Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Osceola, Wisconsin

Village of Osceola’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration or repair inside Osceola village

  • Threshold: estimated cost of $2,000 or more, or any structural, electrical, HVAC or plumbing modification.
  • Permit valid one year; extensions only for good cause.
  • Permit fee must be paid before issuance.

  permit cost threshold: >= 2000 USD (structural, electrical, HVAC or plumbing modifications need a permit regardless)

  “no person shall construct, alter or repair a building or structure at an estimated cost of $2,000 or more, make structural modifications or modify electrical, hvac or plumbing systems without obtaining a building permit from the certified building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwelling construction inside Osceola village

  • Adopts the Wisconsin one- and two-family dwelling code by reference, with future revisions; the cited 'Ind. 20 through 25' chapters are the older numbering of the current SPS 320-325 UDC.
  • Section 92-5 also covers a commercial building code (not reviewed).

  “chapters ind. 20 through 25, wisconsin administrative code, inclusive, and all future revisions and amendments thereto are adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set forth.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Vacant land use and new, altered or moved buildings inside Osceola village

  • Issued by the building inspector only when building/premises and use conform to Ch. 219.

  “no vacant land shall be occupied or used and no building hereafter erected, altered or moved shall be occupied until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land within the corporate limits of Osceola village

  • Chapter 219 does not repeal Ch. 69 Airport, Ch. 216 Floodplain and Shoreland-Wetland Zoning, or Ch. 217 St. Croix River District.

  “jurisdiction of this chapter shall include all lands within the corporate limits of the village.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Osceola village zoning districts

  • Also CD, PI, B-1, B-2, C-2, I-1, I-2 districts and an official zoning map.

  “the following zoning districts are hereby established: a. residential districts: [amended 1-9-2007 by ord. no. 07-04] r-1 single-family residential district r-2 duplex residential district r-3 multifamily residential district r-4 rural development district ru urban single-family district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district inside Osceola village

  • Where public sewer is unavailable lot must still accommodate on-site system; minimum not reduced.
  • R-2 and R-3 also 12,000 sq ft and 75 ft width; R-4 rural development and RU districts not reviewed.

  minimum lot area: >= 12000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 75 ft

  “(3) lot size. (a) width: 75 feet minimum. (b) area: 12,000 square feet minimum. (4) building height: 35 feet maximum.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district inside Osceola village

  • Rear 15 ft minimum from the edge of a utility easement where one exists.
  • Accessory structures must meet all setbacks and sit only in rear and side yards (§ 219-9 K).

  street yard: >= 30 ft · rear yard: >= 10 ft (15 ft from utility easement edge) · side yard: >= 10 ft

  “(5) yards. (a) street: 30 feet minimum. (b) rear: 10 feet minimum, except in the event that a utility easement is in existence, then 15 feet minimum from the edge of such easement. (c) side: 10 feet minimum.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district inside Osceola village

  • Accessory structures limited to 15 feet (§ 219-9 K).
  • Chimneys, towers, antennas and similar appurtenances are excepted from height limits (§ 219-9 F).

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (accessory structures 15 ft)

  “(3) lot size. (a) width: 75 feet minimum. (b) area: 12,000 square feet minimum. (4) building height: 35 feet maximum.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Structures inside Osceola village

  • Where public sewer service is not available, on-site system under chapter H 65 Wis. Adm. Code is contemplated, and lots must still meet the district minimum size.
  • Village code index also lists § 201-19 compulsory connection to sewer and water; its text was not opened.

  “sewage disposal facilities shall be connected to the sewage disposal system of the village. in any district where public sewage service is not available, the width and area of all lots shall be sufficient to permit the use of an on-site sewage disposal system designed in accordance with chapter h 65, wisconsin administrative code.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Osceola village

  • Fee schedule itself not located; set annually by village board (amended 3-12-2024 by Ord. 24-01).

  “no building permit shall be issued until the permit fee has been paid. the permit fee for each type of structure shall be established annually by the village board on the fee schedule.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications inside Osceola village

  • Application requires duplicate plans drawn to scale showing owner, lot, watercourse high-water mark, street centerlines, building location, intended use and number of families.
  • Application forms and review timelines not located.

  “all applications for a building permit shall be made to the building inspector and shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Osceola village
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Osceola village
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Osceola village
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in R-1 district inside Osceola village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Osceola 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.