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

Village of Wittenberg’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Any new building or structure inside Wittenberg village

  • Permit obtained from the village building inspector
  • Construction may not begin (including excavation or forms) before issuance
  • See ch. 14 of the village code

  “no building or structure, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be built within the village unless a permit therefor shall first be obtained by the owner or his agent from the building inspector. no construction shall be commenced prior to the issuance of such permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Vacant land use and buildings moved into or relocated within Wittenberg village

  • Issued by the building inspector only when building/land and use conform to the zoning chapter
  • A text exception for properties holding a valid zoning permit is cut off in the excerpt and was not fully read

  “no vacant land shall be used or occupied for other than an approved use in the zoning district in which it is located and no building hereafter moved into or relocated within the village shall be so occupied or used until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the building inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Wittenberg village limits (Shawano County)

  • Adopted under Wis. Stats. 62.23(7) and 61.35
  • Floodplain and shoreland-wetland codes also apply; the most restrictive combination controls

  “these regulations are adopted under the authority granted by §§ 62.23(7) and 61.35 wis. stats. (2) short title. this chapter shall be known as, referred to or cited as the "zoning code, village of wittenberg, wisconsin".”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Wittenberg village

  • Districts include RS-1, RS-7, RS-10, PUD, MHC, RC, C-C, G-M-I, A-G, CON, P-SP and F-P
  • Boundaries follow the Official Zoning Map

  “§ 17.14 c-c community commercial district. § 17.15 g-m-i general manufacturing and industrial district. § 17.16 a-g agriculture district. § 17.17 con conservancy district. § 17.18 p-sp public and semi-public district. § 17.19 f-p floodplain and shoreland-wetland districts.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the RS-1 single-family residential district, Wittenberg village

  • RS-7 district requires 1,000 sq. ft. for single-family and per-unit two-family dwellings (not separately quoted)
  • See sec. 17.04(3) and (6) for further restrictions
  • Agriculture (A-G) district not read

  minimum living area: >= 1200 sq ft

  “living area minimum 1,200 sq. ft. see sec. 17.04(3) and (6) of this chapter for further restrictions.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  RS-1 single-family residential district, Wittenberg village

  • Same 11,250 sq. ft. figure appears for RS-7 and RS-10
  • See sec. 17.04(3) and (6) for further restrictions
  • A-G agriculture district not read

  minimum lot area: >= 11250 sq ft · minimum lot frontage at setback: >= 75 ft

  “lot frontage at setback minimum 75 ft. lot area minimum 11,250 sq. ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  RS-1 single-family residential district, Wittenberg village

  • See sec. 17.04(3) and (6) for further restrictions
  • A-G agriculture district not read

  principal building front yard: >= 35 ft · principal building side yard: >= 10 ft · principal building rear yard: >= 10 ft · accessory building side and rear yard: >= 5 ft · water setback: >= 75 ft

  “principal building: front yard minimum 35 ft. side yards minimum 10 ft. rear yard minimum 10 ft.”

• Building heightSpecified

  RS-1 single-family residential district, Wittenberg village

  • Accessory buildings limited to 15 ft
  • Subject to the §17.04 height exceptions
  • A-G agriculture district not read

  principal building height: <= 35 ft · accessory building height: <= 15 ft

  “building height maximum 35 ft. water setback minimum 75 ft. accessory buildings: front yard minimum 35 ft. side yards minimum 5 ft. rear yard minimum 5 ft. building height maximum 15 ft.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes outside the MHC district inside Wittenberg village

  • Must be set on a full basement or other permanent enclosed structure per the state uniform dwelling code
  • Minimum width 24 feet and a core living area of at least 24 by 24 feet
  • Pitched roof of at least 3:12 slope with eaves extending at least 12 inches
  • Manufactured home communities are allowed in the MHC district (minimum 10 acres)

  minimum width: >= 24 ft

  “the dwelling shall have a minimum width of 24 feet and a core area of living space at least 24 feet by 24 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Wittenberg village
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Wittenberg village
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Wittenberg village
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Wittenberg village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Wittenberg 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.