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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Lima

Town of Lima 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

  One- and two-family dwellings built inside Lima town (Pepin County, WI) under the statewide Uniform Dwelling Code

  • The statute directs the state department to adopt standards for one- and 2-family dwellings; the statute page cross-references chapters SPS 320 to 325 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, which were not opened.
  • Whether Lima town itself enforces the code through a local permit ordinance under Wis. Stat. 101.65 was not verified.

  “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code. Enforces construction standards and inspection procedures including evaluation of building materials.”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Land in Pepin County towns, including Lima town, that has not adopted its own zoning ordinance. This is an aggregate county statement, not a finding that Pepin County zoning governs Lima town.

  • Five Pepin County townships have their own local zoning regulations; the county page does not name them, so whether Lima town is one of them is unverified.
  • The city of Durand and the villages of Pepin and Stockholm also administer local zoning.
  • Pepin County administers its zoning ordinances for areas without local zoning.

  “Five of the townships in Pepin County have their own local zoning regulations.”

• Who permits septicCounty

  Private septic systems on properties inside Lima town (Pepin County, WI), which the county sanitary code covers for all of Pepin County

  • Chapter 15 (Sanitary Code) is administered by Pepin County staff and outlines state laws for properties without public sewer.
  • Septic design and soil testing are done by Wisconsin certified soil testers and plumbers, under county oversight.

  “Staff from the county are required to inspect the installation of septic systems and re-connections.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private septic systems on property inside Lima town (Pepin County, WI)

  • A sanitary permit is obtained by the plumber before the system is installed.
  • The soil and lot must be assessed by a Wisconsin certified soil tester first.
  • Property owners in Wisconsin cannot install their own septic system.

  “A plumber will design and install a septic system based on the results of your soil test and obtain a sanitary permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation and reconnection of private septic systems on property inside Lima town (Pepin County, WI)

  • Pepin County also sends reminder letters once every 3 years for septic inspection and/or pumping of existing systems.
  • Low-income assistance is available for failing system replacement.

  “Staff from the county are required to inspect the installation of septic systems and re-connections.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Occupied properties inside Lima town (Pepin County, WI) without a septic system or public sewer connection

  • Applies to all properties in Pepin County used for human habitation or occupancy.
  • Chapter 15 covers properties without public sewer through state law.

  “All properties in Pepin County that are used for human habitation or occupancy are required to either have a septic system or be connected to public sewer.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development on land in a mapped floodplain in Pepin County, including land inside Lima town

  • Permits are required; the county floodplain code must meet minimum state and federal standards.
  • Depending on the floodplain district, building may be restricted.
  • The county page states the floodplain code applies to the entire county.
  • Floodplain maps were updated in 2010.

  “All development in the floodplain, including the placement of fill, requires a permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  County-administered land use permits (shoreland, floodplain, bluffland) for property in Pepin County, including land inside Lima town where those overlays apply. Not Lima town building permits.

  • Permit application forms are posted on the county zoning page.
  • Contact the county zoning office at 715-672-8897 before development to confirm which regulations apply.
  • Lima town's own permit process was not established.

  “The sanitary code, floodplain zoning and shoreland/wetland zoning are state mandated regulations and apply to the entire county. Permit application forms can be found at the bottom of this webpage.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside Lima town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built by the owner inside Lima town
• Inspections — Building inspection of new dwellings inside Lima town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Lima town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for land inside Lima 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.