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

Town of Springfield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New, added, or altered one- and two-family dwellings in Springfield town.

  • The permit may be a state uniform building permit or a town building permit, as determined by the Building Inspector.
  • Minor repairs or alterations under $5,000 that do not change occupancy area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, natural light, or ventilation do not require a permit.
  • Garages or pole sheds, specified roofing/siding/door work, and landscaping excluding decks may be done without a permit.

  “No person shall build or cause to be built any new one- or two-family dwelling, or any addition or alteration to an existing one- or two-family dwelling, without first obtaining a state uniform building permit or a town building permit for such dwelling, structure, etc., as determined by the Building Inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Classes of buildings inside Springfield town to which the adopted Wisconsin codes apply.

  • Adopted codes include SPS 316, SPS 320-325, SPS 327, SPS 361-366, SPS 375-379, and SPS 381-384.
  • The adoption includes amendments in effect on the date the chapter was adopted.

  “The adoption of the Wisconsin Administrative Codes, noted below, and all amendments thereto in effect on the date of the adoption of this chapter are hereby adopted and made part of this chapter by reference and are applicable to all those classes of buildings to which said codes apply.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction, reconstruction, and alteration of dwellings and commercial buildings in Springfield town.

  • Inspections are required as applicable under State, Town, and St. Croix County rules.

  “The Building Inspector shall have the power and duty to see that the construction, reconstruction, alteration, of dwellings and Commercial buildings in the Town conform to the laws of the State of Wisconsin, the orders, rules and regulations laid down by the Department of Commerce of the State of Wisconsin and the ordinances, rules and regulations of the Town Springfield and St. Croix County and to make all inspections as required.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Springfield town; the Town approved application of St. Croix County Chapter 15 rather than adopting a separate Town zoning text.

  • The resolution states that it takes effect upon filing with the St. Croix County Clerk of a certified copy of the resolution together with the revised ordinance.

  “shall take all required actions to make the St. Croix County Zoning Ordinance applicable with the Town of Springfield.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Building-permit applicants needing driveway access inside Springfield town.

  • Town Board issues driveway permits for Town roads and private roads.
  • The County issues all other driveway permits.
  • A county driveway permit is included with the building application if necessary.

  “The building permit applicant shall submit with the application a driveway permit, which shall be applied for and obtained from the Town Board for town roads or private roads. The county issues all other driveway permits.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building permits and listed related Town application services in Springfield town.

  • Fees are set by Town Board resolution and may change.
  • New dwellings include a $25 payment forwarded for the Wisconsin UDC permit seal.
  • The fee doubles if construction starts before permit issuance.

  UDC permit seal payment: 25 USD (Assigned to any new dwelling.)

  “The building permit fees shall be set by resolution of the Town Board and may be changed from time to time and shall include $25.00 to be forwarded to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for the UDC permit seal that shall be assigned to any new dwelling.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in Springfield town.

  • Application is in writing on the Building Inspector's form.
  • Applicants submit two complete site-plan/specification sets, one blueprint set, and an erosion-control plan.
  • County permits, including a county driveway permit if necessary, must be included.
  • Town-road or private-road driveway permits are obtained from the Town Board; the County issues all others.
  • A compliant permit is valid 24 months.
  • Action occurs within 10 business days after receipt of all required forms, fees, plans, and documents.

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

  “Application process; issuance of permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Springfield

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts applicable inside Springfield town under the County zoning code.

  • The official zoning map determines the district applicable to a particular site.
  • Base districts include AG-1, AG-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, and CON; overlays include SO, SCR, FO, and NMO.

  “To determine the regulations of the zoning code applicable to a site, the user must first find the site on the “Official Zoning Map.” The map will show the zoning district that is applied to the site. The official Zoning Map is maintained online through the County’s Geographic Information Systems website.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Residential District inside Springfield town.

  • Maximum density is one principal dwelling per 10 acres.
  • Potential lots are calculated at land division using the parcel size at ordinance adoption divided by 10, rounding up.

  minimum lot area: >= 1.5 acres

  “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

  R-1 Residential District inside Springfield town.

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

  street setback: >= 50 feet · principal-building side setback: >= 10 feet · principal-building rear setback: >= 25 feet

  “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

  R-1 Residential District inside Springfield town.

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

  maximum building height: <= 50 feet (Agricultural accessory uses named in the schedule have no height limit.)

  “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 onsite wastewater systems inside Springfield town.

  • State sanitary permits govern new POWTS installation; county sanitary permits govern listed repairs, reconnections, rejuvenations, and non-plumbing sanitation.

  “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, or non-plumbing sanitation inside Springfield town.

  • A sanitary permit must be obtained before a local-municipality building permit.
  • A sanitary permit application 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. Staff will conduct at least one inspection for all work requiring a sanitary permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private onsite wastewater work and existing private onsite wastewater systems inside Springfield town.

  • County staff conduct at least one inspection for work requiring a sanitary permit.
  • Wisconsin SPS 383 requires systems to be serviced or inspected at least once every three years unless a management plan specifies otherwise.

  inspection/service interval: per 3 years (unless otherwise specified in a management plan)

  “serviced or inspected at least once every three years”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

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

  • A county sanitary permit is required for non-plumbing sanitation installation.
  • A licensed plumber may submit sanitary permits.

  “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.)”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Springfield town.

  • A survey is required for a new lot or parcel.
  • One to four parcels within five years are minor subdivisions; five or more are major subdivisions.
  • Town review precedes County review for minor subdivisions.
  • County review includes a fee and final survey recording has a $30 recording fee.

  “The Community Development Department oversees the management of the Land Division Ordinance in St. Croix County, guiding subdivision development. General requirements are listed below for reference.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development, repair, modification, addition, or use change in a floodplain-regulated area inside Springfield town.

  • This applies when the parcel is subject to the County floodplain ordinance.
  • The application must include prescribed applicant, site-plan, floodplain, elevation, access-road, wastewater, and water-supply information.

  “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 Springfield or St. Croix County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Springfield town.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered structures in Springfield town.
• Minimum dwelling size — R-1 Residential District inside Springfield town.
• Lot coverage — R-1 Residential District inside Springfield town.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy in recreational vehicles on private land inside Springfield 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.