Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings, additions, and changes of use in Beloit city

  • Issued by the zoning officer
  • Applies to buildings constructed after September 26, 2001
  • Building permit application is deemed an application for a certificate of occupancy

  “no change in a use shall be made until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the zoning officer.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land within Beloit city limits

  • Chapter 19 of the Code of General Ordinances; adopted under chs. 62 and 66, Wis. Stats.
  • Applies to structures and land uses constructed or commenced after September 26, 2001

  “this chapter shall apply to all land within the city of beloit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Base zoning districts in Beloit city

  • Also overlay and special purpose districts (PLI, DH, PUD, floodplain, shoreland-wetland) in Article V

  “4-100 r-1a, single-family residential district 4-200 r-1b, single-family residential district 4-300 r-2, two-family residential district”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family lots in R-1A and R-1B single-family residential districts, Beloit city (R-1A 8,750 sq ft; R-1B 6,000 sq ft)

  • Base standards, not guarantees that maximums can be achieved; other regulations or site conditions may further limit development
  • Table column order is R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4

  R-1A single-family minimum lot area: >= 8750 sq ft · R-1B single-family minimum lot area: >= 6000 sq ft · R-1A minimum lot width: >= 70 ft · R-1B minimum lot width: >= 50 ft

  “minimum lot area (square feet) single-family 8,750 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1A and R-1B single-family residential districts, Beloit city (column order R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4)

  • Side yard requirements rounded to nearest foot
  • Accessory uses have their own setback modifications

  R-1A front setback: >= 30 ft · R-1B front setback: >= 20 ft · R-1A/R-1B rear setback: >= 30 ft · R-1B street side setback: >= 20 ft · interior side setback: 5 feet, combined total of 20 percent of lot width or 20 feet, whichever is less

  “front setback (feet) 30 20 30 30 30 interior side setback 1 5 feet, with a combined total of 20 percent of the lot width or 20 feet combined, whichever is less street side setback (feet) 30 20 30 30 30 rear setback (feet) 30 30 30 30 30”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1A and R-1B residential districts, Beloit city

  • Limit is 2½ stories / 35 feet in R-1A, R-1B and R-2; no max in R-3 and R-4

  R-1A/R-1B maximum height: <= 2½ stories / 35 feet

  “maximum height (stories/feet) 2½/35 2½/35 2½/35 no max no max”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in floodplain districts in Beloit city

  • Standards in sec. 5-416 must be met for floodfringe use
  • Permits or certificates in sec. 5-424 required

  “any structure, land use, or development is allowed in the floodfringe district if the standards in section 5-416 are met, the use is not prohibited by this or any other ordinance or regulation and all permits or certificates specified in section 5-424 have been issued.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Beloit or Rock County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits in Beloit city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in Beloit city
• Building code adopted — Building code in Beloit city
• Inspections — Building inspections in Beloit city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Beloit city

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.