Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of West Salem, Wisconsin

Village of West Salem’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New one- and two-family, commercial and agricultural buildings, accessory buildings, additions, alterations, and electrical/HVAC/plumbing work inside West Salem village

  • Permit issued by village building inspector
  • Zoning also requires a land use permit (also called a building permit), granted or denied in writing within 10 days and expiring in 2 years
  • Fees per Appendix A fee schedule

  “no owner or contractor may commence construction of any building or mechanical system prior to obtaining a valid permit from the village building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside West Salem village; village adopts the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code and commercial codes

  • Village is a certified municipality under ch. SPS 361.60 for commercial building inspection and plan examination
  • Adopted by ordinance no. 496, 7/21/2020

  “the village has adopted the certified municipality status as described in ch. sps 361.60 of the wisconsin administrative code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work under a village-issued permit inside West Salem village

  • Permit holder must notify the building inspector when an inspection is required

  “following the issuance of any permit under this code, specific inspections are required.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Vacant land use and new, altered or moved structures inside West Salem village

  • Certificate of compliance applied for with the land use permit; issued within 10 days after completion if compliant
  • Building inspector may issue a temporary certificate for part of a building
  • Chapter 7.09 separately bars a certificate of occupancy unless work complied with the code

  “no vacant land shall be occupied or used and no structure hereafter erected, altered or moved shall be occupied until a certificate of compliance shall have been issued by the building inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All lands and waters within West Salem village corporate limits

  • Adopted under Wis. Stat. 61.35, 62.23, 87.30
  • Chapter shows 'amended: april 20, 2021'

  “the jurisdiction of this section shall include all lands and waters within the corporate limits of the village of west salem.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside West Salem village

  • Eight districts: R-1, R-2, B, I, A, C, PUD, flood
  • Three overlay districts: historic preservation, conservation design subdivision, traditional neighborhood development
  • Boundaries shown on the village official zoning map

  “boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "village of west salem, wisconsin official zoning map".”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single family residence district inside West Salem village

  • Minimum lot width 60 ft at street and building setback line (3.02(e)(1)); 45 ft in a cul de sac
  • Where no public sewer/water, lot area must meet state statute and administrative code

  minimum lot area, single family: >= 8000 sq ft

  “minimum lot area per family: single family structures -------8000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Agriculture (A) district inside West Salem village

    “minimum lot area per family (residential)-- 40 acres”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single family residence district inside West Salem village

  • Principal side yard 10 ft; accessory buildings 3 ft each side
  • Second street setback on corner lots at the building inspector's discretion
  • Detached accessory structures in rear yard only

  front yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard: >= 25 feet · side yard principal: >= 10 feet

  “minimum front yard setback ----------25 feet minimum 2nd street setback on corner lots ------------at the discretion of the building inspector minimum rear yard setback -----------25 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agriculture (A) district inside West Salem village

  • Other structures: n/a

  maximum height residential structure: <= 35 feet

  “maximum building height residential structure --------- 35 feet other structures -------------- n/a”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single family residence district inside West Salem village

    “maximum building height -------------35 feet minimum side yard: principal buildings ------------10 feet”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Parcels adjacent to a village sewer main with a building usable for human habitation, inside West Salem village

  • Connection due within 12 months of written notice from the approving authority
  • If owner fails, village may connect and bill the owner; unpaid costs become a special tax lien under s. 281.45, Wis. Stats.
  • Owner may request up to 3 equal installments
  • Water connection rule not located (Chapter 9 not opened)

  connection deadline after written notice: 12 months

  “the owner of each parcel of land adjacent to a sewer main on which there exists a building useable for human habitation or in a block through which such system is extended, shall connect to such system within twelve (12) months of notice in writing from the approving authority.”

• Permit processPublished

  Land use permit applications inside West Salem village

  • Application in duplicate to building inspector with plat of survey, sewage and water plans
  • Decision in writing within 10 days; permit expires after 2 years

  “a land use permit shall be granted or denied in writing by the building inspector within ten (10) days.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside West Salem village
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside West Salem village
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside West Salem village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside West Salem village
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside West Salem 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.