Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Manitowoc Rapids, Wisconsin

Town of Manitowoc Rapids’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  All improvements inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • A county Planning and Zoning permit for construction of any structure is required before the town permit issues.

  “A Town building permit is required for all improvements.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Additions to existing homes inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • Most additions require building and electrical inspections; plumbing inspection is required only when new plumbing is installed.

  “Additions to existing homes will require inspections. Most additions will require the building and electrical inspections. Plumbing will be required only if new plumbing is being installed.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Manitowoc Rapids town; the town adopted the county general zoning and setback ordinance.

  • The adopted county ordinance applies in the town subject to its own effective-date mechanism and county administration.

  “Towns under Manitowoc County General Zoning: [...] Manitowoc Rapids”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New-home driveway applications and reconstructed driveways inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • Town driveway regulations apply before construction; town page lists a $50 permit cost.

  driveway permit fee: 50 USD

  “Driveway Permits are issued to new home applications or reconstructing their driveway. See the Ordinance 2024-1 for driveway regulations before construction.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building permits and inspections inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • Building-permit cost depends on improvement cost; the town page also lists separate new-home, inspection, and address-marker charges.

  improvements $0 to $500: 10 USD · improvements $501 to $2,500: 20 USD · improvements over $2,501: > 50 USD · new home construction permit: 715 USD

  “$10.00 - Improvements between $0 to $500 $20.00 - Improvements between $501 to $2500 $50.00 - Improvements over $2501”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building permits inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • County Planning and Zoning permit precedes the town permit for construction of any structure; application and payment may be mailed or submitted at stated town-hall hours.

  “Fill out a building permit application along with your payment and mail it to: Town of Manitowoc Rapids P.O. Box 123 Manitowoc, WI 54221-0123”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Manitowoc Rapids

Town of Manitowoc Rapids 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)

  Land inside Manitowoc Rapids town under Manitowoc County general zoning.

  • The code’s applicability is to unincorporated county areas, and its effective date in a town depends on town-board approval and filing of a certified resolution with the County Clerk.

  “8.09 Exclusive Agriculture (EA). 8.10 General Agriculture (GA). 8.11 Large Estate Residential (LE). 8.12 Small Estate Residential (SE). 8.13 Rural Residential (RR). 8.14 High Density Residential (HD). 8.15 Lake Residential (LR).”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  All zoning districts inside Manitowoc Rapids town under county general zoning.

  • The applicable minimum depends on the zoning district in which the land is located.

  ““Lot size, minimum” means the smallest tract of land permitted in a zoning district. The minimum lot size depends on the zoning district in which the land is located.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Development inside Manitowoc Rapids town under the county setback ordinance adopted by the town.

  • A county zoning/setback permit must issue before erection, movement, establishment, location, or structural alteration of a building or structure.

  “The Town of Manitowoc Rapids adopted Manitowoc County's General Zoning and Setback Ordinance in 2011.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes used for human habitation inside Manitowoc Rapids town under county general zoning.

  • The manufactured home must meet the identified construction standards; other zoning-district requirements may also apply.

  “A manufactured home used for human habitation must meet the construction standards contained in Wis. Admin. Code ch. Comm 27.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems inside Manitowoc Rapids town, which is under Manitowoc County general zoning.

  • Applications must be submitted to the County on a state-approved form signed by a master plumber or master restricted plumber (sewer).

  “All applications for septic systems must be submitted to the County on a State approved form signed by a master plumber or master restricted plumber (sewer).”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage systems and changes of connected land use inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • The owner must hold a valid sanitary permit before installing, locating, moving, reconstructing, extending, enlarging, altering, converting, or modifying a private sewage system, or changing land use connected to it.

  “No person may install, locate, move, reconstruct, extend, enlarge, alter, convert, or modify a private sewage system or change the land use connected to the system, unless the owner of the property on which such private sewage system is located, or is to be located, holds a valid sanitary permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private/off-grid sewage systems inside Manitowoc Rapids town.

  • A valid county sanitary permit is required; application must be on a state-approved form signed by the specified licensed plumbing professional.

  “No person may install, locate, move, reconstruct, extend, enlarge, alter, convert, or modify a private sewage system [...] unless the owner [...] holds a valid sanitary permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built new homes inside Manitowoc Rapids town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Manitowoc Rapids town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Manitowoc Rapids town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Manitowoc Rapids town under county general zoning.
• Lot coverage — Land inside Manitowoc Rapids town under county general zoning.

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.