Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Little River, Wisconsin

Town of Little River’s own rules

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways inside Little River town.

  • Must be issued before driveway installation.
  • Town states permits are free; a penalty fee applies when installed before issuance.

  “New Driveway? Permits are required. Permits are free, but must be issued BEFORE driveway is installed.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town driveway permits inside Little River town.

  • The Town states there is a penalty fee if a driveway is installed before issuance.

  driveway permit fee: 0 USD (Penalty fee applies if installed before permit issuance.)

  “New Driveway? Permits are required. Permits are free, but must be issued BEFORE driveway is installed. There is a penalty fee if a driveway is installed before permit is issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Little River

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

• Building permitRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Little River town.

  • Includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured-home installations.

  “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured-home installations, inside Little River town.

  • UDC permit authority depends on the delegated authority covering the project location.

  “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Little River town subject to the UDC.

  • Required inspections are footings, foundation, rough, insulation, and final; notify the inspector named on the UDC permit when ready.

  “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land-use, rezoning, and conditional-use matters inside Little River town administered through Oconto County Zoning.

  • The Town directs that most land-use matters start with Oconto County Zoning.
  • Town fees may apply for rezoning, conditional-use permits, and other zoning matters.

  “Most land use matters (conditional use, re-zoning) start at the Oconto County Zoning office.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles and camping units inside Little River town where County zoning applies.

  • Includes shoreland, floodplain, and wetland district setbacks where applicable.

  “Recreational vehicle/camping unit shall comply with all setback requirements for the zoning district in which they are located including the shoreland, floodplain and wetland districts, where applicable.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles and camping units inside Little River town where County zoning applies.

  • Excluded from Floodplain and Conservancy Districts.
  • They may not be used for permanent habitation and ordinarily may not remain more than 60 consecutive days.
  • More than 60 consecutive days requires an annual land-use permit and an approved sanitary facility.

  maximum stay without annual permit: <= 60 consecutive days (Annual land-use permit and approved sanitary facility allow longer placement.)

  “Such recreation vehicles/camping units shall not remain on a parcel more than 60 consecutive days. Any such vehicle may be left on the land for more than 60 consecutive days provided that an annual land use permit is obtained and an approved sanitary facility is provided.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping units inside Little River town where County zoning applies.

  • Camping units must comply with district, shoreland, floodplain, and wetland setbacks where applicable.
  • Annual placement needs County permits and sanitary approval.

  “Recreational vehicle/camping unit shall comply with all setback requirements for the zoning district in which they are located including the shoreland, floodplain and wetland districts, where applicable.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater matters inside Little River town.

  • County authority is for the County Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Ordinance and sanitary-permit processing.

  “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,”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Annual RV/camping-unit placement inside Little River town where County zoning applies.

  • Annual placement requires an annual land-use permit and sanitary permit for an approved sanitary facility.
  • Approved facilities include an external system installed by a licensed plumber, a porta potty, or other documented proper disposal permitted by Oconto County.

  “annual placement of a recreational vehicle/camping unit is allowed with issuance of an annual land use permit and sanitary permit for an approved sanitary facility.”

• Well permitRequired

  New private wells inside Little River town.

  • Excludes high-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property from the cited advance-notice requirement.
  • A Well Construction Notification Number must be obtained before construction; the cited fee is $50.50.

  Well Construction Notification fee: 50.5 USD (Fee and notification number are not refundable or transferable.)

  “the well construction notification fee is $50.50.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and plat activity inside Little River town administered by Oconto County Zoning.

  • County reports it conducts certified survey and plat reviews.

  “conduct certified survey and plat reviews”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New one- and two-family dwelling UDC permits inside Little River town.

  • Application includes permit application, contractor-license information, legible plans, required data, and application fee.
  • Local delegated authority issues permits where it has authority; otherwise submit to DSPS.

  “Regardless of which agency has authority, your application must include: Permit application. This may be electronic or paper, depending on the agency.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Little River town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for construction inside Little River town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Little River town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Little River town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Little River 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.