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

Town of Lakewood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Alteration, renovation, remodeling, additions, and construction inside the Town of Lakewood.

  • Structural changes or major mechanical-system changes involving extensions require permits.
  • Restoration or repair to the prior code-compliant condition, residing, re-roofing, finishing exterior surfaces, and cabinetry installation are exempt.

  “No person shall alter, renovate, remodel, add onto or build without obtaining a building permit for such work from the Building Inspector. Any structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems that involve extensions shall require permits.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Lakewood; the Town has adopted the Oconto County Zoning Ordinance by reference.

  • The incorporated county zoning ordinance governs the applicable zoning controls.

  “Pursuant to the Town’s General Zoning Authority under the provisions of s. 60.61, Wis. Stats, the Town of Lakewood has adopted and incorporates herein by reference the OCONTO COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 14 OF THE OCONTO COUNTY CODE.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Land divisions inside Lakewood adjoining named or unnamed lakes of 30 acres or less identified in the Wisconsin DNR publication Surface Water Resources of Oconto County.

  • Applies whether or not land is in the Town sewer service area.
  • The Oconto County-required minimum square footage controls if greater.
  • The ordinance includes stated exceptions for transfers by will or court order and certain adjacent-owner sales or exchanges.

  minimum lot area: 8116 square feet (or the minimum amount required by Oconto County, whichever is greater) · minimum lot frontage: 200 feet (measured at the Ordinary High Water Mark)

  “In all instances where land located within the Town is to be divided, adjacent to lakes covered by this ordinance, the following shall apply as minimum lot sizes: A. Whether or not the land is located in the Town sewer service are, the minimum lot size shall be Eight Thousand One Hundred Sixteen (8116) square feet (2 acres). B. Or the minimum amount of square feet required by Oconto County, whichever is greater.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Establishment, construction, reconstruction, rerouting, or specified alteration of a driveway connection to a Town or other highway/road inside Lakewood.

  • Applicant must own or have a legal interest in, and current legal access to, the affected land.
  • Application requires the appropriate fee and driveway construction plan.
  • The Road Foreman may deny or condition a permit for safety, emergency access, incomplete/false applications, agricultural/forestry preservation, or land-use/environmental impacts.

  “No person may establish or construct a driveway or reconstruct, reroute, or alter the existing slope of any existing driveway or any town or other highway/road or highway/road right-of-way in the town in relation to the connection of the highway/road or highway/road right-of-way to a driveway, whether new or previously existing, without first obtaining a Town Driveway Permit to be issued by the Town Board.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  A residential dwelling offered for rent for a fee for fewer than 29 consecutive days inside the Town of Lakewood.

  • A Town short-term-rental license is required for operation more than 10 nights each year.
  • Application must be submitted by the property owner with the fee, State tourist-rooming-house license, latest lodging inspection report, and seller's permit.
  • Town Board approval is required.
  • Rentals may not exceed 180 days in any consecutive 365-day period.
  • No RV, camper, tent, or other temporary lodging arrangement may provide additional guest accommodations on site.

  license threshold: > 10 nights per year (Town short-term rental license required above this threshold) · maximum rental days: <= 180 days per consecutive 365-day period (rental periods of fewer than 29 consecutive days) · new application fee: 50 USD · annual renewal fee: 25 USD

  “any person applying for an initial short-term rental license or renewing a license pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to $50.00 new application fee and a yearly $25.00 renewal fee.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building and driveway permits inside Lakewood.

  • Building-permit fees are determined by the Town Board under the Town Fee Schedule.
  • A nonrefundable driveway-application fee is set by Town Board resolution under the Town Fee Schedule.

  “The building permit fees shall be determined by the Town of Lakewood Town Board. Refer to the Town of Lakewood Fee Schedule.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building projects inside the Town of Lakewood.

  • Obtain an Oconto County Zoning land-use permit before the building permit.
  • The Town directs applicants to its identified building-permit service website for required forms.

  “to start your building project you will first need to contact bill lester with oconto county zoning at either [email protected] or 920-834-7160 for a land use permit, once you have obtained that land use permit you will need a building permit. please go to duffleaverinspections.com. this site contains information on all required building permits and forms for the town of lakewood.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside the Town of Lakewood.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside the Town of Lakewood.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential buildings inside the Town of Lakewood.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside the Town of Lakewood.
• Setbacks — Structures inside the Town of Lakewood.

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.