Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Eau Galle, Wisconsin

Town of Eau Galle’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings within the Town building-code ordinance's scope inside Eau Galle town.

  • State-approved plans are required where applicable; sanitary permits are required where applicable; compliance with Town, County, and State zoning, setbacks, ordinances, and regulations must be determined.
  • Repairs, remodeling, or alterations below $20,000 in a 12-month period may be exempt if they do not change the listed building attributes.

  “No person shall alter, build, add onto or alter any building within the scope of this ordinance without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings within the scope of Town Building Code Ordinance 2024-01 inside Eau Galle town.

  • The ordinance applies to dwellings, commercial buildings/structures, pools, garages, structures, buildings, and residential accessory buildings.

  “The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, Chs. SPS 320-325, and CH 327, and its successors, of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference”

• InspectionsRequired

  Dwelling and commercial structures needing an occupancy permit inside Eau Galle town.

  • All inspections must be satisfactorily completed before an occupancy permit issues.

  “An occupancy permit will be issued only after all inspections have been satisfactorily completed”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Single-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, and commercial structures inside Eau Galle town.

  • All inspections must be satisfactory, required fees paid, and ordinance terms met before issuance.

  “No single-family dwelling or multiple family dwelling or commercial structure may be occupied by any person or party until an occupancy permit has been issued.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Every dwelling subject to the Town building-code ordinance inside Eau Galle town.

  • Attached garages, carports, and open decks are excluded from the length and width measurement.

  minimum dwelling width: >= 24 feet · minimum dwelling length: >= 24 feet

  “Every dwelling shall be at least 24 feet in width and 24 feet in length. Attached garages, carports, and open decks shall not be included in the measurements of length and width.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots created through a land division inside Eau Galle town.

  • The minimum is the size stated in the Town Comprehensive Plan; the opened material did not establish a numeric minimum.

  “No land shall be divided if any lot created by the land division is smaller than allowed as stated in the Town of Eau Galle Comprehensive Plan.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural accessory buildings inside Eau Galle town.

  • The building must be under 1,500 square feet, have no electricity or plumbing, and be solely used to house livestock or livestock supplies; a Town permit for use and location remains required.

  maximum building area: < 1500 square feet (without electricity and plumbing and solely used for livestock or livestock supplies)

  “Agriculture accessory buildings less than 1,500 square feet, and without electricity and plumbing, solely used to house livestock and or livestock supplies (feed, bedding, etc.) However, a permit for use and location is required by the Town.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Eau Galle town that are subject to the Town Land Division Ordinance.

  • The division must comply with the ordinance, Wis. Stat. ch. 236, Town plan, County zoning/building/sanitary/erosion-control/land-division regulations, applicable sanitary codes, and listed Town ordinances.

  “The purpose and intent of this Ordinance are to regulate and control the division of land within the limits of the Town of Eau Galle”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building and site improvements inside Eau Galle town.

  • The schedule states that permits are required for improvements over $5,000; the Town building-code ordinance says fees are determined by resolution and doubled where a required project begins before issuance.

  building and site improvement threshold: > 5000 USD (Residential, Agriculture, or Business)

  “Permits are required for all Building and Site Improvements over $5,000 (Residential/Agriculture or Business)”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Eau Galle

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Eau Galle; St. Croix County administers the zoning regulations identified by the Town plan.

  • The Town plan identifies St. Croix County Chapter 15 as the zoning regulation enforced within the Town.

  “Land use regulations enforced by St. Croix County within the Town can be found in the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances: [...] d) Chapter 15, Zoning”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts identified by the Town plan for land inside Eau Galle town.

  • The plan lists AG-1, AG-2, R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, NMO, CON, and PD districts.

  “Current Zoning Districts a) AG-1 Agricultural District b) AG-2 Agricultural District c) R-1 Residential District d) R-2 Residential District e) C-1 Commercial District f) C-2 Commercial District g) C-3 Commercial District h) I-1 Industrial District i) I-2 Industrial District j) NMO Nonmetallic Mining Overlay k) CON Conservancy District l) PD Planned Development District”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Sanitary regulation inside Eau Galle town.

  • The Town plan identifies St. Croix County Chapter 12 as sanitary regulation enforced within the Town.

  “Land use regulations enforced by St. Croix County within the Town can be found in the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances: [...] b) Chapter 12, Sanitary”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Eau Galle town.
• Setbacks — Lots inside Eau Galle town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Eau Galle town.
• Building height — Buildings inside Eau Galle town.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Eau Galle 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.