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

Town of Pound’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 inside Pound town

  • Scope is limited to one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 (Chapter 6 section 1.3)
  • Adopted by reference with all amendments to chs. Comm 20-25 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code

  “The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, Chs. Comm 20-25 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference”

• InspectionsLimited

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Pound town under the Uniform Dwelling Code

  • The town building inspector administers and enforces the UDC ordinance for one- and two-family dwellings only
  • The specific inspection triggers and stages were not located in the Chapter 6 text captured (sections 1.6 to 1.9 not read in full)

  “There is hereby created the position of Building Inspector, who shall administer and enforce this ordinance”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Pound town (Town of Pound, Marinette County, WI) limits, under the town's own Chapter 10 Zoning Ordinance

  • Shoreland/wetland and floodplain areas are referred to Marinette County (see floodplain claim)
  • Ordinance text as posted on the town site; later amendments may apply

  “The jurisdiction of this Ordinance shall apply to all structures, lands, water, and air within the unincorporated limits of the Town of Pound, Marinette County, Wisconsin.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Pound town: A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, M-1, M-2, Q-1, I-1, P-1 and HCO USH 141 overlay, shown on the zoning map

  • Map is kept and available in the town clerk's office; map amendments take effect on town board adoption

  “A certified copy of the Zoning Map shall be adopted and approved with the text as part of this Ordinance”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Building coverage on lots in the A-1 agricultural/rural residential district of Pound town

  • Percentage of individual lot

  maximum building coverage: <= 5 percent of lot

  “the maximum building coverage (percentage of individual lot) shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the lot.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Building coverage on lots in the R-1 single-family residential district of Pound town

    “the maximum building coverage (percentage of individual lot) shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the lot.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes and manufactured homes placed on land inside Pound town

  • Mobile homes (defined as units manufactured or assembled before June 15, 1976) moved or relocated into the town after the ordinance effective date are permitted only in manufactured/mobile home parks
  • Individual manufactured home units on a parcel must be installed under state statutes, Dept. of Commerce chapter 27 guidelines and the town zoning ordinance
  • Mobile homes not connected to public water or sewer must meet single-family residence requirements of the district

  “Any mobile home moved to or relocated in the Town of Pound after the effective date of this Ordinance are permitted only in manufactured/mobile home parks”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Farm-operator family and farm-labor housing (including manufactured homes) in the A-1 agricultural/rural residential district only; general accessory dwelling units were not found

  • Listed as a conditional use in the agricultural uses section, so requires a conditional use permit
  • General accessory dwelling units not addressed in text read

  “Housing for parents or children of the farm operator and farm labor, including manufactured homes.”

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed

  Private onsite waste treatment systems on land inside Pound town where public sewerage is not available

  • Allowed only where public sewerage service is not available
  • Lot width and area must be sufficient for the private onsite system designed under Marinette County ordinances and COMM 83 and COMM 85
  • Requirement is stated in the town zoning ordinance section 10.0210 (site restrictions)

  “the use of a private onsite waste treatment system designed in accordance with Chapters Comm 83 and Comm 85”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivision of land inside Pound town

  • Town Chapter 11 Land Division Ordinance and Chapter 13 Subdivision Highway Ordinance are listed; their text was not opened
  • County land division and subdivision regulations also apply (Chapter 10 section 10.0207)

  “The purpose of this Ordinance is to regulate and control the division of land within the limits of the Town of Pound”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways installed, altered, changed, replaced or extended in Pound town

  • Driveways must meet Chapter 12 Driveway Ordinance (text not opened)
  • No zoning/building permit for construction unless the lot fronts a public street for at least 200 feet (section 10.0210 item b.)

  minimum distance between residential driveway openings: >= 10 feet (5 feet at all lot lines)

  “A permit must be obtained from the Town Board’s designee and the driveway must meet all applicable standards”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning/building permit process in Pound town

  • Applications go to the zoning administrator on town forms
  • Plat of survey and proposed sewage disposal plan are required for certain submittals
  • Fee schedule and detailed steps were not read

  “Applications for Zoning/Building Permit shall be made to the Zoning Administrator on forms furnished by the Zoning Administrator”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Pound

Town of Pound 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 on land inside Pound town (county rule applies inside the town; not countywide-unincorporated only)

  • Sanitary permits are issued under the Marinette County private sewage system ordinance, as the town zoning ordinance states
  • Systems must be designed under Wisconsin COMM 83 and COMM 85 per section 10.0210

  “a sanitary permit pursuant to the Marinette County Private Sewage System Ordinance”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private onsite wastewater systems on land inside Pound town

  • Permit is issued under the Marinette County private sewage system ordinance, not by the town
  • Town zoning permit is separate (see building permit claim)

  “a sanitary permit pursuant to the Marinette County Private Sewage System Ordinance”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Structures or uses in shoreland/wetland or floodplain areas inside Pound town (county rule applies inside the town)

  • Town refers applicants to Marinette County; no town permit issued until the county permit issued
  • Where town and county rules conflict, the more restrictive rule applies

  “the permit shall not be issued until the county permit has been issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits inside Pound town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Pound town
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the A-1 and R-1 districts of Pound town
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area in the A-1 agricultural/rural residential district of Pound town
• Building height — Building height limits in A-1 and R-1 districts of Pound 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.