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

Town of Manitowoc’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and improvements on land inside Manitowoc town

  • Town permit is required for improvements to property with a value over $1,000.00; the town page lists a $15.00 building permit.
  • No permit is needed if a roof or siding is replaced.
  • New homes also need a county permit and a county sanitary permit before the town issues a Wisconsin uniform building permit.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.

  town building permit threshold (improvement value over): > 1000 USD (roof or siding replacement exempt) · town building permit fee for improvements: 15 USD

  “A building permit is required before any on-site construction, including excavation for a structure may begin”

• InspectionsRequired

  New home construction inside Manitowoc town under a town-issued building permit

  • Inspections are footings, foundation, backfill, rough-in (general construction, plumbing, electrical and heating), insulation, and occupancy.
  • Occupancy inspection is done within 5 business days after notification from the permit applicant; one additional inspection is included as needed.
  • Each other inspection is done within 2 business days after notification from the permit applicant.

  “inspections include: footings before pouring foundation before backfilling rough-in (general construction, plumbing, electrical and heating) insulation occupancy inspection within 5 business days after notification from permit applicant”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways, driveway extensions, and blacktopping of driveways on land inside Manitowoc town

  • Right-of-way permit fee is $25.00 per the town page; the town page links an application for work within town road right-of-way.
  • Work may proceed after the permit is issued.

  driveway right-of-way permit fee: 25 USD

  “A permit is required if installing a new driveway or existing driveway extension or blacktopping of driveway.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Town building permit fees for new homes and improvements inside Manitowoc town

  • Fees are stated as of January 1, 2024; a newer schedule was not located.
  • County permit and sanitary fees are separate and not included in this total.
  • Dwelling total on the town page: $905.00 for a 1 family dwelling and $1760.00 for a 2 family dwelling.

  1 family dwelling total (town permit package incl. address marker, seal, town permit): 905 USD (as of January 1, 2024) · town permit fee for improvements: 15 USD (improvements over $1,000.00)

  “The following is the cost for new homes as of January 1, 2024”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit application process for new homes inside Manitowoc town

  • Required documents include three sets of plans, the Wisconsin Uniform Building Permit application, energy calculations, a plot plan, an erosion control plan, a copy of the county sanitary permit, and a copy of the county zoning permit.
  • Any new home needs an address marker installed in front of the residence (town page lists $75.00).
  • Documents and fees go to the town clerk/treasurer at 1805 Lissa Lane, Manitowoc.

  “Deliver the following documents with the appropriate fees to Geraldine Gilbert, 1805 Lissa Lane, Manitowoc. WI 54220”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Manitowoc

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems (septic) on land inside Manitowoc town

  • Manitowoc County Planning & Zoning administers County Code Chapter 13 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 383 for these systems inside the town.
  • A county sanitary permit is also a precondition for the town building permit for new homes.

  “The Planning & Zoning Department administers Chapter 13 of the Manitowoc County Code and Chapter SPS 383 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, which regulate the installation and maintenance of Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS), better known as “septic systems.””

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, replacement, repair, reconnection or modification of a private septic system (POWTS) on land inside Manitowoc town

  • Minor repairs such as manhole risers or covers, septic tank baffles, pumps and related controls and wiring, and vents do not need a sanitary permit.
  • A sanitary permit is required for a new building that needs a private sewage system.
  • Each private sewage system needs a separate application and separate sanitary permit.
  • Applications are reviewed within 30 days after all required information and fees are received (per county sanitary page / SPS 383 summary; not verified on the cited county page).

  “A sanitary permit shall be obtained by the property owner, his or her agent, or his or her contractor before any POWTS or any part thereof may be installed, replaced, repaired, reconnected, or modified.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private septic system serving a newly constructed building inside Manitowoc town

  • The system must be installed, inspected, and approved before the building may be occupied.
  • County Chapter 13 inspection sections (13.28 to 13.31) were not opened; the required frequency and inspection schedule are unverified.

  “Any private sewage system that serves a newly constructed building shall be installed, inspected, and approved before the building may be occupied.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-plumbing sanitation systems (for example privies) inside Manitowoc town

  • Permitted only when the building served does not have an indoor plumbing system.
  • If plumbing is installed or running water is supplied, an acceptable sewage disposal method other than, or in addition to, a non-plumbing system must be provided.
  • Portable restrooms are allowed for temporary use only: 30 consecutive days or less for gatherings, or construction plus two weeks at a construction site.

  “A non-plumbing sanitation system may be permitted only when the building served by the non-plumbing sanitation system does not have an indoor plumbing system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a dwelling inside Manitowoc town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Manitowoc town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applying to land inside Manitowoc town under County Code Chapter 8
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residences inside Manitowoc town, under County Code Chapter 8
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for land inside Manitowoc town, under County Code Chapter 8 (residential and agricultural districts)

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.