Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Birnamwood, Wisconsin

Village of Birnamwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land use permit for structures inside Birnamwood village (zoning compliance permit, not a building-code permit)

  • Issued by the planning administrator to ensure compliance with Chapter 255.
  • Conditional uses require a conditional use permit in lieu of the land use permit, after planning committee approval and a public hearing.
  • Section 255-15 exemptions were not reviewed.

  “no structure shall be built, moved or structurally altered until a land use permit has been issued by the planning administrator.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Birnamwood village limits

  • Adopted under Wis. Stat. 62.23(7); ecode360 history note says adopted 5-14-1973 by Ord. No. 5-73, amendments noted where applicable.

  “this chapter shall be known as, referred to, or cited as the "zoning ordinance, village of birnamwood, wisconsin."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Birnamwood village

  • Table of contents lists O-N, F-P, A-G/AG-R, residential, R-SM mobile home, commercial and manufacturing districts; district text was not fully reviewed.

  “article iii zoning districts and maps § 255-27 establishment of districts.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage systems where public sewer is not available inside Birnamwood village

  • Lot must be large enough for an on-site system designed under ch. SPS 385, Wis. Adm. Code.
  • District minimum lot size cannot be reduced.

  “in any district where public sewage service is not available, no building permit shall be issued unless the width and area of the lot be sufficient to permit the use of an on-site sewage disposal system designed in accordance with the rules of the department of safety and professional services contained in ch. sps 385, wis. adm. code”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Sewage disposal facilities for buildings inside Birnamwood village

  • Applies to sewage disposal facilities; no distance or availability threshold is stated in this section.
  • Where public sewage service is not available, no building permit is issued unless the lot width and area suit an on-site system designed under ch. SPS 385, Wis. Adm. Code, and the district minimum lot size is not reduced.
  • Water connection not addressed in the section reviewed.

  “sewage disposal facilities shall be connected to the sewage disposal system of the village.”

• Permit processPartial

  Land use and conditional use permit process inside Birnamwood village

  • Conditional use permits need planning committee approval after a public hearing and compliance with the conditional use article.
  • Only the permit basics were read; application forms and timelines were not reviewed.

  “no structure shall be built, moved or structurally altered until a land use permit has been issued by the planning administrator.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Birnamwood village
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Birnamwood village
• Inspections — Building inspection inside Birnamwood village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Birnamwood village
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Birnamwood village

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.