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

Town of Clifton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New one- and two-family dwelling construction inside Clifton town, where the Town is the DSPS-delegated UDC authority.

  • A Wisconsin uniform building permit must be obtained before on-site construction, including excavation, begins.
  • The SPS 320.09(9)(b) exception allows a permit to start construction of footings and foundations before issuance of the uniform building permit.
  • The Town of Clifton, Pierce County is listed by Wisconsin DSPS as delegated for UDC permitting and inspection.
  • For proposed construction requiring connection to a private onsite wastewater treatment system, the uniform building permit may not issue until conformance with SPS 383.25(2) has been determined.

  “Except as provided under s. SPS 320.09 (9) (b), a Wisconsin uniform building permit shall be obtained from the municipality administering and enforcing this code or from a registered UDC inspection agency administering and enforcing this code in a municipality where the department has jurisdiction pursuant to s. 101.651 (3) (b), Stats., before any on-site construction, including excavation for a structure, may begin.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Clifton, Pierce County, Wisconsin.

  • Clifton incorporates the Pierce County Zoning Ordinance and its definitions by reference.
  • Where a Clifton provision conflicts with the Pierce County Zoning Ordinance, the more restrictive ordinance controls.
  • Town land-use permits are required for uses, structures, and sites subject to the incorporated county ordinance and the Town ordinance; applications use a Town-furnished form, the Town Board sets the fee, and permits expire after 12 months if no action has commenced.

  “The Pierce County zoning ordinance, including all definitions used therein, is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof as though set forth in full herein; except however, to the extent any of the provisions set forth herein contravene said Pierce County zoning ordinance then the more restrictive ordinance shall controL”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Clifton

Town of Clifton 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 and privies on land inside Clifton town, through the Pierce County Sanitary Ordinance incorporated into the zoning framework applicable in Clifton.

  • A valid sanitary permit is required before installing, repairing, altering, modifying, or reconnecting a POWTS or privy.
  • The sanitary permit is valid for two years from issue and is renewable for similar periods with a renewal permit.
  • For a dwelling where construction modifies wastewater flow or contaminant load, a sanitary permit is required and documentation must verify system capacity.
  • Clifton's ordinance incorporates the Pierce County Zoning Ordinance; the county zoning permit process requires evidence of approved sewage disposal under the Pierce County Sanitary Ordinance.

  “Pursuant to § 145.20(1), Wis. Stats., the Pierce County Zoning Administrator shall act as the POWTS issuing agent and shall administer the POWTS program.”

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.