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

Town of Meeme’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work covered by the Town of Meeme building-permit application.

  • If work starts before a building permit is applied for, the application states that listed fees are doubled.

  “note: if any work is commenced before a building permit is applied for, all of the above fees shall be doubled.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Town of Meeme building-permit applicants and delegated Uniform Dwelling Code jurisdiction.

  • The town application requires applicants to abide by applicable state building codes.

  “note: the undersigned have read this document and are fully aware of the implications, and will abide by all applicable state building codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  All Town of Meeme building permits.

  • Applicants are directed to call only when work is ready for inspection.

  “all building permits now require inspections!”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Meeme town, where the town is listed as under the Manitowoc County Zoning Ordinance.

  • County zoning, rather than a separately identified Meeme zoning ordinance, administers zoning controls.

  “guide to building – this pamphlet is to help those towns that are under the county zoning ordinance. (cato, centerville, cooperstown, eaton, gibson, kossuth, liberty, manitowoc, manitowoc rapids, maple grove, meeme, mishicot, rockland, schleswig, two creeks and two rivers.)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Meeme building-permit applicants.

  • Payments are collected and permits issued one-half hour before each monthly Town meeting.

  “please complete application and email to: [email protected] & [email protected] payments will be collected and permits issued 1/2 hour prior to each monthly town meeting”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Meeme

Town of Meeme 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 Meeme town under the Manitowoc County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The published county zoning guide identifies district descriptions, setbacks, and allowable uses.

  “zoning guide – a brief description for each zoning district, along with setbacks and allowable uses. guide to building – this pamphlet is to help those towns that are under the county zoning ordinance. (cato, centerville, cooperstown, eaton, gibson, kossuth, liberty, manitowoc, manitowoc rapids, maple grove, meeme, mishicot, rockland, schleswig, two creeks and two rivers.)”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems inside Meeme town.

  • Applications must be submitted to Manitowoc 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

  Installation, relocation, reconstruction, extension, enlargement, alteration, conversion, modification, or connected-land-use change for a private sewage system inside Meeme town.

  • The owner must hold a valid sanitary permit.
  • The application must be on a state-approved form signed by a master plumber or master restricted plumber (sewer).

  “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.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems inside Meeme town.

  • POWTS must be inspected every three years.
  • A complete inspection is also required upon listed transfers and when a required three-year inspection finds noncompliance.
  • Inspection must be performed by an identified licensed or certified professional.

  routine inspection interval: per 3 years

  “manitowoc county and the state of wisconsin require that all private onsite wastewater treatment systems (powts) be inspected every 3 years to ensure their proper operation.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions of fifteen acres or less inside Meeme town.

  • The certified survey map or subdivision plat must be approved before recording in the Register of Deeds Office.

  land-division size: <= 15 acres

  “All divisions of land of fifteen (15) acres or less in size must be surveyed and a certified survey map or subdivision plat must be approved before being recorded in the Register of Deeds Office according to Subdivision Regulations.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway work or culvert installation on a Manitowoc County Trunk right-of-way inside Meeme town.

  • This applies to County Trunk right-of-ways, not necessarily town or state roads.

  “Issues driveway permits for any driveway work or culvert installed on County Trunk right-of-ways.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Meeme town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Meeme town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Meeme town.
• Lot coverage — Land inside Meeme town subject to county zoning.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Meeme 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.