Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Eau Pleine, Wisconsin

Town of Eau Pleine’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  All new dwellings inside Eau Pleine town.

  • The Uniform Dwelling Code permit is issued by the Town.
  • Other improvements may also require a permit.

  “A Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) Building Permit is required for all new dwellings and may be required for other improvements. These permits are issued by the Town.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Eau Pleine town; Portage County administers the zoning permit program that applies there.

  • A Portage County zoning permit is required before a covered project proceeds.

  “If you live in the Towns of Alban, Almond, Amherst, Belmont, Buena Vista, Carson, Dewey, Eau Pleine, Hull, Lanark, Linwood, New Hope, Plover, Sharon, and Stockton, you will need to secure a Zoning Permit before proceeding with your project.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts applicable inside Eau Pleine town.

  • The applicable district must be identified for the parcel before application.
  • Shoreland, floodplain, and wetland location may create additional complexity.

  “Zoning consists of two elements, a written code, and a zoning map. You can click here for an interactive zoning map of Portage County, and you can click here for a link to Portage County’s Code of Ordinances.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camper-based temporary camping inside Eau Pleine town.

  • A zoning permit is required for camper placement.
  • The cited permit procedure limits placement to Agricultural, Conservancy, and Rural Limited zoning districts and prohibits it in other districts.

  “Placement of campers in Agricultural, Conservancy and/or Rural Limited Zoning Districts (prohibited in other Districts);”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite waste treatment systems serving property inside Eau Pleine town.

  • The county program is subject to Wisconsin Administrative Code ch. SPS 383.

  “Portage County has a mandatory Private Onsite Waste Treatment System (POWTS) maintenance program. If you own a property served by a POWTS, you are required to have your system maintained and submit maintenance reports to the county.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes and covered bedroom-increasing additions inside Eau Pleine town.

  • Required before issuance of the zoning permit for new homes and additions that increase bedrooms or disrupt the existing building sewer line.
  • A licensed plumber must apply for a septic system with running water.
  • Homeowners may apply for non-plumbing sanitary permits such as privies or outhouses.

  “A Sanitary Permit is required before a Zoning Permit can be issued for new homes and additions to homes which increase the number of bedrooms or disrupt the existing building sewer line.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Most private onsite waste treatment systems inside Eau Pleine town.

  • Holding tanks are excepted from the stated three-year visual-inspection statement.
  • Pumping is required if sludge and scum occupy more than one-third of tank volume.
  • Inspection may be conducted only by the listed licensed or certified practitioners.

  visual inspection interval: per 3 years (Most POWTS other than holding tanks)

  “Required maintenance of these POWTS involves having the system visually inspected every 3 years and having tank(s) pumped if sludge and scum occupy more than 1/3 of the tank volume.”

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

  Non-plumbing sanitation systems, including privies or outhouses, inside Eau Pleine town.

  • A homeowner must apply for a non-plumbing sanitary permit.

  “Homeowners are allowed to apply for non-plumbing sanitary permits such as privies or outhouses.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway and culvert work inside Eau Pleine town.

  • Permit need is location-dependent.
  • For town roads, contact the Town Clerk; for county roads, contact the Portage County Highway Department; for state or federal highways, contact Wisconsin DOT.

  “Driveway and Culvert Permits may be required. Contact the appropriate agency depending on your location:”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Structural changes to buildings in floodplains inside Eau Pleine town.

  • A Portage County zoning permit is required.
  • Other floodplain or wetland approvals may also apply.

  “When is a Zoning Permit REQUIRED: [...] Structural changes to buildings in a floodplain;”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning and sanitary permits applicable inside Eau Pleine town.

  • Document-recording fees are not included when necessary.
  • Work started before Planning and Zoning approval is subject to a triple fee.

  new-home/mobile-home zoning permit: 200 USD per living unit proposed (Private lots) · conventional sanitary permit: 400 USD (Document-recording fees excluded when necessary) · alternate-system sanitary permit: 450 USD (Mounds, at grade, IGP, or fill) · holding-tank sanitary permit: 500 USD

  “Conventional System $400* Alternate Systems (mounds/at grade/IGP/Fill) $450* Holding Tanks $500*”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning permits for projects inside Eau Pleine town.

  • Submit at least two weeks before intended construction start.
  • Construction start includes footings, foundations, basements, and slab work.
  • Include the required drawing and stake proposed structure location.
  • A separate stormwater plan-review form is required in the listed circumstances.
  • Include the fee payment.

  application lead time: >= 2 weeks (Before intended start of construction)

  “Return the completed application to our office at least 2 weeks prior to the intended start of construction. Construction start includes footings, foundations, basements and slab work.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Eau Pleine town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Eau Pleine town.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Eau Pleine town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential certificates of occupancy inside Eau Pleine town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Eau Pleine 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.