Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Village of Elkhart Lake’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  One- or two-family dwellings and additions/alterations inside Elkhart Lake village

  • Application on form furnished by village clerk
  • Fees set by village board

  “no person shall build or cause to be built any one-or two-family dwelling, or any addition or alteration to a one-or two-family dwelling, without first obtaining a building permit from the village building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Elkhart Lake village

  • Adopts the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code except penalties, exemptions and effective-date provisions as modified
  • Text refers to the 1979 register version of the code

  “41.01 wisconsin uniform dwelling code adopted. the provisions of the wisconsin uniform dwelling code establishing uniform statewide construction standards and inspection procedures for one and two family dwellings and manufactured buildings for dwellings as published in the wisconsin administrative register, november, 1979, except the provisions thereof relating to penalties (section ind 20.22), provisions relating to exemptions (section ind 20.05) and effective date (section ind 20.03) as herein modified, are hereby adopted”

• InspectionsRequired

  One- and two-family dwellings inside Elkhart Lake village

  • Inspector must be state-certified
  • Applicant deposits estimated inspection costs before permit issuance

  “prior to issuance of the permit the applicant shall deposit with the village clerk a sum estimated by the clerk from information supplied by the responsible village building inspector(s) to cover the cost of all required inspections.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Elkhart Lake village limits

  • Conditional use permits and variances available
  • Shoreland ordinance also applies

  zoning districts: 15 districts

  “the village of elkhart lake had a major update of chapter 16 zoning in november 2010. there have been small changes since 2010.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Elkhart Lake village

  • District count and zoning map (2010) published on village site; individual district standards not opened

  zoning districts: 15 districts

  “there have been small changes since 2010. the village has 15 zoning districts.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits, plan review and inspections for dwellings inside Elkhart Lake village

  • Amounts set by village board from time to time; actual fee schedule not opened
  • Applicant also deposits estimated inspection costs; excess refunded, shortfall must be paid before certificate of occupancy

  “the village board shall from time to time determine the amount of the fee to be charged for the issuance of building permits, plan review and on-site inspection under the provisions of this code.”

• Permit processPartial

  Dwelling building permits inside Elkhart Lake village

  • Applications go through the village clerk to the village building inspector
  • Appeals go to the zoning board of appeals under section 16.24

  “application shall be made on a form furnished by the village clerk.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Inside Elkhart Lake village
• Certificate of occupancy — Inside Elkhart Lake village
• Minimum dwelling size — Inside Elkhart Lake village
• Minimum lot size — Inside Elkhart Lake village
• Setbacks — Inside Elkhart Lake 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.