Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Bear Creek, Wisconsin

Town of Bear Creek’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New homes, additions, sheds, garages, barns, cabins, driveways, and other listed local-permit work inside Bear Creek town.

  • New homes and additions also require a General Engineering permit.
  • General Engineering permits will not issue until all Sauk County permits are obtained.
  • A General Engineering permit also requires a local permit.

  “Local permits required are new homes, additions, sheds, garages, barns, cabins, driveways etc.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Bear Creek, Sauk County, Wisconsin.

  • The town's published ordinance list identifies a Land Use Ordinance dated 08-04-2009; district text and amendments could not be extracted from the linked PDF during this research.

  “Ordinances SEPT2025-Recycling Ordinance FEB2025-Utility Accomodation Policy MAR2023-Commercial Buildings Land Use Ordinance 08-04-2009”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private-septic new-residence projects inside Bear Creek town, for which the town directs applicants to obtain Sauk County permits before the General Engineering permit can issue.

  • A septic maintenance agreement, plumber/installer-signed POWTS application, soil test, and state-approved septic plans are required with the application materials.

  “The Zoning Division is tasked with permitting, inspections and enforcement of the ordinances the department administers. These ordinances include: Zoning, Shoreland Protection, Floodplain, Rural Identification System, Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation, and Private Onsite Waste Water Treatment Systems Ordinance.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residences with private septic systems inside Bear Creek town, through Sauk County permitting required before the associated General Engineering permit issues.

  • Submit a permit application and plot plan.
  • Also submit a septic maintenance agreement, POWTS sanitary application signed by the plumber/installer, original and copy of soil test, and original and copy of state-approved septic plans.

  “NOTE: In addition to the permit application and plot plan, you will also need to submitt a Septic Maintenance Agreement form, a POWTS sanitary application signed by your plumber/installer, as well as an original and 1 copy of a soil test and an original and 1 copy of state approved septic plans.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways inside Bear Creek town.

  • The town lists driveways among work requiring a local permit.
  • The town page labels a driveway application at $50.

  driveway application fee: 50 USD

  “Local permits required are new homes, additions, sheds, garages, barns, cabins, driveways etc.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  The listed driveway and CSM/CUP/rezone/variance applications inside Bear Creek town.

  • The page labels $300 for CSM, CUP, rezone, and variance, and $50 for a driveway application; it does not establish fees for every permit type.

  CSM, CUP, rezone, variance fee: 300 USD · driveway application fee: 50 USD

  “CSM, CUP, Rezone, Variance $300 Driveway Application $50”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New-home and addition permitting inside Bear Creek town.

  • Contact the town supervisor first for further information and a possible site review.
  • New homes and additions require General Engineering approval.
  • General Engineering will not issue until all Sauk County permits are obtained.
  • General Engineering permits also require a local permit.

  “CONTACT JEFF SCALLON FIRST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND A POSSIBLE SITE REVEIW. New homes and additions require a permit from General Engineering. Contact Dennis Butteris at [email protected] or 608-617-1216. General Engineering permits will not be issued until all Sauk County permits are obtained. Permits issued by General Engineering also require a local permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Bear Creek

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured-home installations, inside Bear Creek town.

  • Applies to new one- and two-family dwelling units; the page identifies the governing code as SPS 320-325.

  code chapters: SPS 320-325

  “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code. Enforces construction standards and inspection procedures including evaluation of building materials.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Bear Creek town.

  • Required inspections are footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough, insulation, and final.
  • When ready, the applicant must notify the inspector identified on the UDC permit.

  “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Bear Creek town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for construction inside Bear Creek town.
• Zoning districts — Zoning or land-use districts inside Bear Creek town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Bear Creek town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Bear Creek 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.