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

Town of Northfield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Any new home or cabin constructed or placed on any parcel inside Northfield town.

  • Permit is a State Uniform Building Code permit.
  • The policy directs applicants to the named building inspector for permit information.

  “A State Uniform Building Code (UDC) permit is required for any new home or cabin constructed or placed on any parcel.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside the Town of Northfield, Jackson County, Wisconsin.

  • The town policy states that it does not exempt owners from applicable County, State, DNR, or Federal rules.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Town zoning districts inside Northfield town.

  • The source establishes no town zoning at this time; it does not negate other County, State, DNR, or Federal rules.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This is an absence finding for town zoning only; building-code and other non-zoning rules may apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This is an absence finding for town zoning only; subdivision, sanitary, shoreland, floodplain, and other rules may apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• SetbacksNone

  Setbacks inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This is an absence finding for town zoning only; shoreland, floodplain, sanitary, highway, and other rules may apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This is an absence finding for town zoning only; County, State, DNR, and Federal rules may still apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Building heightNone

  Building height inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This is an absence finding for town zoning only; airport-height, building-code, and other rules may apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  RV or travel-trailer occupancy on land inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the town's absence of zoning; the town policy states that County, State, DNR, and Federal rules may still apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the town's absence of zoning; other County, State, DNR, or Federal rules may apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny-home occupancy inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the town's absence of zoning; UDC, County, State, DNR, and Federal rules may still apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured-home occupancy inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the town's absence of zoning.
  • A state UDC permit is required for a new manufactured-home installation.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory-dwelling use inside Northfield town, as to town zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the town's absence of zoning; County, State, DNR, and Federal rules may still apply.

  “The Town of Northfield is not zoned at this time.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Northfield

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

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner-applicant for a UDC construction or erosion-control permit inside Northfield town.

  • The applicant must be or will be an owner-occupant of the dwelling.
  • The exemption described is from Dwelling Contractor Certification and requires the stated attestation.

  “I vouch that I am or will be an owner-occupant of this dwelling for which I am applying for an erosion control or construction permit without a Dwelling Contractor Certification and have read the cautionary statement regarding contractor responsibility on the reverse side of the last ply of this form.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Northfield town, including stick-built, modular, and manufactured-home installations.

  • The UDC applies to the stated dwelling types; local permit administration is identified by the Town of Northfield policy.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Northfield town.

  • Required UDC inspections listed by DSPS are footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough, insulation, and final.
  • The permit holder must notify the inspector identified on the UDC permit when ready.

  “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems inside Northfield town, which is an unincorporated town in Jackson County.

  • Jackson County's private-onsite wastewater ordinance is enforced in all unincorporated areas of the county.

  “The Jackson County Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Ordinance requirements are enforced in all unincorporated areas of Jackson County.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction of a new private well inside Northfield town.

  • Advance notification does not apply to high-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, or wells on Native American property.
  • High-capacity and other wells requiring written DNR approval follow their approval notification requirements.
  • A notification number is required before construction and the stated well-notification fee is $50.50.

  well construction notification fee: 50.5 USD (The DNR page states that the fee and notification number are not refundable or transferable.)

  “the well construction notification fee is $50.50.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions proposed inside Northfield town.

  • The County describes the application as being for proposed land divisions or subdivisions in Jackson County.
  • The licensed land surveyor completing the survey is responsible for completion and submission.

  “This application is utilized for the review of any land division or subdivision that is proposed in Jackson County.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway entrances from public roadways inside Northfield town.

  • An individual may be required for a driveway entrance off a public roadway.
  • For a County Highway, the guide directs applicants to the Jackson County Highway Department; for a township roadway, it directs them to check with the local township.
  • Driveways must be designated on site plans so minimum county requirements can be verified.

  “An individual may be required for a driveway entrance off of a public roadway. Contact the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for questions regarding Federal or State Highways. For access off of a County Highway, contact the Jackson County Highway Department at 715.284.0264.”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new homes and cabins inside Northfield town.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Northfield town where public water or sewer may be available.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land-use exemptions inside Northfield town.
• Building in a floodplain — Development within a floodplain inside Northfield town.
• Short-term rentals — Short-term rentals inside Northfield 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.