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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Underhill

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic) serving habitable structures inside Underhill town, Oconto County, WI. The county sanitary ordinance is countywide and covers the town; this is not a town-adopted rule.

  • The county Sanitary Department (Zoning office) enforces the Oconto County sanitary ordinance. The page does not limit it to unincorporated areas; Underhill town is a town, not an incorporated city or village.
  • Under Wis. Stat. 145.20 the governmental unit responsible for POWTS regulation reviews soil reports, approves sanitary permits and inspects systems. The county page identifies the county as that unit for Oconto County; the town's own page does not claim septic authority.

  “The Sanitary Department of the Oconto County Zoning office enforces the Oconto County Sanitary Ordinance.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private onsite wastewater (septic) systems newly installed inside Underhill town, Oconto County, WI, under the county sanitary program.

  • The governmental unit must inspect the system after construction but before backfilling, no later than the end of the next workday (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), after receiving notice from the plumber in charge.
  • Under Wis. Stat. 145.20(2) the governmental unit is not required to conduct an on-site inspection if a building or structure is being constructed which does not require connection to an existing private on-site wastewater treatment system.
  • The county page's maintenance-pumping schedule (every 3 years by default) is a separate maintenance rule and was not verified in this run.

  “inspect all private on-site wastewater treatment systems after construction but before backfilling no later than the end of the next workday, excluding saturdays, sundays and holidays, after receiving notice from the plumber in charge.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-plumbed habitable structures without water service inside Underhill town, Oconto County, WI. Privies or alternatives are allowed only under the county sanitary program.

  • Privies or alternatives (composting toilets, etc.) may be used as the POWTS only where the habitable structure has no plumbing and no water service.
  • Holding tanks are allowed only as a last resort under the county page.
  • The county page does not state privy setback or agreement requirements; a privy agreement and setback from water features were seen only in a search snippet and are not claimed here.

  “If a habitable structure does not contain plumbing and has no water service, then privies, otherwise known as out-houses, or other alternatives to privies (i.e., composting toilets, etc.) may be used as a POWTS.”

• Permit processPartial

  Land-use, zoning and sanitary permits for parcels inside Underhill town, Oconto County, WI, handled by the county Planning, Zoning and Solid Waste department.

  • The county page states the department issues permits, makes inspections and enforces ordinances. It does not give an application checklist, fee schedule or timelines, so the process is only partly published.
  • Driveway and building permit steps for the town are separate and were not confirmed.

  “We provide information and assist with applications for county permits for land use, minor structures, assist in assigning Emergency 911 property addresses, process sanitary permits, issue sign permits, process applications for public hearing actions such as zone changes, conditional use permits and variances, conduct certified survey and plat reviews and assist state and federal agencies with their permitting when needed.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new dwellings inside Underhill town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permit rules inside Underhill town
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for new construction inside Underhill town
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Underhill town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Underhill 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.