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

Town of Angelica’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings within the Angelica UDC ordinance's scope.

  • A permit from the building inspector is required in addition to the Town Building Permit.
  • Restoration or repair to a prior code-compliant condition is exempt.
  • Residing, reroofing, window replacement, finishing interior surfaces, cabinetry installation, and general maintenance are exempt.
  • Structural changes and major plumbing, HVAC, and electrical changes require permits.

  “without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the building inspector in addition to the Town Building Permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwellings and covered conversions, alterations, and additions inside Angelica town.

  • The ordinance scope includes one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 and non-residential buildings converted to dwellings.
  • The scope also includes alterations and additions to one- and two-family dwellings built before June 1, 1980.
  • The ordinance states that it became effective February 9, 2026, upon passage and publication.

  “Wisconsin Admin, Code Ch. SPS 320-325, and Uniform Dwelling Code, and SPS 327, Camping Units, their successors, and all amendments thereto, are adopted”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction and alterations within the Angelica UDC ordinance's scope.

  • The Town Building Inspector administers and enforces the ordinance.
  • The ordinance scope is construction and inspection of the dwellings and conversions described in section 1.3.

  “The scope of this ordinance includes the construction and inspection of one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Angelica town; general zoning is administered by Shawano County rather than adopted as a separate Angelica general-zoning ordinance.

  • Angelica is under Shawano County general zoning jurisdiction.

  “Towns under Shawano County General Zoning Jurisdiction included: Town of Angelica”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts applicable inside Angelica town.

  • District-specific permitted uses, setbacks, and limitations must be determined from the applicable Shawano County zoning district and parcel location.

  “you can look up your specific zoning district to determine setbacks, and other zoning limitations:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Land in Angelica town zoned OAR—Open Lands, Agriculture and Residential District Zone.

  • No building or structure may be erected or moved onto a parcel smaller than two acres.
  • No new lot may be created below the stated dimensions.
  • A variance may be approved for undue hardship beyond the applicant's control.

  minimum lot area: >= 2 acres (Applies to OAR-zoned land; variance procedure applies.) · minimum road frontage: >= 290 feet (Applies to OAR-zoned land.) · minimum lot width: >= 290 feet (Applies to OAR-zoned land.)

  “less than two acres in size, less than 290 feet of road frontage, less than 290 feet of width at any point of the lot”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems inside Angelica town.

  • A home in the Krakow Sanitary District instead needs a hookup permit from that district.
  • County jurisdiction is county-wide for the POWTS ordinance.

  “the Shawano County Planning and Development Department has jurisdiction County-wide with the following Ordinances: POWTS (Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Ordinance)”

• Septic permitRequired

  Structures with plumbing inside Angelica town that do not connect to municipal sewer.

  • A soil test is required before sanitary-permit issuance.
  • The plumber must submit the application to Shawano County.
  • The fee depends on the system type and review required.
  • For homes in Krakow Sanitary District, a hookup permit is needed from the district.

  “A sanitary permit is required for all structures which will have plumbing in it.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A home inside Angelica town that is in the Krakow Sanitary District and connects to the district.

  • A district hookup permit is needed.

  “If the home will be in the Krakow Sanitary District, a permit is needed to hook up to the Sanitary District. [...] This requires an inspection.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Hunting, fishing, and recreational structures inside Angelica town using a privy or non-plumbing toilet.

  • A County Privy Permit or Non-Plumbing Toilet Permit is required.

  “If you are building a Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Structure a Privy Permit or Non-Plumbing Toilet Permit is required from the County.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats and certified survey maps creating new building lots in Angelica town's OAR district.

  • The ordinance applies to OAR-zoned land.
  • Substandard lots require the stated Town variance process.

  “This ordinance sets the standards for subdivision plat and Certified Survey Map approval”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways and culverts located on Angelica town roads.

  • The location must be established before obtaining a 911 address and fire number.
  • A site inspection is required.
  • The Town ordinance does not apply to county or state highways; those roads use the County Highway Department or Wisconsin DOT process.

  “Under the town’s Driveway & Culvert Ordinance a site inspection is required. [...] this does not apply to driveways and culverts located on County or State highways”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Floodplain and floodway development inside Angelica town.

  • Structures in a floodway are prohibited.
  • Building in a floodplain may be possible depending on the zone and appropriate steps such as floodproofing.
  • Depending on flood zone, an engineer's hydrologic and hydraulic study may be required.

  “Building of structures in a flood way is prohibited, building in a floodplain may be possible depending on the zone”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building permits under Angelica's UDC ordinance.

  • The ordinance does not state an amount; fees are determined by resolution.

  “The building permit fees shall be determined by resolution.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New-home construction inside Angelica town.

  • The Town page directs applicants to obtain driveway/culvert, address, sanitary, land-use, Town building, and UDC permits.
  • A Town Building Permit requires the listed address, driveway/culvert permit number, sanitary permit if applicable, County land-use permit number, and a home blueprint including foundation dimensions.

  “Then the necessary STEPS for permits are:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Angelica town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Angelica town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Angelica town.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Angelica town.
• Lot coverage — Structures inside Angelica 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.