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

Town of Concord’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Concord town limits

  • Adopted by the town board at its August 12, 2024 meeting; originally approved March 9, 2020 (revision stated on the ordinance).
  • Adopts Wisconsin Administrative Code chapters including SPS 316, SPS 320-325 (Uniform Dwelling Code), SPS 361-366 (commercial), SPS 381-387 (plumbing), among others, with later revisions included.
  • Enforcement is by the town building inspector.

  “the following chapters of the wisconsin administrative code, as well as all subsequent revisions, are adopted by the municipality and shall be enforced by the building inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Concord town limits: the town's Chapter 17 adopts the Jefferson County Zoning Ordinance (passed December 10, 1974) by reference as the town's zoning code.

  • The adopted text is Jefferson County's ordinance, not a separate town zoning ordinance; the town's own Chapter 17 sections cover only nonmetallic mineral extraction (17.02) and creation of the plan commission (17.03).
  • The town's chapter index lists 17.01 with no separate effective date; the ordinance text itself was not opened, so its district limits are not recorded here (see followups).
  • Whether Jefferson County Planning & Zoning administers the permits is inferred from the county POWTS and zoning sources, not stated on this town page.
  • Nonmetallic mineral extraction in the town requires a conditional use permit approved by the town board and the county zoning authority (Chapter 17.02(2)(a)); not a general zoning rule.

  “the provisions of the jefferson county zoning ordinance, passed december 10, 1974, are adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as if set forth in full.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside Concord town limits

  • Steps published: obtain the information brochure at town hall, call the inspector, or send information to the contracted inspector firm (MMS, LLC).
  • The page does not publish the application checklist, review timing, or fees; the Wisconsin Uniform Building Permit Application is linked from the page but was not opened.

  “to apply for a permit: 1. information brochure available at town hall 2. to call for information: (262) 490-0513 3. to send information: mms, llc attn.: thomas marks”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Concord

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

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replaced private onsite wastewater treatment systems on land inside Concord town limits

  • Sanitary permit issued by Jefferson County Planning and Zoning; permits are approved within 30 days of a complete application (12.14(1)).
  • Construction must not start before the sanitary permit (12.12(2)); a zoning and land use permit cannot issue for a structure needing a POWTS until one exists or all permits are obtained (12.12(6)), citing Wis. Stat. 145.195.
  • Permit fees are set in the county fee schedule, which was not opened.

  “a sanitary permit shall be obtained by the property owner, agent or contractor, before any powts or part thereof may be installed, replaced, or modified.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems serving new or existing structures on land inside Concord town limits

  • Installation must be inspected and approved by the county Planning and Zoning Department (the same ordinance section also requires approval by a licensed master plumber).
  • The same section says the system must be inspected and approved by the planning and zoning department before the structure may be occupied.
  • County verification of soil and site evaluations may be required before permit issuance (12.11(4)).

  “the powts for newly constructed structures or existing structures shall be installed, inspected and approved a by person licensed by the state as a master plumber or master plumber restricted service, and also inspected and approved by the planning and zoning department before the structure may be occupied.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Concord town limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Concord town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new homes inside Concord town limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and districts in Concord town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Concord town limits

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.