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

Town of Abrams’s own rules

• Permit processPartial

  Conditional-use, rezoning, and land-division-variance requests inside Abrams town.

  • Applicants must first review the proposal with Oconto County Planning & Zoning.
  • Complete materials include the application, site plan or survey, and supporting documents.
  • Contact the Planning Commission Secretary at least 10 business days before the second-Tuesday meeting date.

  Planning Commission agenda lead time: >= 10 business days (before the second Tuesday meeting date)

  “To be placed on the planning commission agenda: contact the planning commission secretary at least 10 business days before the 2nd Tuesday meeting date.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Abrams

Town of Abrams does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Abrams town is subject to Oconto County zoning requirements; the Town directs applicants to the County Planning & Zoning Office before submitting local applications.

  • The Town page directs review with Oconto County before submitting a proposal to the Town.

  “Before submitting to the town, review your proposal with the Oconto County Planning & Zoning Office to make sure it meets county zoning requirements.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts that apply inside Abrams town where designated on the adopted township zoning map.

  • Parcel designation must be confirmed from the adopted zoning map.
  • The ordinance includes each township zoning map as part of the ordinance.

  “This ordinance shall be known and cited as the Oconto County Zoning Ordinance. This ordinance shall include each township zoning map hereby adopted and made a part herein.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New lots in R-1 Residential Single-Family District areas inside Abrams town.

  • Sewered lots require a 66-foot minimum building width.
  • Unsewered lots require a 100-foot minimum building width.
  • Lots must also meet the County Land Division Ordinance.

  minimum lot area, sewered: 10000 sq ft · minimum lot area, unsewered: 20000 sq ft

  “The minimum parcel size and dimensions for new lots shall be as follows: (1) Sewered lots - 10,000 sq. ft. in area with a minimum building width of 66 feet (2) Unsewered lots - 20,000 sq. ft. in area with a minimum building width of 100 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — New lots in Rural Residential (RR) District areas inside Abrams town.

    “The minimum size for new lots shall be as follows: (added 12-17-98) Minimum parcel size for new lots shall be 2.0 acres.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes in R-1 Residential Single-Family District areas inside Abrams town.

  • Applies only where the County zoning map designates R-1.

  “14.702 Permitted Uses (a) Cemeteries (b) Churches (c) Community buildings (d) Municipal Parks (e) Residence, manufactured home”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems and non-plumbing sanitation systems inside Abrams town.

  • The County ordinance applies to all lands and waters within Oconto County.

  “The requirements of this chapter shall apply to all lands and waters within Oconto County.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Newly constructed structures and structures requiring a reconnection permit inside Abrams town.

  • The system must be approved, installed, and inspected before the building may be occupied.

  “The private sewage system for newly constructed buildings or structures requiring a Reconnection Permit shall be approved, installed, and inspected before the building may be occupied.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Abrams town subject to Oconto County review.

  • County Zoning states it administers the Subdivision Ordinance.
  • Town directs applicants seeking a land division variance to County Planning & Zoning review.

  “Oconto County Zoning is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the following ordinances and programs: Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Ordinance, Wisconsin Fund Grant Program, Floodplain Ordinance, Animal Waste Management Ordinance, Shoreland/Wetland Zoning Ordinance, and Non-Metallic Mining Reclamation Ordinance.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in mapped flood-hazard areas inside Abrams town.

  • Applies to special flood hazard areas identified as A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, VE, V1-30, or V on the Flood Insurance Rate Map.
  • Additional DNR- and local-community-approved mapped areas may also be regulated where applicable.

  “This ordinance regulates all areas of special flood hazard identified as zones A, AO, AH, A1 -30, AE, VE, V1-30, or V on the Flood Insurance Rate Map. Additional areas identified on maps approved by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local community may also be regulated under the provisions of this ordinance, where applicable.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Abrams town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Abrams town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Abrams town.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Abrams town.
• Certificate of occupancy — New residential construction inside Abrams 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.