Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin

Oconto Falls’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings and other construction inside Oconto Falls city

  • Permit needed for additions, alterations, new construction, demolition or moving, except minor repairs.
  • Building inspector may authorize minor repairs valued under $1,000 without a permit.
  • No permit unless the lot abuts a dedicated street and any subdivision or certified survey is approved by the city.
  • Connections to public sewer or water need a utility connection permit.

  minor repair permit waiver: < 1000 USD (only minor repairs not affecting structure, exits, fire protection or electrical)

  “no person shall build or cause to be built any one- or two-family dwelling without first obtaining a state uniform building permit for such dwelling.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Oconto Falls city

  • Adopts the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code by reference, including all amendments; the city also has its own building standards (Art. II).

  “the building inspector, as certified by the department of commerce, is hereby authorized and directed to administer and enforce all of the provisions of the wisconsin uniform dwelling code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New buildings, additions and alterations inside Oconto Falls city

  • Permit holder must notify the building inspector for footing/foundation, rough-in, pre-concrete and completion inspections.

  “a final inspection of all new buildings, additions, and alterations shall be made by the building inspector.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings, additions, alterations and changes of use inside Oconto Falls city

  • Issued after final inspection finds no violations.
  • Building inspector may allow occupancy before issuance in hardship cases for up to 60 days if premises are safe and sanitary.
  • No certificate until sewer and water are available to the property.

  hardship occupancy maximum: <= 60 days

  “no building or portion thereof shall be occupied until such certificate is issued, nor shall any building be occupied in any manner which conflicts with the conditions set forth in the certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Oconto Falls city limits

  “§ 480-4 zoning districts. a. zoning districts are provided as follows:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Oconto Falls city

  • Official zoning map is kept by the city; district standards are in Chapter 480 Article II.

  districts: R-1, R-2, C-1, I-1, I-2, SP, CON, A

  “(1) single-family residence (r-1). (2) multiple-family residence (r-2). (3) general commercial (c-1). (4) industrial (i-1). (5) industrial - commercial (i-2). (6) special purpose (sp). (7) conservancy (con). (8) agricultural (a).”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 single-family residence district inside Oconto Falls city

  minimum floor area, residential structure: >= 1000 square feet

  “(7) minimum floor area, residential structure: 1,000 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single-family residence district inside Oconto Falls city

  • Minimum average lot width 90 feet does not apply to existing platted lots.
  • Duplex lot width: 90 feet on existing platted lot, 100 feet on unplatted lot.

  minimum lot area: >= 10800 square feet · minimum average lot width: >= 90 feet (not for existing platted lots)

  “(5) minimum average lot width (this does not pertain to existing platted lots): 90 feet. (6) minimum lot area: 10,800 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single-family residence district inside Oconto Falls city

  front yard: >= 30 feet · rear yard, principal building: >= 25 feet · rear yard, accessory building: >= 7.5 feet · side yard, each side, principal and accessory: >= 7.5 feet

  “(2) minimum front yard setback: 30 feet. (3) minimum rear yard setback: (a) principal buildings: 25 feet. (b) accessory buildings: 7.5 feet. (4) minimum side yard setback, principal and accessory buildings: 7.5 feet each side.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Agricultural (A) district inside Oconto Falls city

    “d. within the a district the following standards shall apply: building heights and yard setbacks shall be determined individually by the planning commission.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agricultural (A) district inside Oconto Falls city

  • No fixed number; set case by case by the planning commission.

  “d. within the a district the following standards shall apply: building heights and yard setbacks shall be determined individually by the planning commission.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single-family residence district inside Oconto Falls city

    “d. within the r-1 district the following standards shall apply: (1) maximum building height: 35 feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  R-1 single-family residence district inside Oconto Falls city

  • Permitted use is one unoccupied trailer or motor home located so as not to violate yard requirements; occasional guest use is not restricted.
  • Other districts not reviewed.

  unoccupied trailer or motor home per lot: <= 1 vehicle (occasional guest use not restricted)

  “(6) one unoccupied trailer or motor home vehicle located so as not to violate yard requirements, except that the occasional use by guests shall not be restricted.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New residential buildings inside Oconto Falls city

  • Building permit for a residential building requires sewer and water installed in the streets serving the property and a receipt for utility hookups.
  • No occupancy and no certificate of occupancy until sewer and water are available to the property.
  • Connections to public sewer or water mains need a utility connection permit.

  “no building permit shall be issued for the construction of any residential building until sewer, water, grading and graveling are installed in the streets necessary to service the property for which the permit is required and a receipt for utility hookups is presented to the building inspector.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division inside Oconto Falls city

  • Subdivision code chapter itself not opened; evidence is the building-permit linkage.

  “no building permits shall be issued until the subdivision and/or certified survey is approved by the city.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Oconto Falls city

  • Fee amount set by the common council; § 194-16 schedule of permit fees not opened.

  “§ 194-3 building permit fee. the building permit fee shall be determined by the common council.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits inside Oconto Falls city

  • Application with site plan; two sets of plans for new detached structures or additions; permits lapse if work not begun within six months.

  permit lapse if not commenced: <= 6 months

  “all permits shall lapse unless operations are commenced within six months of issuance”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Oconto Falls city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Oconto Falls city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Oconto Falls city
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Oconto Falls city
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Oconto Falls 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.