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

Town of Cady’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New or altered one- and two-family dwellings, pools, qualifying accessory structures, structures requiring electrical, plumbing, structural footings or supports, and commercial or industrial buildings inside Cady town.

  • Minor repairs or alterations under $10,000 that do not change occupancy area, structural length, fire protection, exits, natural light, or ventilation do not require a permit.
  • Replacement or repair of roof or siding and same-size door or window replacements may be done without a permit.
  • Agricultural buildings on a contiguous parcel assessed at least 50% agricultural are listed under exceptions.
  • Landscaping other than decks may be done without a permit.

  accessory-structure threshold: > 200 sq ft (A permit is required for an accessory structure over this threshold.)

  “No person shall build or cause to be built any new one or two family dwelling [...] without first obtaining a state uniform building permit or a town building permit”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction, reconstruction, and alteration of dwellings and commercial buildings inside Cady town.

  • The building inspector enforces applicable Wisconsin, town, and county laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.

  “The Uniform Dwelling Code, Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapters SPS320 to 325, and all amendments thereto are adopted and incorporated in this chapter by reference”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction subject to the Uniform Dwelling Code or Town Building Code inside Cady town.

  • Builder must provide the building inspector 48 hours notice for inspections required by UDC Chapter SPS 320.10.
  • The developer, contractor, builder, or owner is responsible for coordinating inspection times and dates.

  inspection notice: 48 hours (For inspections required by UDC Chapter SPS 320.10.)

  “The builder shall give the Building Inspector for all inspections required by UDC Chapter SPS 320.10, 48 hours notice as per UDC.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Cady town; Cady adopted the St. Croix County Zoning Ordinance as the applicable zoning rule.

  • The town directs zoning questions to St. Croix County.
  • County zoning includes overlay districts and parcel-specific classifications.

  “The town is under St Croix County zoning- please contact St Croix County for zoning questions.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings inside Cady town.

  • Building is on a contiguous parcel assessed at least 50% agricultural under Wis. Stat. §70.32(2)(A).

  agricultural assessment: >= 50 percent (Contiguous parcel; cited as Wis. Stat. §70.32(2)(A).)

  “Agricultural buildings on a contiguous parcel that is assessed at least 50% agricultural under Wis. Stat. §70.32(2)(A)”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Any new driveway inside Cady town; Town Board or its designated agent issues permits for town and private roads.

  • County issues all other driveway permits, including County-road access.
  • There is a fee for the Town driveway permit.

  “Driveway permits: Any type of new driveway needs a driveway permit. There is a fee for the permit.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building permits inside Cady town.

  • Fees are set by the Building Inspector and may change.
  • Fee includes Wisconsin Department of Safety and Buildings UDC permit-seal fee for a new dwelling.
  • Construction started before permit issuance doubles the fee.

  “The building permit fees will be set by the Building Inspector and may be changed from time to time”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications inside Cady town.

  • Application must be in writing on the Building Inspector's form.
  • Applicant submits two complete sets of site plans and specifications, one set of building prints, and an erosion-control plan.
  • Applicant must obtain and supply copies of required County permits.
  • Approved permit is valid 24 months; action to approve or deny is due within 10 business days after receipt of all required materials.

  permit validity: 24 months · decision time: <= 10 business days (After receipt of all required forms, fees, plans, and documents.)

  “Action to approve or deny a building permit application shall be completed within 10 business days of receipt of all of the forms, fees, plans and documents required for processing the application.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Cady

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New lots or parcels created inside Cady town under the St. Croix County Land Division Ordinance.

  • Larger lots may be required by other County ordinances or Town requirements.
  • This is a land-division general rule, not a representation that every existing residential parcel has the same minimum.

  general minimum lot size: 1.5 acres (Unless larger lots are required by other County ordinances or Town requirements.)

  “As a general rule, the Minimum lot size is 1.5 acres, unless larger lots are required by other County ordinances or Town requirements.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures inside Cady town subject to St. Croix County general zoning or overlay zoning.

  • Requirements vary by zoning district, structure type, overlay district, use, and may also vary under a plat or certified survey map.

  “Setback requirements vary depending on the zoning district and the type of structure being constructed.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private onsite wastewater systems inside Cady town, which is within St. Croix County.

  • County sanitary ordinance applies countywide except on federal- and state-owned land.

  “The St. Croix County Community Development Department ensures public health and environmental protection by managing septic systems. We issue permits for new septic system installations”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, repair, reconnection, rejuvenation, and specified non-plumbing sanitation work inside Cady town.

  • A State Sanitary Permit is required for installation of a POWTS.
  • A County Sanitary Permit is required for repair, reconnection, rejuvenation, or installation of non-plumbing sanitation.
  • Sanitary permit is required before a local municipal building permit and may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.

  “A State Sanitary Permit is required for the installation of a private on-site wastewater treatment system (POWTS). A County Sanitary Permit is required for the repair, reconnection, or rejuvenation of a POWTS”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Work requiring a sanitary permit and existing private onsite wastewater systems inside Cady town.

  • County staff conduct at least one inspection for work requiring a sanitary permit.
  • Private onsite wastewater systems must be serviced or inspected at least once every three years unless otherwise specified in a management plan.

  maintenance inspection interval: per 3 years (Unless otherwise specified in a management plan.)

  “Staff will conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-plumbing sanitation and dwellings not served by public sewer inside Cady town.

  • Non-plumbing sanitation, including a privy or composting toilet, requires a County Sanitary Permit.
  • Wastewater-producing structures or premises intended for human habitation or occupancy that are not served by public sewer must have a compliant holding or treatment-and-dispersal system.

  “A County Sanitary Permit shall be obtained prior to constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land division inside Cady town.

  • A survey is required to create a new lot or parcel.
  • Creating one to four parcels within five years is a minor subdivision; five or more within five years is a major subdivision.
  • Town review and County review are part of the minor subdivision process.

  minor-subdivision parcel count: 1-4 parcels within five years · major-subdivision parcel count: >= 5 parcels within five years

  “Creating 1-4 parcels within five years is a minor subdivision. (See the process below)”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Cady town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Cady town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Cady town.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Cady town.
• Building height — Structures inside Cady 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.