Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

Village of Balsam Lake’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, plumbing and electrical work inside Balsam Lake village

  • Building inspector may authorize minor repairs valued under $1,000 without a permit
  • Permit lapses if work not started within six months of issuance
  • Permit issued via village clerk-treasurer

  minor repair threshold: < 1000 USD (must not change occupancy, area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, light or ventilation)

  “no building, plumbing or electrical work shall be performed in the village unless a permit therefor is obtained as required by the provisions of this article.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Balsam Lake village

  • Village building inspector must be UDC-certified
  • Commercial buildings addressed separately in Ch. 122 Art. II

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chs. comm 20 through 25, wis. adm. code, and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference”

• InspectionsRequired

  New residences inside Balsam Lake village

  • Inspections at foundation, before lath/paneling, and final inspection of new buildings and alterations
  • Builder must notify the building inspector when ready

  “all residences must be constructed pursuant to a building permit and subject to all required inspections.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Balsam Lake village limits (Polk County)

  • Also applies to lands outside village limits approved by a joint extraterritorial zoning committee under s. 62.23(7a), Wis. Stats.

  “this chapter applies to all lands and waters within the corporate limits of the village of balsam lake and those lands outside the village of balsam lake corporate limits that are approved by a majority of the members of the appropriate joint extraterritorial zoning committee pursuant to § 62.23(7a), wis. stats.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Balsam Lake village

  • Districts: VR, WD, RD, VCC, RSC, HC, I, C plus groundwater protection overlay
  • Official map kept at village hall

  “the boundaries of the zoning districts are indicated on the official zoning map of the village. the official zoning map and copies of this chapter will be available for public inspection in the village hall.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residences in the village (design standards in VR district, incorporated by the RD district)

  • Residential design standard: core living area minimum

  core living area: >= 20 feet by 20 feet feet

  “core living area: 20 feet by 20 feet minimum.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Rural Development (RD) district, conventional lots

  • Not served by public sewer: 300 ft width, 2 acres
  • Served by public sewer: 100 ft width, 14,000 sq ft
  • Cluster development standards in § 300-26 not analyzed

  min lot area, no public sewer: >= 2 acres · min lot area, public sewer: >= 14000 sq ft

  “lots not served by public sewer 300 minimum 2 acres minimum 100 75 75 35 maximum lots served by public sewer 100 minimum 14,000 square feet minimum 25 25 10 35 maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — 1- and 2-family dwellings in Village Residential (VR) district

    “1- and 2-family dwellings 100 minimum 10,000 square feet minimum 25 25 10 35 feet maximum”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Rural Development (RD) district, conventional lots

  • Lots not served by public sewer: front 100, rear 75, side 75
  • Lots served by public sewer: front 25, rear 25, side 10

  front (no sewer): >= 100 ft · rear/side (no sewer): >= 75 ft

  “lots not served by public sewer 300 minimum 2 acres minimum 100 75 75 35 maximum lots served by public sewer 100 minimum 14,000 square feet minimum 25 25 10 35 maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — 1- and 2-family dwellings in Village Residential (VR) district

    “1- and 2-family dwellings 100 minimum 10,000 square feet minimum 25 25 10 35 feet maximum”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Village Residential (VR) district

  • Impervious surfaces include paved areas, footprints of primary and accessory buildings, and driveways
  • At least 70% green space
  • RD cluster developments carry the same 70%/30% limits

  max impervious surface: <= 30 percent

  “no more than 30% of each individual parcel within this district may be an impervious surface.”

• Building heightSpecified

  1- and 2-family dwellings in Village Residential (VR) district

  • Multifamily (3+): 2.5 stories not to exceed 35 feet

  max height: <= 35 ft

  “1- and 2-family dwellings 100 minimum 10,000 square feet minimum 25 25 10 35 feet maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural Development (RD) district, conventional lots

    “lots not served by public sewer 300 minimum 2 acres minimum 100 75 75 35 maximum lots served by public sewer 100 minimum 14,000 square feet minimum 25 25 10 35 maximum”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes as residences in the Village Residential (VR) district; RD district incorporates the same design standards

  • Must have permanent foundation meeting the state uniform dwelling code, fully enclosed to grade
  • Must be constructed under a building permit with all required inspections
  • Must comply with village design standards in § 300-6 f

  “manufactured homes must have the running gear and towing hitch removed, and the system for anchoring the structure to the foundation must be totally concealed below the structure.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building, electrical and plumbing permit fees inside Balsam Lake village

  • Fee amounts not stated in the code; set by Village Board resolution

  “permit fees shall be as adopted by resolution of the village board and on file in the office of the village clerk-treasurer.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications inside Balsam Lake village

  • Two sets of plans required; plans may be waived for alterations/repairs/moving costing $2,000 or less at zoning administrator's finding

  “application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the building inspector”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Balsam Lake or Polk County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Balsam Lake village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Balsam Lake village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Balsam Lake village
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Balsam Lake village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Balsam Lake village

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.