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

Town of Sharon’s own rules

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway entries onto Town of Sharon roads.

  • Entry must be reviewed for a culvert; flags or markers must be placed and clerk contacted; after approval, complete the permit and pay $25. County or state-road driveways are subject to those jurisdictions' rules.

  Town-road driveway permit fee: 25 USD

  “when the proposed driveway is approved, the applicant will complete the driveway permit and return to the town clerk for completion with $25 permit fee.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Sharon

Town of Sharon does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Sharon town, which the County's zoning-procedure document expressly lists among towns requiring a Portage County zoning permit.

  • Parcel-specific district, shoreland, floodplain, and wetland limits may apply.

  “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-zoned parcels inside Sharon town.

  • Actual district is parcel-specific and must be verified on the County zoning map.

  “Zoning consists of two elements, a written code, and a zoning map.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A3 Low Density Agricultural district inside Sharon town, if the parcel is mapped A3.

  • 720 square feet applies to a year-round dwelling occupied six months or more per calendar year; 400 square feet applies to a seasonal dwelling occupied less than six months per calendar year.

  minimum floor area: 720 square feet (year-round dwelling) · minimum floor area: 400 square feet (seasonal dwelling)

  “720 square feet for year-round dwelling (6 months or more/calendar year), 400 square feet for seasonal dwellings (less than six months calendar year).”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A3 Low Density Agricultural district inside Sharon town, if the parcel is mapped A3.

  • The County's published standards sheet identifies a 5-acre minimum lot area and 200-foot minimum lot width for A3.

  minimum lot area: 5 acres · minimum lot width: 200 feet

  “A3 Low Density Agricultural 35 720 (g) 5 acres 200 25 (b)(f) 25 (b)(f) Unlimited”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A3 Low Density Agricultural district inside Sharon town, if the parcel is mapped A3.

  • Published standard shows 25-foot minimum side and rear yards; setbacks may vary for buildings that house animals.

  minimum side yard: 25 feet (may vary for buildings which house animals) · minimum rear yard: 25 feet (may vary for buildings which house animals)

  “A3 Low Density Agricultural 35 720 (g) 5 acres 200 25 (b)(f) 25 (b)(f) Unlimited”

• Building heightSpecified

  A3 Low Density Agricultural district inside Sharon town, if the parcel is mapped A3.

  • The published A3 standard lists a 35-foot maximum height; the sheet states this is unless otherwise specified by §7.1.6.1(C).

  maximum building height: 35 feet (unless otherwise specified by §7.1.6.1(C))

  “A3 Low Density Agricultural 35 720 (g) 5 acres 200 25 (b)(f) 25 (b)(f) Unlimited”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Placement of campers on land inside Sharon town.

  • A zoning permit is required; campers are identified as permitted in Agricultural, Conservancy, and/or Rural Limited districts and prohibited in other districts.

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

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camper-based temporary camping on land inside Sharon town.

  • County publishes an annual camper zoning-permit application; placement is limited to Agricultural, Conservancy, and/or Rural Limited districts and prohibited in other districts.

  “Campers - Annual Zoning Permit Application Form (PDF)”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems (POWTS) inside Sharon town.

  • The County Administrator inspects compliance with state codes and the county ordinance.

  “(2) these POWTS shall be inspected by the Administrator for compliance with SPS 382, SPS 383, and SPS 384, Wisconsin Administrative Code, other appropriate Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Codes and this Ordinance.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes and specified home additions using septic inside Sharon town.

  • A sanitary permit is required before the zoning permit for new homes and additions increasing bedrooms or disrupting an existing building sewer line; a licensed plumber must apply for septic systems with running water, while homeowners may apply for non-plumbing systems 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

  New and existing POWTS inside Sharon town.

  • New/altered systems must be open until inspected and accepted; existing POWTS must be visually inspected within three years after installation and at least every three years thereafter.

  recurring visual inspection interval: per 3 years (within three years of installation and at least every three years thereafter)

  “7.9.33 SEPTIC TANK MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (1) All new and existing POWTS shall be visually inspected within three years of the date of installation and at least once every three years thereafter.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private well construction inside Sharon town.

  • Obtain a Well Notification Number and pay the associated fee before construction.

  “Private Well Construction: Contact your well installer or the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to obtain a required Well Notification Number and pay the associated fee prior to well construction.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision activity inside Sharon town.

  • The County Zoning Section administers the County Subdivision Ordinance; parcel and plat-specific requirements must be reviewed with the County.

  “Portage County’s Zoning Section Administers the following Portage County Ordinances: Zoning; Wellhead Protection; Wireless Telecommunication Facility; Subdivision; Open Space Design Option; Floodplain Zoning; Shoreland Zoning; and Non-Metallic Mining Reclamation.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Floodplain development inside Sharon town.

  • County administers its Floodplain Zoning Ordinance; structural changes to buildings in a floodplain require a zoning permit.

  “Structural changes to buildings in a floodplain;”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning, sanitary, subdivision, and related permit processes that apply inside Sharon town.

  • Zoning-permit fee depends on proposed work; the County publishes a fee schedule.

  “Include Fee payment– depends on work being proposed. (see Fee Schedule)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning permit applications for projects inside Sharon town.

  • Submit a completed, owner-signed application at least two weeks before construction start; provide the described drawing and stake the proposed structure.

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

  “Return the completed application to our office at least 2 weeks prior to the intended start of construction.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Sharon town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Sharon town.
• Lot coverage — A3 Low Density Agricultural district inside Sharon town, if the parcel is mapped A3.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Sharon town.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes used as dwellings inside Sharon 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.