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

Town of Farmington’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Farmington town; the Town adopted La Crosse County Chapter 17 zoning rather than a separate town zoning text.

  • The Town resolution states that the County chapter becomes effective when the Town Clerk files the code and adoption resolution with the County Clerk.

  “The Town Board, by motion of the Board recorded in its official minutes, has voted to adopt by resolution the comprehensive revision to the zoning code, and as amended, known as Chapter 17 of the La Crosse County Code of Ordinances.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Farmington

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Farmington town under the Town-adopted La Crosse County Chapter 17.

  • Chapter 17 contains separate residential, rural, agricultural, recreation/natural-resource, commercial, industrial, manufactured-home-community, and public-facilities district sections.
  • Parcel-specific map and applicable district section must be checked.

  “17.06 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT A 17.07 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT B 17.08 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT C 17.09 RURAL DISTRICT 17.10 EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT 17.11 GENERAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles/campers on land inside Farmington town.

  • Campers are authorized in the Recreation and Natural Resource District.
  • Campers require a conditional-use permit in the General Agricultural and Exclusive Agricultural Districts.

  “Campers are allowed as an authorized use in the Recreational and Natural Resource District. Campers require a conditional use permit in the General Agricultural and Exclusive Agricultural Districts.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Farmington town.

  • The County code separately establishes a Manufactured Home Community District and defines manufactured homes as permanent one-unit residential dwellings.
  • Parcel-specific district and use-table review remains necessary.

  “Manufactured homes as defined in Wis. Stats. §101.91(2) for short-term rental, principal residential use, or temporary residential use.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems and non-plumbing sanitation systems inside Farmington town.

  • County sanitary permits cover reconnection, repair, renewal, transfer of a POWTS, and installation of a non-plumbing sanitation system.

  “The Environmental Health Manager shall act as the County issuing agent and is hereby assigned the duties of administering the private onsite wastewater treatment system program.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  POWTS inside Farmington town that were installed before July 1, 2000.

  • POWTS installed on or after July 1, 2000 must follow the management plan required by SPS 383.54(1) and (3).
  • For pre-July 1, 2000 systems, inspection and/or pumping is every three years under SPS 383.54(4).
  • Certification may be completed by the listed licensed or certified professionals.

  inspection or pumping interval for pre-July 1, 2000 POWTS: per 3 years (POWTS installed on or after July 1, 2000 follow their SPS 383.54 management plan.)

  “The management plan shall be followed for all POWTS installed on or after July 1, 2000 as required in SPS 383.54(1) and (3). All POWTS installed prior to July 1, 2000 shall be inspected and/or pumped every 3 years, as required in SPS 383.54(4).”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-plumbing sanitation systems inside Farmington town.

  • A non-plumbing sanitation system may be permitted only where the served structure or premises will not have running water or indoor plumbing.
  • If plumbing or running water is added, an acceptable sewage-disposal method other than, or in addition to, the non-plumbing system is required.

  “A non-plumbing sanitation system may be permitted only when the structure or premises served by the non-plumbing sanitation system is not to be provided with running and/or an indoor plumbing system.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells and private water systems inside Farmington town.

  • The owner must hold a valid Health Department well-location permit or transfer, or notify the administrator and arrange to acquire a permit before construction.
  • Public-water systems and private systems requiring DNR written plan approval are excepted.
  • Application is due at least two working days before construction to receive contamination-source information; otherwise the well constructor remains responsible for NR 812 compliance.

  “No private water system may be located, installed or operated within the jurisdictional limits of La Crosse County without the appropriate permit being obtained in compliance with subd. 1. above and without being in full compliance with provisions of this ordinance and all other applicable state and local laws and regulations.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land division inside Farmington town, which is an unincorporated town.

  • County FAQ identifies Chapter 18 as the subdivision provisions and County Surveyor as administrator.
  • Conveyances that are less than a whole parcel but do not constitute a subdivision should be discussed with Zoning Staff for conformance.

  “Subdivision provisions are contained in County Ordinance Chapter 18 and are administered by the County Surveyor. Conveyances that do not constitute a subdivision, but where the conveyance is less than a whole parcel of land should be discussed with Zoning Staff to ensure conformity with Ordinances.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction, repair, modification, addition, or change of use for structures in a Floodplain District inside Farmington town.

  • The County administers floodplain ordinances in all unincorporated County areas.
  • The permit obligation applies to the listed work within the Floodplain District.

  “A Floodplain Land Use Permit is required for the construction of, or repair, modification, or addition to a structure, the change of use of a structure located in the Floodplain District.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  County POWTS and well permits applicable inside Farmington town.

  • The applicant is charged the appropriate fee determined by the County Board.
  • The cited provision lists permit categories but not current dollar amounts.

  “The following permits and fees shall be regulated under Chapter 12 of this Code and the applicant shall be charged the appropriate fee as determined by the County Board:”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning-occupancy permits applicable inside Farmington town.

  • Applications may be submitted by the landowner or representative.
  • Forms require a site map, construction plans, other needed attachments, and the application fee.
  • Processing is in received order and typically takes one to two weeks.
  • The zoning permit cannot issue until all other applicable permits are in place.

  typical processing time: 1-2 weeks (Applications are processed in the order received.)

  “Applications are processed in the order they are received, and processing time is typically 1-2 weeks. Please note that your zoning permit cannot be issued until all other applicable permits are in place.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Farmington town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Farmington town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Farmington town.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Farmington town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Farmington 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.