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

Town of Manchester’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings and qualifying additions or alterations inside Manchester town.

  • Applies to additions or alterations only for a home constructed after June 1, 1980.
  • The county states that the local municipality administers and enforces the UDC.

  home construction date threshold: > June 1, 1980 (Applies to additions or alterations)

  “A UDC Building Permit is required for the construction or placement of any new one or two family dwellings”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Proposed lots created by land division inside Manchester town.

  • The 1.5-acre minimum does not apply where a more restrictive local ordinance applies, a county or state code permits a smaller lot, or a Board of Adjustment variance is granted after required public-hearing procedures.

  minimum proposed lot size: >= 1.5 acres (Subject to stated local-ordinance, code, and variance exceptions)

  “All proposed lots are to be a minimum of 1.5 acres in size”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems serving property inside Manchester town.

  • Manchester is listed in Jackson County's private sewage maintenance schedule.
  • The program cites Jackson County ordinance sections and Wisconsin Administrative Code provisions.

  “May 1st Bear Bluff, City Point, Knapp, Komensky, Manchester, Millston July 31st”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage systems inside Manchester town.

  • The tank must be pumped by a licensed pumper within 36 months after installation and at least every 36 months thereafter, or when sludge reaches one-third of liquid capacity.
  • The owner must have the system pumped and/or inspected and return the notice bearing the licensed pumper's signature.
  • Manchester's schedule deadline is July 31 after the May 1 notice.

  maintenance interval: per 36 months (Or when sludge reaches one-third of tank liquid capacity)

  “at least once every 36 months thereafter”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Manchester town as an unincorporated participating township of Jackson County.

  • Parcels smaller than a rectangular half of a government protracted quarter-quarter require county approval and a certified survey map.
  • Five or more lots require a subdivision plat; if each is below 1.5 acres, state plat review and county approval are required.
  • All CSMs, preliminary and final plats, and legal descriptions dividing parcels require county review before recording.

  maximum lots via CSM: <= 4 lots (Land divisions of five or more lots must be recorded as a subdivision plat)

  “A maximum of four (4) lots can be created via a CSM.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Property inside Manchester town shown on FEMA Floodplain mapping.

  • Only property shown on FEMA Floodplain mapping is identified by the county page.
  • The county directs owners to contact the zoning office because Chapter 20 contains numerous restrictions.

  “regulations for any property which is shown on the FEMA Floodplain mapping.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals inside Manchester town in the listed Jackson County zoning districts.

  • Defined as a residential dwelling rented for a fee for fewer than 29 consecutive days.
  • Allowed as a conditional use only in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, A-1, and A-2.
  • Must meet local building-code, county health-licensing, state, county sanitary, and Section 17.50 parking requirements.
  • A CUP application and fee initiate processing; notice goes to adjacent owners within 300 feet, is published for two weeks and announced on radio, and is sent to the local township.

  maximum consecutive rental period: < 29 days (Definition of short-term rental)

  “Short term rentals are allowed as a conditional use within the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 residential districts”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning and land-use permits applicable inside Manchester town.

  • The official county forms page labels the schedule as 2026; the specific fee amounts were not extracted from the linked schedule.

  “Fee Schedule 2026 Guide to Construction 2026 Jackson County Office Policies 2026 Land Use Permit Application 2026”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Manchester town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Manchester town.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Manchester town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Manchester town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Manchester 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.