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

Town of Ellington’s own rules

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  POWTS and sanitary systems for land inside Ellington town.

  • State POWTS plan-review and permit conditions also apply.
  • County materials say the local permit is conditional on approved plan review.

  “Development and Land Services (DLS) administers and enforces County ordinances for zoning, stormwater and erosion control, sanitary systems, shorelands, floodplains, airports, and land divisions.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New POWTS, replacements, changes, and added wastewater use inside Ellington town when public sewer is unavailable.

  • Required before construction begins and before a building permit can issue.
  • Applications must be submitted electronically in CityView by a licensed plumbing contractor; property owners cannot apply directly.
  • Do not start excavation, including topsoil stripping, before required permits issue.

  “A Sanitary Permit is required before any construction begins and before a building permit can be issued. Permits are typically needed for new systems, replacements, changes to an existing system, or added use (such as an addition that increases wastewater flow).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Ellington town.

  • County review coordinates with local municipalities and state requirements.
  • Most requests are reviewed as a Certified Survey Map or subdivision plat depending on size and complexity.

  “Development and Land Services (DLS) administers and enforces County ordinances for zoning, stormwater and erosion control, sanitary systems, shorelands, floodplains, airports, and land divisions.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development inside Ellington town on property in FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas or other County-adopted floodplain districts.

  • Applicability is parcel-specific and depends on mapping and site conditions.
  • County review is often required for new buildings or additions, major remodels, fill, grading, excavation, drainage or crossing changes, and post-flood repair or replacement.

  “Floodplain rules generally apply to properties in FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas and other County-adopted floodplain districts. Because mapping can be parcel-specific, confirm floodplain status early- especially before buying, designing, or placing fill.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Sanitary/POWTS permits for land inside Ellington town.

  • A licensed plumbing contractor must submit the application electronically in CityView; property owners cannot apply directly.
  • Soil testing, review, and inspections take time.
  • Excavation, including topsoil stripping, may not begin until all required permits issue.

  “Property owners cannot apply directly. Applications must be submitted electronically in CityView by a licensed plumbing contractor. Questions can be directed to a Code Inspector.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Ellington

Town of Ellington 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)

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Ellington town.

  • Ellington is listed by DSPS as Delegated.
  • The cited jurisdiction language is subject to Wis. Stat. secs. 101.651(1) and (2m) and DSPS requirements.

  “Town of Ellington, Outagamie County (44016) | Delegated”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Ellington town.

  • Subject to the statutory exceptions and DSPS compliance conditions stated in SPS 320.06(1).

  “Except as provided in Wis. Stat. secs. 101.651 (1) and (2m), cities, villages, and towns shall exercise jurisdiction over the construction and inspection of new one- and two-family dwellings provided the municipality complies with DSPS requirements.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  POWTS construction and installation inside Ellington town.

  • Inspection is required in accordance with the plan-review conditional approval letter.
  • Contact the inspector or agency identified on the POWTS permit.

  “Inspection of POWTS construction and installation is required in accordance with the plan review conditional approval letter.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Ellington town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Ellington town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Ellington town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Ellington town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Ellington 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.