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

Village of Gresham’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structural changes or major mechanical-system changes involving extensions inside Gresham village.

  • Minor maintenance repairs and listed restoration, residing, reroofing, interior finishing, and cabinetry work are exempt.
  • Permit fee is doubled if construction begins before issuance.
  • Two plan copies are required with the application.

  “Any structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems that involve extensions shall require permits.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings within Chapter 125's scope inside Gresham village.

  • The chapter covers construction and inspection of one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980, plus specified additions, alterations, garages, and residential outbuildings.

  “The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC), Wis. Adm. Code Chs. SPS 320 to 325, and all amendments thereto, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference and shall apply to all buildings within the scope of this chapter.”

• InspectionsRequired

  One- and two-family construction and listed related work within Chapter 125's scope inside Gresham village.

  • Plans and inspections cover construction, heating, ventilation, electrical, and plumbing.
  • Two specified electrical reconnections are exempt.

  “The scope of this chapter includes the construction and inspection of one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980. Plans and inspections shall cover topics of construction, heating, ventilation, electrical and plumbing.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Dwellings constructed under Village building permits inside Gresham village.

  • The Building Inspector issues the permit if no violations exist that could reasonably affect health or safety.

  “The dwelling may not be occupied until an occupancy permit is issued. The Building Inspector shall issue an occupancy permit if no violations exist that could reasonably be expected to affect health or safety.”

• Well permitLimited

  Existing wells on premises served by the Village municipal water system.

  • A retained well requires an operation permit application no later than one year after water connection.
  • The permit period may not exceed five years.
  • Absent a valid operation permit, the well must be properly abandoned within one year of connection.

  “Owners of wells on premises served by the municipal water system wishing to retain their wells for any use shall make application for a well operation permit for each well no later than one year after connection to the municipal water system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside the corporate limits of Gresham village.

  • The chapter also has extraterritorial jurisdiction within 1.5 miles, which is outside this claim.
  • The stated exceptions include certain transfers by will or court order, leases not exceeding 10 years, qualifying adjoining-owner exchanges, cemetery plats, and assessors' plats.

  “No person shall divide any land located within the jurisdictional limits of this chapter so that such division results in a subdivision, minor land division or replat as defined herein; no such subdivision, minor land division or replat shall be entitled to recording; and no street shall be laid out or improvements made to land without compliance with all requirements of this chapter and the following:”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New driveways across sidewalks or curbing inside Gresham village.

  • Application goes to the Village Clerk and must include property lines, proposed driveway location and width, and nearby driveway/street intersections within 150 feet.
  • The permit is from the Public Works Committee Chairperson.

  “No person shall construct any new driveway across any sidewalk or curbing without first obtaining a driveway permit from the Public Works Committee Chairperson.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Village building permits inside Gresham village.

  • Fees are set by Village Board resolution and are on file with the Building Inspector and Village Clerk.
  • Construction before permit issuance doubles the permit fee.

  “The building permit fees shall be determined by resolution of the Village Board and are on file with the Building Inspector and the Village Clerk.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Gresham

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Gresham village when a building is not served by public sanitary sewer.

  • The county rule applies to buildings intended permanently or intermittently for human habitation or occupancy that contain inside plumbing and are not served by public sanitary sewer.

  “The Shawano County Planning & Development Department is responsible for the review and issuance of sanitary permits and inspection of all POWTS.”

• Septic permitRequired

  POWTS work inside Gresham village when public sanitary sewer does not serve the building.

  • With few exceptions, work must be performed by a properly licensed plumber with a valid permit.
  • The POWTS must be approved by Shawano County Planning & Development.

  “With few exceptions, all work performed on a POWTS must be done by a properly licensed plumber with a valid permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Gresham village.

  • County maintenance notices describe service approximately three years after the last recorded service date.
  • The 2026 maintenance due date stated on the page is September 8, 2026.

  “The Shawano County Planning & Development Department is responsible for the review and issuance of sanitary permits and inspection of all POWTS.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Buildings with indoor plumbing inside Gresham village that are not served by public sanitary sewer.

  • A county-approved POWTS is required.
  • POWTS work is subject to the licensed-plumber and valid-permit condition, with few exceptions.

  “All buildings in Shawano County that are permanently or intermittently intended for human habitation or occupancy that contain inside plumbing and are NOT served by public sanitary sewer shall be served by a POWTS that is approved by the Shawano County Planning & Development Department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Gresham village.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Gresham village.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Gresham village.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Gresham village.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Gresham 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Gresham means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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