restrictive. Specific County Code of Ordinances or State Administrative Code allowing for lot sizes below the required 1.5 acre size. A variance is granted by the Jackson County Board of Adjustment by following the required public hearing procedures.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems inside Cleveland town where not served by municipal sewers.

  • Municipal-sewer-served areas are outside the stated Chapter 15 coverage.

  “All areas of Jackson County not served by municipal sewers”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage-system construction inside Cleveland town where not served by municipal sewers.

  • A soil evaluation and sanitary permit must be obtained before construction begins.

  “Issue State and County Sanitary Permits.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage-system installation inside Cleveland town where not served by municipal sewers.

  • Inspection is during installation.

  “Inspect the sewer system during installation”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Cleveland town.

  • County page describes its division-of-land authority as unincorporated Jackson County; a CSM is required for a qualifying sub-quarter-quarter division, five or more lots require a subdivision plat, and county review is required before recording.

  maximum lots via CSM: <= 4 lots (Qualifying land divisions.) · subdivision-plat threshold: >= 5 lots (Land divisions of five or more lots.)

  “Land divisions of five (5) or more lots shall be recorded as a Subdivision Plat.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Any Cleveland town property shown on FEMA Floodplain mapping.

  • Jackson County states Chapter 20 restrictions apply and recommends contacting the office for parcel-specific regulations.

  “The Zoning Department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of regulations”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Cleveland town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Cleveland town.
• Zoning districts — County zoning districts applicable inside Cleveland town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Cleveland town.
• Setbacks — Zoned land inside Cleveland 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.