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

Town of Edgewater’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New or replacement structures in Edgewater town subject to Sawyer County zoning.

  • A qualifying accessory structure is exempt only if it is not for human habitation, not on vacant land, not within 300 feet of shoreland, and not greater than 100 square feet.
  • Buildings or structures indicated on a permit must be completely enclosed within 12 months; one extension of up to six months may be granted if timely requested.

  “A Land Use Permit (LUP) is required for any new or replacement structure, as defined in Sawyer County Zoning Ordinance Section 2.0, that is being built, assembled, or placed on land for usage either long-term or temporary.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Edgewater, which is among Sawyer County townships covered by the county comprehensive zoning ordinance.

  • Sawyer County states that all townships except Spider Lake have adopted the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

  “All unincorporated areas & shorelands are covered by these Ordinances. All of the townships, with the exception of Spider Lake have adopted the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational-vehicle occupancy in Edgewater town under Sawyer County zoning.

  • Camping cabins and park model trailers are only allowed in licensed campgrounds.
  • Campgrounds and recreational-vehicle parks are not intended for permanent or long-term residency.

  “Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks are not intended to be used for the permanent or long-term residency of site occupants.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping on vacant land inside Edgewater town subject to Sawyer County zoning and sanitation administration.

  • Sanitation is required and enforced when camping on vacant land.
  • A fire number is required for camping on vacant land.

  “If camping on vacant land, sanitation is required and shall be enforced.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home installations and mobile-home occupancy inside Edgewater town.

  • New manufactured-home installations require a UDC permit.
  • Except where specifically authorized, an occupied mobile home may only be located in a mobile-home park.

  “Except as otherwise specifically authorized, no mobile home intended for occupancy shall be located within Sawyer County except in a mobile home park, the plan of which”

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

  Privies serving land inside Edgewater town subject to Sawyer County sanitation rules.

  • Privies are reviewed and inspected and must meet minimum construction, structural, and sanitary requirements.
  • Open-pit privies require a certified soil test before permits issue; sealed-vault privies do not require a certified soil test.
  • The privy footprint may not exceed 40 square feet and maximum height is 10 feet.

  non-plumbing sanitary permit fee: 150 USD

  “In accordance with Sawyer County Zoning and Private Sewage System Ordinance and Wisconsin State Code (Chapter SPS 391, Chapter NR 113), privies will be reviewed, inspected, and must meet minimum construction, structural, and sanitary requirements.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town driveway permits and county non-plumbing sanitary permits affecting Edgewater town.

  • The Town’s driveway application page states the driveway-permit fee is no longer required.
  • The county privy fee is for a non-plumbing sanitary permit.

  non-plumbing sanitary permit fee: 150 USD (privy construction)

  “Non-plumbing sanitary permit fee: $150 Permit is good for the life of the privy, placard valid for 2 years after issuance to construct or place privy”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County land-use permit applications for land inside Edgewater town.

  • For a structure intended for human use or occupancy, the applicant must file a fire number, certified soil test, and sanitary application before a land-use permit issues.
  • Applications use county-furnished forms and require applicant/property-owner information, legal description and proposed use, scaled map or drawings, and other information necessary for enforcement.

  “No land use permit shall be issued for a structure designed or intended for human use or occupancy before a Fire number, Certified Soil Test, and Sanitary application is filed in the office of the Zoning Administrator.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Edgewater

Town of Edgewater 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 Edgewater town.

  • The state UDC program governs one- and two-family dwelling units, including manufactured homes.

  “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Edgewater town under the UDC.

  • Required inspections are footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough, insulation, and final inspections.

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

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems serving land inside Edgewater town that is not served by public sewer.

  • A Wisconsin licensed plumber submits the application and POWTS design; the County Sanitarian reviews it.
  • The permit may result in a State or County placard.

  “A Wisconsin licensed plumber must submit an application and POWTS design, which is reviewed by the County Sanitarian. The permit is then processed and approved with the plumber receiving a State or County placard.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, repair, or alteration of a private sewage system inside Edgewater town.

  • Only Wisconsin licensed plumbers may design and apply for a sanitary permit.

  “Wisconsin Statutes dictate that a sanitary permit is required to install, repair or alter a private sewage system. Only Wisconsin licensed plumbers can design and apply for a sanitary permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or modified private sewage systems inside Edgewater town.

  • The plumber schedules the needed installation inspection when the system is ready.

  “Once ready, the plumber will schedule the needed installation inspection with the county sanitarian.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Edgewater town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Edgewater town.
• Lot coverage — Land inside Edgewater town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Edgewater town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Edgewater 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.