Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Sugar Camp, Wisconsin

Town of Sugar Camp’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Sugar Camp town outside the county-zoned districts and shoreland areas listed on the county map. The county describes this part of the town as unzoned.

  • Official county statement: Sugar Camp is unzoned except in the listed areas.
  • Shoreland and unzoned-town permit rules still apply (see the building permit claim).
  • No town-adopted zoning ordinance was located on the town site; the county, not the town, administers any zoning that does exist in the listed areas.

  “unzoned towns: enterprise, monico and sugar camp (except indian lake and sugar camp lake)”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Sugar Camp

Town of Sugar Camp 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 in Sugar Camp town (UDC permit issued through the town)

  • Permit is required for new one- and two-family dwellings under the UDC; construction proceeds after the permit.
  • Within 1,000 ft of a lake, pond or flowage, or within 300 ft of a navigable stream or river, the county says permits are required in unzoned towns for new construction, new impervious surfaces and additions to legal pre-existing structures, except within Indian Lake and Sugar Camp Lake zoning areas.
  • A county zoning permit is also required before a structure intended for human occupancy is issued one, and only after a sanitary permit is approved.

  “all municipalities are required to issue a uniform dwelling code permit for new one and two family dwellings.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New one- and two-family dwellings in Sugar Camp town, under the Uniform Dwelling Code, which the town must enforce

  • Wisconsin requires UDC enforcement by every municipality; each town may choose how it enforces the UDC.
  • The county handout tells residents to contact the town for UDC requirements.

  “as of december 18, 2003, wisconsin law requires enforcement of the uniform dwelling code (udc) for all municipalities.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts that apply inside Sugar Camp town; the county map shows only district #2 and district #11 (shoreland wetland) in listed areas.

  • The county map names district #2 single family residential and district #11 (shoreland wetland district) for listed areas only.
  • The full district map and Appendix A table were not located.

  “the wetlands shall remain district #11, (shoreland wetland district)”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in district #2 single family residential inside Sugar Camp town, for structures located more than 75 ft from the ordinary high water mark

  • Principal buildings and structures are limited to two stories or 35 feet, and detached accessory structures to 25 feet.
  • Any structure exceeding two stories or 35 feet requires a conditional use permit, except as provided in section 9.72(b).
  • The height limit is in the county text under item b (structures greater than 75 ft from the ohwm); structures closer to the ohwm of navigable waters are covered by a separate 35-foot limit that was not fully checked.

  principal structure maximum height: <= 35 feet (except as provided in section 9.72(b); above two stories or 35 feet requires a conditional use permit) · principal structure maximum stories: <= 2 stories (except as provided in section 9.72(b)) · detached accessory structure maximum height: <= 25 feet

  “no principal building or structure shall exceed two stories or 35 feet in height and no detached accessory structure shall exceed 25 feet in height in district 2 single family residential”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV use as a dwelling inside the county-zoned portions of Sugar Camp town (district #2 and listed shoreland areas). Not established for the unzoned remainder of the town.

  • Using a recreational vehicle as a dwelling for more than five consecutive days requires a zoning permit in the zoned areas, unless exempt under section 9.33(f) (see the county camping handout, not opened).
  • Unzoned parts of the town are not covered by this county zoning permit rule.

  consecutive days before zoning permit: > 5 days (unless exempt under 9.33(f))

  “f. a recreational vehicle is used as a dwelling for more than five (5) consecutive days unless exempt under 9.33(f).”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage (POWTS) systems on land inside Sugar Camp town. Oneida County issues the sanitary permit and holds the forms.

  • The Wisconsin Department of Commerce sanitary permit form (SBD-6398) is used with the county application for new and replacement systems.
  • The county sanitary permit must be approved before a zoning permit is issued for human occupancy.

  “oneida county sanitary permit submittal requirements note: all submittals must include an original application and (2) copies.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New and replacement private sewage systems on land inside Sugar Camp town

  • Submittals include the Department of Commerce form, a plot plan, septic or pump tank and cross-section details, a management plan, and the soil evaluation report.
  • Construction proceeds after the sanitary permit is approved.

  “wi department of commerce sanitary permit application form: sbd-6398 plot plan septic /pump tank cross section/filter specifications/pump information”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for land in Sugar Camp town. Zoning and sanitary questions go to Oneida County Planning & Zoning; UDC questions go to the town.

  • The county lists Sugar Camp under its planning and zoning contact at P.O. Box 400, Rhinelander, WI 54501, 369-6130.
  • The county says the owner must contact the town for UDC requirements.
  • The full permit flow was not published on the pages opened.

  “sugar camp planning & zoning, po box 400, rhinelander, wi 54501 ~ 369-6130”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home in Sugar Camp town
• Inspections — UDC inspections for new construction in Sugar Camp town
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new dwellings in Sugar Camp town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Sugar Camp town
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for district #2 single family residential land in Sugar Camp 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.