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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Fairbanks

Town of Fairbanks 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

  Structures built, moved, or structurally altered on land inside Fairbanks town subject to Shawano County land-use permitting.

  • The county page identifies construction, moving, and structural alteration as triggering events.
  • Additional town administrative-building or Uniform Dwelling Code permits may also be required.

  “A property owner must obtain a land use permit anytime a structure is to be built, moved, or structurally altered.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Dwellings constructed inside Fairbanks town.

  • The county building-project handout states that all dwellings must be constructed under the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.

  “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system permitting for structures with plumbing inside Fairbanks town.

  • A 911 address is required to complete the sanitary-permit application.
  • A licensed plumber must complete the application.
  • Plan approval may be from county, state, or both.
  • The application must include a Shawano County Septic Tank Maintenance Agreement signed by the property owner.

  “the Shawano County Planning and Development Department has jurisdiction County-wide with the following Ordinances: POWTS”

• Septic permitRequired

  All structures with plumbing inside Fairbanks town.

  • A 911 address is required before the sanitary permit can be issued.
  • A certified soil tester must perform a soil and site evaluation.
  • The sanitary-permit fee depends on system type.

  sanitary permit fee: dependent upon system type

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

• Well permitRequired

  New private wells inside Fairbanks town.

  • The notification requirement excludes high-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property.
  • For high-capacity wells or other wells requiring written DNR approval, follow the approval's notification requirements.
  • A Well Construction Notification Number must be obtained before construction.
  • The notification fee is $50.50 and is not refundable or transferable.
  • A Well Construction Report must be submitted within 30 days after construction.

  well construction notification fee: 50.5 USD (not refundable or transferable)

  “Wisconsin law requires that a property owner provide advance notice to DNR before construction of any new private well that is not a high capacity well”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New driveway access for development inside Fairbanks town.

  • For a state or federal highway, contact Wisconsin DOT.
  • For a county highway, contact the Shawano County Highway Department.
  • Driveways on town roads may require a permit from a designated town official.
  • A driveway/culvert permit, if required, must be obtained before applying for a 911 address.

  “Driveways on a town road may require obtaining a permit from a designated town official”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Shawano County sanitary and land-use permits used for development inside Fairbanks town.

  • Sanitary-permit fees depend on system type.
  • Land-use permit fees depend on structure size and/or on-site determination requirements.
  • After-the-fact land-use permits have a triple fee.

  after-the-fact land-use fee: 3 multiple of standard fee

  “Fee for sanitary permit is dependent upon system type”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County land-use and sanitary permitting for development inside Fairbanks town.

  • The applicant must complete and return the Preliminary Land Use Application.
  • After county review, staff identify needed permits and additional information.
  • Land-use permits are obtained through Planning and Development; appointments are preferred.
  • A sanitary permit must be obtained before a land-use permit can issue.

  “A completed Preliminary Land Use Application form will be required.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Fairbanks town.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fairbanks town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Fairbanks town.
• Local zoning — Land inside Fairbanks town.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Fairbanks 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.