Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Medford, Wisconsin

Medford’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, plumbing and electrical work inside Medford city

  • Permit lapses if work is not started within 6 months of issuance (15.1.003).
  • Fees are set by council resolution (15.1.002).

  “no building, plumbing, or electrical work shall be performed in the city unless a permit therefor is obtained as required in the provisions of this chapter.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Medford city limits

  “for the purpose of this code, the city of medford is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Medford city (R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, G-1, A-1, W-1, PUD)

  • Official zoning map is kept by the city clerk for public inspection.

  “the official zoning district map is an integral part of this code.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  One-family dwellings in the R-1 single family residential district, Medford city

  • Minimum building width 26 feet.
  • Amended by ordinance #1118, dated 6/9/25.

  minimum ground floor area: >= 500 sq ft per unit · minimum building width: >= 26 feet

  “minimum building width - 26 feet minimum ground floor area - 500 square feet per unit (amended ordinance #1118, dated 6/9/25)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 agricultural/forestry district, Medford city

  • Minimum lot width 300 feet; front yard setback 40 feet.

  minimum lot area: >= 2 acres per family · minimum lot width: >= 300 feet · front yard setback: >= 40 feet

  “minimum lot area - 2 acres/family c. minimum lot width - 300' d. front yard setback - 40'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — One-family dwellings in the R-1 district, Medford city

    “minimum lot area one-family dwellings - 10,000 sq. ft. d. minimum lot width 48' for lots platted at 48' or 50' prior to december 14, 1982 70' for all other lots”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single family residential district, Medford city

  • Accessory buildings 3 feet from rear line and 3 feet from foundation on sides.

  front yard setback: >= 20 feet · rear yard setback, principal building: >= 25 feet · side yards, principal building: >= 8 feet from foundation (20 feet total)

  “e. front yard setback - 20 feet f. rear yard setback principal buildings - 25 feet accessory buildings - 3 feet g. side yards - principal buildings - 8 feet from foundation, (20 feet total), accessory buildings - 3 feet from foundation”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-1 agricultural/forestry district, Medford city

  • Agricultural product storage structures such as silos and barns are excepted.

  maximum building height: <= 45 feet (agricultural product storage structures such as silos and barns)

  “a. maximum building height - 45' except for agricultural, product storage structures such as silos & barns.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single family residential district, Medford city

    “a. maximum building height. principal buildings - 35 feet - accessory buildings - 15 feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes intended for occupancy inside Medford city

  • Mobile homes are allowed only in an approved mobile home park (2-acre minimum, 6 sites per acre maximum).
  • Mobile home parks are a conditional use in R-1, R-2 and A-1.
  • Modular homes meeting dimensional requirements count as one-family dwellings, not mobile homes.

  mobile home park minimum size: >= 2 acres

  “except as otherwise specifically authorized, no mobile home intended for occupancy shall be located within the city of medford except in a mobile home park, the plan of which has been approved by the planning commission and appropriate state agencies.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  R-1 and R-2 districts, Medford city

  • In the R-2 district, only when the dwelling provides living quarters for one family.
  • Other districts not checked.

  “short-term rentals are allowed in this district when the dwelling provides living quarters only for one family”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permit fees for 1 and 2 family residences inside Medford city

  • Document is titled as a 2023 fee resolution; a newer schedule may exist.
  • New home fee includes five inspections, energy calculations, plan review, mechanical permits, erosion control and file maintenance.
  • Remodeling, plumbing, electrical and HVAC fees are separate.

  new home under 1500 sq ft: 650 USD · new home 1500-2500 sq ft: 700 USD · new home over 2500 sq ft: 750 USD

  “new homes less than 1500 square feet - $650 new homes between 1500 and 2500 square feet - $700 new homes more than 2500 square feet - $750”

• Permit processPartial

  Building improvement projects inside Medford city

  • The city code allows up to 30 days for the building inspector to respond.
  • Applications are picked up at city hall; the building inspector's hours are Mondays and Thursdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  “the city code allows up to 30 days for the building inspector to respond to any application, so work plans should be scheduled accordingly. an application can be picked up at city hall during regular business hours. the building inspector's hours are mondays and thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Medford or Taylor County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Medford city
• Inspections — Inspections of new construction inside Medford city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Medford city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Medford city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Medford city

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.