Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Reedsville, Wisconsin

Village of Reedsville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New, enlarged, altered, or repaired one- and two-family dwellings inside Reedsville village; additions and alterations within the chapter's scope.

  • Applications must be in writing on the Village-designated form and Wisconsin uniform dwelling permit application.
  • A complete plan/specification set showing the building relative to streets, alleys, lot lines, and buildings must be submitted.
  • Commercial or industrial-code plans must bear State of Wisconsin approval.
  • For additions or alterations exceeding $1,000 in material and labor, a permit is required; structural changes or major changes require permits.
  • A permit expires if the dwelling exterior is not completed within 24 months; continuation requires a new permit, at one-half the new-permit fee if original plans/specifications remain unchanged.

  addition or alteration material-and-labor threshold: > 1000 USD (Any structural changes or major changes require permits.) · permit exterior-completion period: 24 months (Permit becomes null and void if exterior is not completed.)

  “No one-family or two-family dwelling, the initial construction of which shall commence after the effective date hereof, shall be built, enlarged, altered, or repaired unless a building permit for that work shall first be obtained by the owner, or the owner's agent from the Village Clerk.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980, and additions and alterations to existing one- and two-family dwellings inside Reedsville village.

  • The adopted Uniform Dwelling Code is SPS chapters 320-325 and 327, as amended from time to time, including future amendments.
  • The code separately adopts SPS 316 and SPS 361-366 for electrical and commercial building code matters.

  “The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, SPS chapters 320 - 325 and 327 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, as amended from time to time, and including all future amendments, is adopted and incorporated by reference.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction and permitted building, plumbing, electrical, or heating work inside Reedsville village.

  • The inspector and authorized agents may enter public or private premises at reasonable times for inspection and may require production of the permit.
  • Final inspection is required before occupancy of a dwelling.

  “The owner or owner's contractor shall be responsible for notifying the building inspector when the dwelling is available for a final inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Dwellings subject to Reedsville's building-permit section.

  • The dwelling may not be occupied until final inspection finds no chapter violations reasonably expected to affect occupant health and safety.
  • Owner or contractor must notify the building inspector when the dwelling is available for final inspection.

  “Pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code section comm. 20.10, the dwelling shall not be occupied until a final inspection has been made which finds that no violations of this chapter exist that could reasonably be expected to affect the health and safety of the occupant.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Reedsville village limits.

  • Village zoning districts include Residential, Multiple-family residence, Agricultural, Business, Industrial, and Conservancy districts.

  “The village is hereby divided into the following types of districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Reedsville village limits.

  • The ordinance also provides that the zoning map remains on file in the Village Clerk's office.

  “The village is hereby divided into the following types of districts:”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Reedsville zoning districts, including the Residential and Agricultural districts.

  • Front and rear yards may not be narrower or smaller than specified for the district where the building is located.

  “To have narrower or smaller rear yards or front yards, than is specified herein for the district in which such building is located.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Reedsville zoning districts, including the Residential and Agricultural districts.

  • A building may not occupy a greater percentage of lot area than specified for its district.

  “To occupy a greater percentage of lot area, or”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  A building used for human habitation inside Reedsville village that is adjacent to a sewer or water main, or in a block through which either system extends.

  • Connection follows Village notice.
  • When a main becomes available, the Village Board must notify the owner or agent in writing and prescribe the manner of connection.
  • Failure to comply after 10 days' notice permits the notifying officer to arrange connection and assess expense as a special assessment tax.
  • An owner unable to pay in one sum may, within 30 days after completion, elect three equal annual installments with interest of 1% per month on the unpaid balance.

  compliance period after notice: 10 days (After this period the notifying officer may cause connection and assess expense.)

  “To assure preservation of public health, comfort and safety, it shall be the duty of the owner or the agent of the owner of any building used for human habitation and located adjacent to a sewer or water main, or in a block through which one or both of the water and sewer systems extend to connect therewith after notice as provided herein.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Reedsville village.

  • Fees are determined by the Village Board.
  • In addition to the established fee schedule, the fee includes inspection and other Village out-of-pocket costs and expenses.
  • Applicant must deposit the fee, including inspection costs, with the Village Clerk before permit issuance.

  “The building permit fees shall be determined by the Village Board.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits for covered work inside Reedsville village.

  • Application is made through the Village Clerk on the designated Village form and Wisconsin uniform dwelling permit application.
  • Complete plans/specifications must show the proposed building relative to adjacent streets, alleys, lot lines, and buildings.
  • The inspector approves and issues a permit only if work complies with Village ordinances and the Uniform Dwelling Code and fees are paid.
  • The issued permit must be conspicuously posted at the building site.

  “Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing upon that form designated by the Village and the Wisconsin uniform dwelling permit application, furnished by the Wisconsin Department of safety and professional services, through the Village Clerk.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Reedsville village.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Reedsville village.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Reedsville village.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Reedsville village.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured/mobile-home occupancy inside Reedsville 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Reedsville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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