Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Sullivan, Wisconsin

Village of Sullivan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, structurally altering or relocating a building inside the Village of Sullivan

  • A $1,000 occupancy-bond deposit must be paid when a building permit application is made for a new building, addition or remodel (§ 485-91.B).
  • A zoning permit is also required (§ 485-90).

  occupancy bond deposit: 1000 USD

  “no building shall be erected, structurally altered or relocated until a building permit has been issued by the building inspector certifying that such building, as proposed, would be in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with chapter 137, building construction, of the village code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside the Village of Sullivan (Jefferson County, WI)

  “this chapter contemplates an administrative and enforcement officer entitled the "zoning administrator" to administer and enforce the same.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside the Village of Sullivan

  • Districts include R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-6, C-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, PF, plus PUD, WP and AEO overlays.

  “§ 485-19 r-4 multiple-family residential district. § 485-20 r-6 residential estate district. § 485-21 c-1 conservancy district.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside the Village of Sullivan

  • Two-story or taller: at least 1,200 sq ft first-floor living area, plus 200 sq ft more if built without a full basement.
  • The R-6 district requires at least 1,600 sq ft floor area (see the R-6 claim).

  one-story minimum living space: >= 1400 sq ft

  “no residence shall hereafter be constructed that has less than 1,400 square feet of living space for a one-story house with or without a basement.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside the Village of Sullivan

  • Other districts differ (R-2 7,500 sq ft; R-3 12,000 sq ft).

  minimum lot area: >= 18000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 100 ft (average)

  “(1) lot. (a) area: minimum 18,000 square feet. (b) width: minimum 100 feet average.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-6 residential estate district, inside the Village of Sullivan

    “lots shall be a minimum of two acres in area and shall be not less than 125 feet in width at front setback.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside the Village of Sullivan

  • Front yard is set by § 485-13 (not read).

  rear yard: >= 25 ft · side yard each side: >= 15 ft

  “(4) yards. (a) front: per § 485-13. (b) rear: minimum 25 feet. (c) side: minimum 15 feet each side.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-6 residential estate district, inside the Village of Sullivan

  • R-4 allows 70% coverage; no coverage limit was read for R-1.

  maximum building coverage: <= 35 percent

  “building coverage on the lot shall not exceed 35% of the total lot area.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district, inside the Village of Sullivan

  • R-2, R-3 and R-6 also 35 ft; R-4 45 ft.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “(1) lot. (a) area: minimum 18,000 square feet. (b) width: minimum 100 feet average. (2) building height: maximum 35 feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  R-1 district, inside the Village of Sullivan

  • Mobile homes are excluded; manufactured homes count as single-family dwellings and must meet the district's dwelling standards.
  • The home must be served by public sewer.

  “single-family detached dwellings, served by public sewer, excluding all mobile homes; for purposes of this chapter, manufactured homes are included in the definition of single-family dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Sullivan village
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Sullivan village
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Sullivan village
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Sullivan village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Sullivan village

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.