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

Town of Emerald’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Emerald town.

  • Maintenance such as shingling or residing a house does not require a permit.
  • The town lists a $35 building-permit charge.

  building permit fee: 35 USD (The listed page does not identify the covered project types.)

  “bulding permits are required for the town of emerald building permits $35.00 if you are doing maintenance such as shingling or residing house, no permit is required.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Emerald; St. Croix County General Zoning is the applicable zoning program.

  • The county states that general zoning applies to all towns except Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph, and Troy; Emerald is not an exception.
  • Shoreland, floodplain, land division, Lower St. Croix Riverway Overlay Districts, and sanitary rules also apply to all townships.

  “st. croix county general zoning applies to all towns and unincorporated areas, except the towns of forest, hudson, st. joseph, and troy.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures inside Emerald town under St. Croix County General Zoning.

  • Requirements vary by zoning district and structure type.
  • Shoreland, floodplain, and Lower St. Croix Riverway overlays can change setbacks.
  • A plat or certified survey map can also record a setback.

  “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 Emerald town.

  • County sanitary rules apply to all townships.
  • State sanitary permits are required for POWTS installation; county permits govern listed repair and non-plumbing sanitation work.

  “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, or the installation of a non-plumbing sanitation (i.e. privy, composting toilet, etc.)”

• Septic permitRequired

  POWTS installation, repair, reconnection, rejuvenation, and non-plumbing sanitation inside Emerald 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.
  • The permit must be obtained before a local municipal building permit and may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.

  “a sanitary permit is required before obtaining a building permit from your local municipality. a sanitary permit may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private onsite wastewater systems inside Emerald town.

  • Staff conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.
  • Systems must be serviced or inspected at least once every three years unless a management plan specifies otherwise.

  routine service or 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

  Privies, composting toilets, and other non-plumbing sanitation inside Emerald town.

  • A County Sanitary Permit is required for installation of non-plumbing sanitation.
  • A sanitary permit may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.

  “a county sanitary permit is required for the repair, reconnection, or rejuvenation of a powts, or the installation of a non-plumbing sanitation (i.e. privy, composting toilet, etc.)”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Emerald town.

  • County land-division rules apply to all townships.
  • The applicant must complete the appropriate application and contact Community Development to schedule a pre-application meeting.

  “shoreland, floodplain, land division, lower st. croix riverway overlay districts, and sanitary apply to all townships.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway construction inside Emerald town.

  • A permit must be obtained before construction.
  • A $50 fine is assessed if construction occurs first.

  driveway permit fee: 50 USD · fine: 50 USD (Permit not obtained before construction.)

  “driveway permits $50.00 ***permits need to be obtained before construction occurs or a $50.00 fine will be assessed***”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building and driveway permits inside Emerald town.

  • Listed fees are $35 for building permits and $50 for driveway permits.
  • The town assesses a $50 fine if a driveway permit is not obtained before construction.

  building permit fee: 35 USD · driveway permit fee: 50 USD · driveway permit violation fine: 50 USD (When the permit is not obtained before construction.)

  “driveway permits $50.00 ***permits need to be obtained before construction occurs or a $50.00 fine will be assessed***”

• Permit processPartial

  Building, driveway, sanitary, and county land-use permits affecting land inside Emerald town.

  • For county land-use permits, variances, rezonings, waivers, and land divisions, the applicant completes the appropriate application and schedules a pre-application meeting.
  • A sanitary permit is required before a municipal building permit and may only be submitted by a licensed plumber.
  • The town page provides inspector and driveway-permit contact information but no complete building-permit application procedure.

  “to apply for a permit, variance, rezoning, waiver, or land division, please fill out and complete the appropriate application for your request.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Emerald town.
• Inspections — Building work inside Emerald town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Emerald town.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Emerald town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Emerald 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.