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

Town of Paris’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings in Paris town subject to the Town construction chapter.

  • The cited provision refers to permits required by the construction chapter.

  “Town officers shall report at once to the building inspector any building which is being carried on without a permit as required by this chapter.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New buildings erected in, and buildings moved within or into, Paris town.

  • The chapter's stated requirements apply except where the chapter specifically exempts a building from part or all of its provisions.

  “the provisions of chapters sps 320-325 (uniform dwelling code), chapters sps 361-364 (parts of the commercial building code), chapters sps 381-386 (plumbing), and chapter sps 316 (electrical) of the administrative code of the state of wisconsin, as amended from time to time, are adopted and by reference made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  All land divisions within the limits of Paris town.

  • The Town's Land Division Chapter states its purpose is to regulate and control all land divisions within Town limits.

  “The purpose of this Chapter is to regulate and control all land divisions within the limits of the Town of Paris in order to promote and protect the public health, safety, aesthetics, and general welfare of the community.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building permits and other designated Town permits.

  • Specific permits and fees are set periodically by resolution of the Town Board.

  “At the time the application for a building permit or other designated permit is filed, the applicant shall obtain such specific permits and pay such permit fees as are set periodically by resolution of the Town Board.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Paris

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the unincorporated Town of Paris, where Kenosha County administers the applicable zoning maps and ordinances.

  • County zoning administration is stated for the unincorporated Town of Paris.

  “The Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development administers the zoning maps and zoning ordinances for the unincorporated areas of Kenosha County, including the Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers, and Wheatland.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Paris town, which lies in Kenosha County.

  • The County describes regulation of private sewage systems countywide.

  “these goals are accomplished by regulating the proper siting, design, installation, alteration, use, permitting, replacement of failing systems, and maintenance tracking of all private sewage systems in kenosha county.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private onsite sanitation systems inside Paris town.

  • Private sewage systems are subject to County regulation of siting, design, installation, alteration, use, permitting, replacement, and maintenance tracking.

  “these goals are accomplished by regulating the proper siting, design, installation, alteration, use, permitting, replacement of failing systems, and maintenance tracking of all private sewage systems in kenosha county.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Paris town.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Paris town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential buildings inside Paris town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Paris town.
• Minimum lot size — Residential and agricultural districts inside Paris 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.