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

Town of Glenwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction inside Glenwood town, including homes, garages, and sheds valued at $2,500 or more.

  • A town-issued permit is required at the stated valuation threshold.
  • New home construction, remodeling, and attached garages also require a Building Inspector-issued permit.
  • Permits must be obtained before construction starts.

  project value threshold: >= 2500 USD (Town-issued permit requirement for new construction)

  “Town issued building permits are required for all new construction (homes, garages, sheds) with a value of $2500 or more.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects for which the Glenwood town application must be provided to the town's contracted building inspector.

  • The application states that the contracted building inspector issues the UDC permit and conducts all needed inspections.

  “This signed application must be given to the Town of Glenwood contracted building inspector. He will issue the UDC building permit and conduct all inspections needed.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways inside Glenwood town.

  • The driveway must be approved before installation.
  • The Chairman or Clerk has the town Patrolman inspect the proposed location and sign the application if approved.
  • Existing field driveways may require review for compliance.

  driveway permit fee: 20 USD (New driveways)

  “A driveway permit is required for all new driveways. The cost of a driveway permit is $20.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town-issued building permits and new-driveway permits inside Glenwood town.

  • The building-permit page states a $40 minimum for town-issued building permits.
  • Driveway permits are $20.

  town building permit fee rate: per 2 USD per $1,000 projected construction cost (Minimum $40) · driveway permit fee: 20 USD (New driveways)

  “Fees are $2.00 for every $1,000 of projected construction cost. (Minimum $40)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications inside Glenwood town.

  • The application must be returned to the Town Chairman with the fee.
  • The town application must be provided to the contracted building inspector before a UDC permit can be issued.
  • The town permit expires one year from issue date.

  town permit duration: 1 year (From issue date)

  “This form must be completed and returned to the Town of Glenwood Chairman, along with a check made out to the Town of Glenwood.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Glenwood

Town of Glenwood 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 Glenwood town, where St. Croix County General Zoning applies.

  • County zoning, rather than a Glenwood town zoning ordinance, is the identified zoning authority.
  • The county FAQ excepts only Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph, and Troy; Glenwood is not listed.

  “St. Croix County General Zoning applies to all towns and unincorporated areas, except the towns of Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph, and Troy.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Glenwood town, which is subject to St. Croix County General Zoning.

  • District-specific rules govern use, yard space, lot size, and building height.
  • The published chapter lists AG-1, AG-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, commercial, industrial, overlay, and conservancy districts.

  “15.200 general provisions 1. this subchapter establishes the zoning districts, along with the use and dimensional standards for property within each district.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Land inside Glenwood town that is zoned St. Croix County R-1 Residential District.

  • The R-1 density standard is one principal dwelling per 10 acres.
  • Other county ordinances or town requirements can require larger lots.

  minimum lot area: 1.5 acre (R-1 Residential District)

  “table 15.230.1 r-1 dimensional standards standard design 1 lot area (min) 1.5 acre minimum 2 density (max) 1 principal dwelling per 10 acres”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Land inside Glenwood town that is zoned St. Croix County R-1 Residential District.

  • Accessory structures have different side and rear setbacks.
  • Structures housing animals have a 100-foot side and rear setback.

  street setback: 50 ft (R-1 minimum) · side setback: 10 ft (R-1; 5 feet for accessory structure and 100 feet for structure housing animals) · rear setback: 25 ft (R-1 principal building; 5 feet for accessory structure and 100 feet for structure housing animals)

  “4 street setback (min) 50' 5 side setback (min) 10’ any side 5’ accessory structure,100' structure housing animals 6 rear setback (min) 25’ for principal building 5’ accessory structure, 100' structure housing animals”

• Building heightSpecified

  Land inside Glenwood town that is zoned St. Croix County R-1 Residential District.

  • No height limit applies to agricultural accessory uses such as silos, bins, barns, and seed-storage facilities.

  maximum building height: 50 ft (R-1; agricultural accessory-use exception applies)

  “3 height (max) 50 feet no height limit applies to agricultural accessory uses such as silos, bins, barns and seed storage facilities”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private on-site wastewater systems inside Glenwood town.

  • St. Croix County Sanitary applies to all townships.
  • A sanitary permit is required before a local-municipal building permit.

  “A sanitary permit is required before obtaining a building permit from your local municipality.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private on-site wastewater treatment system work inside Glenwood town.

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Work inside Glenwood town requiring a sanitary permit.

  • County staff conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.

  minimum county staff inspections: >= 1 inspection (Work requiring a sanitary permit)

  “A Sanitary Permit may only be submitted by a licensed plumber. Staff will conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-plumbing sanitation, including privies and composting toilets, inside Glenwood town.

  • A county sanitary permit is required for installation of non-plumbing sanitation.
  • The sanitary-permit application 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.)”

• Well permitRequired

  New private wells, including wells inside Glenwood town.

  • The notification rule excludes high-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property.
  • A Well Construction Notification Number is required before constructing a drilled or driven-point well.
  • High-capacity wells or other wells requiring written DNR approval follow the approval requirements.

  well construction notification fee: 50.5 USD (Notification fee is not refundable or transferable)

  “Wisconsin law requires that a property owner provide advance notice to DNR before construction of any new private well that is not a high capacity well”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Glenwood town.

  • A survey is required for a new lot or parcel.
  • One to four parcels within five years is a minor subdivision; five or more parcels 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

  “A survey is required for creating a new lot or parcel. Creating 1-4 parcels within five years is a minor subdivision. (see the process below) Creating 5 or more parcels within 5 years is a major subdivision.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a floodplain inside Glenwood town.

  • This applies before new development, repair, modification, addition, or use change, including sewer and water facilities.
  • The permit application requires specified general information and a scale site plan.

  “a land use permit shall be obtained before any new development; repair, modification or addition to an existing structure; or change in the use of a building or structure, including sewer and water facilities, may be initiated.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built housing inside Glenwood town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Glenwood town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Glenwood town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Glenwood town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Glenwood 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.