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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Meteor

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

• Building permitRequired

  New or replacement structures built, assembled, or placed in Meteor town.

  • The land-use permit application must include a plot map, setbacks, associated fees, and, for a dwelling, a general layout; zoning may request additional information.
  • An accessory structure is exempt only if it is not for human habitation, is not on vacant land, is not within 300 feet of shoreland, and is not greater than 100 square feet.

  “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.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwellings in Meteor town whose original construction began after June 1, 1980.

  • Sawyer County states that all towns enforce the statewide Uniform Dwelling Code; additional town or local-municipality permits may be required.

  “The UDC is a statewide uniform standard for the construction and inspection of all one (1) and two (2) family dwellings of which the original construction began after June 1, 1980. Additional building permits may be required by the town or local municipality.”

• InspectionsRequired

  One- and two-family dwellings in Meteor town whose original construction began after June 1, 1980.

  • Sawyer County directs applicants to their township's designated UDC inspector.

  “The City of Hayward, and all Towns and Villages are enforcing the UDC as required by the State of Wisconsin. Contact your local UDC inspector for information about inspections in your township or municipality.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 district land in Meteor town.

  • The listed area is for one-family use; add 5,000 square feet for each additional unit over one plus applicable Wisconsin Administrative Code area requirements.

  minimum R-1 lot area with public sewer: >= 10000 sq ft · minimum R-1 lot area without public sewer: >= 20000 sq ft

  “18.2 Required Lot Area (sq./ft) With public sewer 10,000** [...] Without public sewer 20,000**”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 district principal buildings in Meteor town.

  • Roadway setbacks and shoreland requirements may impose different or additional setbacks.
  • The table also lists distinct accessory-building setbacks.

  R-1 principal-building front yard: >= 30 ft · R-1 principal-building rear yard: >= 40 ft · R-1 principal-building side yard: >= 10 ft

  “Front 30 30 30 50 50 10 50 30 Rear 40 40 40 50 50 20 50 40 Side: Principal Building 10 10 10 20 20 10 20 10”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 district land in Meteor town.

  • Airport-height limitations and approved excessive-height exceptions may apply where relevant.

  R-1 building height limit: <= 35 ft

  “18.1 Building Height Limit* 35 35 35 35 35 35 60 35”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private on-site wastewater systems in Meteor town not served by public sewer.

  • The applicable requirements include DSPS Chapter SPS 83 and Sawyer County's Private Sewage System Ordinance.

  “A Wisconsin licensed plumber must submit an application and POWTS design, which is reviewed by the County Sanitarian.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, repair, or alteration of a private sewage system in Meteor town.

  • Only Wisconsin licensed plumbers may design and apply for the sanitary permit.
  • Most systems require a site-and-soil evaluation; hold tanks are excluded from that evaluation requirement.

  “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

  Installation of a permitted private on-site wastewater treatment system in Meteor town.

  • The licensed plumber schedules the needed installation inspection with the county sanitarian after the permit is processed and approved.

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

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-plumbing sanitation and camping in Meteor town.

  • Privies or outhouses require the appropriate sanitary permit.
  • Camping sanitation requirements are enforced.

  “Sanitary permits for privy/outhouse installation can be issued to the property owner instead of a plumber. A site and soil evaluation is required by a CSTM before a sanitary permit can be issued for an open pit privy - waste is deposited into a soil pit.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access in Meteor town.

  • The proper permitting authority depends on the road and may be the town, County, or State.

  “Driveway access permits shall be obtained from the appropriate permitting authority.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County land-use permit process for construction in Meteor town.

  • Applicants complete a land-use application and submit it to Sawyer County Zoning.
  • Construction cannot begin until the permit is processed and approved and paperwork and fees are received; leveling and preparation may occur, but cement pouring and structural work may not.

  “Until a permit has been processed and approved, with all proper paperwork and fees received, construction CANNOT begin. Leveling and prep can occur, but no pouring of cement nor structural work can be done.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder status for dwelling construction in Meteor town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for construction in Meteor town.
• Local zoning — Whether Meteor town itself adopted and administers a separate zoning ordinance.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Meteor town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Meteor 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.