Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Town of Two Rivers’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, additions and outbuildings inside the Town of Two Rivers, after the county zoning step

  • Obtain the county zoning-setback permit first; the county guide lists the town building permit as step 10 of the process.
  • The town page says the county Planning & Zoning department refers residents to the town building inspector.

  “10. obtain town building permit. example of a site plan”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Two Rivers' limits: the town adopted Manitowoc County's general zoning ordinance (Town General Zoning Ordinance #1201), which the county Planning & Zoning department administers.

  • The operative zoning text is Manitowoc County Code Chapter 8 (general zoning) and Chapter 10 (setbacks), which the town page incorporates by reference; the town page does not reproduce the text.
  • Zoning and setback permits are obtained through Manitowoc County Planning & Zoning.

  “the town of two rivers adopted manitowoc county's general zoning and setback ordinance in january 2012, along with farmland preservation and the comprehensive revision. please see manitowoc county code - chapter 8 for general zoning and chapter 10 for setbacks.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  A new driveway access onto a road for a building inside the Town of Two Rivers

  • Driveway access must be confirmed as permitted by the county highway department or the town before construction.
  • The location of a proposed driveway can prevent access; an existing access may limit use of another.
  • Chapter 8 §8.35(3) driveway requirements were not opened.

  “2. check with the county highway department or the town to make sure a driveway access will be permitted.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit and zoning process for new buildings, additions, outbuildings and attached garages inside the Town of Two Rivers

  • The first step is a call or visit to Manitowoc County Planning & Zoning (920-683-4185), which advises on needed permits and verifies zoning.
  • The town building inspector is involved after county review.
  • Application forms, fees and timelines were not located.

  “this should be your first stop or call for any new building including additions and out buildings or attached garages.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Two Rivers

Town of Two Rivers 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 (septic) systems for land inside the Town of Two Rivers, administered by Manitowoc County Planning & Zoning under county Chapter 13 and state SPS 383

  • The county's Chapter 13 applies with the state administrative code, Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 383.
  • The 2023 Chapter 13 update was adopted 04/18/2023; the county page says the department administers the ordinance.

  “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

  A new building that requires a private sewage system inside the Town of Two Rivers

  • The sanitary permit must be obtained before the system is installed or the building is constructed; the county zoning permit cannot issue without a valid sanitary permit or reconnection permit (Chapter 13 §13.14(1)).
  • Minor repairs such as manhole risers, baffles, pumps and vents do not require a sanitary permit (§13.17(1)).
  • Fee schedule and the county application form were not opened.

  “a sanitary permit shall be obtained by the property owner, his or her agent, or his or her contractor in the name of the property owner, before the installation, establishment, or construction of any building that requires a private sewage system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A newly constructed building served by a private sewage system inside the Town of Two Rivers

  • The system must be installed, inspected and approved before the building may be occupied.
  • Inspection schedule and inspection fees were not opened.

  “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 (non-sewer) sanitation and holding tanks for land inside the Town of Two Rivers

  • A non-plumbing sanitation system (such as an outhouse or privy) may be permitted only when the building it serves has no indoor plumbing; a building with plumbing needs an acceptable disposal method.
  • Portable restrooms are allowed for temporary use only.
  • The county guide says the Town of Two Rivers does not allow holding tanks for new construction; holding tanks are otherwise permitted only case by case under Chapter 13 §13.12.

  “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.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction on land inside the Town of Two Rivers that may lie in a floodplain or wetland

  • Check with county Planning & Zoning that there is no floodplain or wetland that prevents construction.
  • Systems located in a floodplain must also meet Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 116 and county Chapter 31 (floodplain zoning) (Chapter 13 §13.13).

  “check with the manitowoc county planning and zoning department to make sure the zoning on the property allows for the type of construction being proposed and that there is no floodplain or wetland which may prevent a structure from being constructed.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside the Town of Two Rivers
• Building code adopted — Building code in effect for new homes inside the Town of Two Rivers
• Inspections — Building inspection of new construction inside the Town of Two Rivers
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside the Town of Two Rivers
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts that apply inside the Town of Two Rivers

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.