Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Montello, Wisconsin

Montello’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction inside Montello city, including agricultural buildings, decks and detached accessory buildings

  • Also required for additions, structural alterations, and heating/electrical/plumbing alterations.
  • Minor repairs under $2,000 and normal repairs of hvac, plumbing and electrical equipment are excepted.
  • Chapter does not apply to children's play structures.
  • If work starts before permit issuance the fee doubles.

  “no owner or contractor may commence construction of any building or mechanical system prior to obtaining a valid permit from the municipal building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings inside Montello city

  • Adopted so far as applicable; any other local building codes are repealed.
  • Subsection amended 2-27-2020.

  “uniform building code, chs. sps 320 through 325, wis. adm. code. (2) commercial building code, chs. sps 361 through 366, wis. adm. code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings under permit inside Montello city

  • Municipal building inspector must be certified by the state.
  • Completion deposit applies to projects costing $15,000 or more and is forfeited if occupied before final inspection.

  “if the building inspector, after completing all required inspections, finds that a building has been constructed in accordance with the applicable codes, then the inspector shall issue an occupancy permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings inside Montello city

  • A temporary occupancy permit of 30 days or a specified term may be issued for minor code deficiencies that do not threaten safety.

  “no person may have occupancy of a building until an occupancy permit is issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Montello city limits (Marquette County)

  • Evidence is the city code's own cross-reference to Chapter 385 Zoning; the text of Chapter 385 itself could not be opened (eCode360 index returned a login page).

  “floodplain zoning - see ch. 350. shoreland-wetland zoning - see ch. 364. subdivision of land - see ch. 370. zoning - see ch. 385.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Montello city

  • Fee amounts are in Ch. A400 Fee Schedule, which was not opened.
  • Fee doubles if work starts before permit issuance.

  “at the time an application for a building permit is filed, the applicant shall pay fees as established periodically by the municipality.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Montello or Marquette County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Montello city
• Zoning districts — Montello city zoning districts
• Minimum dwelling size — Main residential district inside Montello city
• Minimum lot size — Main residential district inside Montello city
• Setbacks — Main residential district inside Montello city

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.