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

Town of Oconto’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Oconto town subject to the Oconto County zoning ordinance and the township zoning map adopted as part of that ordinance.

  • The cited rule is administered by Oconto County Zoning; it is not identified as an Oconto town-adopted ordinance.
  • The County ordinance incorporates each township zoning map.

  “Oconto County has zoning jurisdiction within all unincorporated communities of the county.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts mapped for townships, including the Oconto town township zoning map.

  • The districts listed are those published in the County zoning ordinance.
  • Parcel-specific district designation must be determined from the adopted township zoning map.

  published districts: Residential Single-Family (R-1), Residential Multi-Family (R-2), Mobile Home Park (R-3), Rural Residential (RR), Agricultural (A), and other listed districts (District applicability depends on the adopted township zoning map)

  “14.700 Residential Single-Family District (R-1) 14.800 Residential Multi-Family District (R-2) 14.900 Mobile Home Park District (R-3) 14.1000 Community Service District (CS) 14.1100 Park and Recreation District (DR) 14.1200 Forest District (F) 14.1300 Rural Residential (RR) 14.1400 Agricultural District (A)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New lots in the County-zoned Rural Residential (RR) district inside Oconto town.

  • The limit applies to new lots in the RR district.
  • Pre-existing lots are addressed separately by the ordinance.

  minimum parcel size: 2 acres (New lots in Rural Residential (RR))

  “Minimum parcel size for new lots shall be 2.0 acres.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Mobile recreational vehicles in public or private campgrounds located in mapped floodplain areas inside Oconto town.

  • The campground must be approved by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
  • A floodplain development permit must be issued by the zoning administrator.
  • Vehicles must be highway-ready, removed after 180 consecutive days for at least 24 hours, or meet the applicable floodplain-district requirements.

  maximum consecutive campground occupancy before removal: > 180 days (Vehicle must then be removed from the floodplain for at least 24 hours unless another listed condition is met)

  “All mobile recreational vehicles placed on site must meet one of the following: (1) Be fully licensed, if required, and ready for highway use; or (2) Not occupy any site in the campground for more than 180 consecutive days, at which time the recreational vehicle must be removed from the floodplain for a minimum of 24 hours; or (3) Meet the requirements in either s. 21.300, 21.400, 21.501, or 21.503 for the floodplain district in which the structure is located;”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Public or private campgrounds in mapped floodplain areas inside Oconto town.

  • The campground must have low flood-damage potential.
  • Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection approval and a floodplain development permit are required.
  • Camping units remaining more than 30 days need a limited written authorization retained at the campground.

  camping-unit duration requiring limited authorization: > 30 days (Authorization is issued by the campground operator and retained on file)

  “All camping units that remain on site for more than 30 days shall be issued a limited authorization by the campground operator, a written copy of which is kept on file at the campground. Such authorization shall allow placement of a camping unit consistent with s. 21.204(f) and shall ensure compliance with all the provisions of this section;”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  County-zoned Rural Residential (RR) district parcels inside Oconto town.

  • This claim applies only where the parcel is mapped Rural Residential under the county township zoning map.
  • Other applicable county permits and sanitary requirements remain applicable.

  “14.1302 Permitted Uses (a) Agricultural production, crops, livestock and forestry (b) Auctions, temporary (c) Residences, manufactured homes (d) Residences, single family”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Structures inside Oconto town served by a private sewage system when DNR-approved public sewer becomes available.

  • The local sewer service entity determines whether sewer is available.
  • The private sewage system must be disconnected within one year after public sewer becomes available.
  • The county rule addresses public sewer; no town-wide public-water connection rule was located.

  connection deadline after public sewer availability: <= 1 year (When public sewers approved by the Department of Natural Resources become available)

  “When public sewers approved by the Department of Natural Resources become available to the structure or premises served, the private sewage system shall be disconnected within one year and a connection made to the public sewer. Determination of whether sewer is available shall be made by the local sewer service entity.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Oconto town subject to Oconto County administration.

  • County zoning states it administers and enforces the Subdivision Ordinance.
  • The particular division may require county or county-and-state review and applicable procedures.

  “Oconto County does have a Land Division Ordinance in place.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development, repair, modification, addition, or change of use in mapped floodplain areas inside Oconto town.

  • The permit requirement applies before the listed activity may be initiated.
  • The cited County ordinance also prohibits development that obstructs flow or increases regional flood height unless its amendment provisions are met.

  “A floodplain development permit shall be obtained as provided under 21.701(b) before any development; repair, modification, or addition to an existing structure; or change in the use of a building or structure, including sewer and water facilities, may be initiated.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Proposals inside Oconto town requiring Oconto County Planning and Zoning approvals.

  • The County describes the document as a general step guide rather than a complete list of potential requirements.
  • Applicants must consult county staff; required steps depend on the proposal.
  • Local building-permit needs must be verified with the local building inspector.

  “PREPARED BY OCONTO COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING TO SERVE AS A GENERAL STEP GUIDE AND IS NOT INTENDED TO INCLUDE ALL POTENTIAL STEPS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO PERMIT CERTAIN PROPOSALS. UPDATED 12/2024”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Oconto

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Oconto town built since June 1, 1980.

  • The Uniform Dwelling Code applies to one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980.

  UDC applicability date: >= June 1, 1980 (One- and two-family dwellings)

  “The Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Oconto town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Oconto town.
• Inspections — Residential building work inside Oconto town.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residences inside Oconto town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Oconto 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.