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

Town of Gale’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Gale, where the town adopted the Trempealeau County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The operative zoning ordinance is Trempealeau County's, adopted by the Town of Gale in December 2000.

  “The town has adopted County Zoning. In December of 2000, the Town of Gale adopted the revised Trempealeau County Zoning Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Gale town under the adopted Trempealeau County zoning ordinance.

  • Plan identifies Rural Residential as the primary zone, a Growth Area around Galesville, and Exclusive Agriculture-2 in identified agricultural areas.

  “The Town of Gale is primarily zoned Rural Residential. Around the City of Galesville, a “Growth Area” has been established to encourage more dense development. Specific areas of the town with better agricultural soils, topography favorable for agriculture and traditional farming areas have been zoned Exclusive Agriculture-2.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Gale

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

• Building permitRequired

  Residential construction inside Gale town administered through Trempealeau County's land-management permitting process.

  • All residences must comply with the One and Two Family Dwelling Code.
  • A sanitary permit must issue before the building/zoning permit when a sanitary system is required.

  “All residences shall obtain a building permit prior to construction and comply with the provisions of the One and Two Family Dwelling Code.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner-occupant applying for an erosion-control or construction permit for a dwelling inside Gale town.

  • Applicant must be or will be an owner-occupant.
  • Applicant must read the contractor-responsibility cautionary statement.

  “I vouch that I am or will be an owner-occupant of this dwelling for which I am applying for an erosion control or construction permit without a Dwelling Contractor Certification and have read the cautionary statement regarding contractor responsibility on the reverse side of the last ply of this form.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Gale town, including manufactured-home installations.

  • The state UDC applies to one- and two-family dwelling units, including manufactured homes.

  “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New one- and two-family dwellings inside Gale town subject to the Wisconsin UDC.

  • Notify the inspector identified on the UDC permit when ready for inspection.

  “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New one- and two-family dwelling construction inside Gale town under Trempealeau County's fee schedule.

  • The listed construction fee includes the final occupancy permit but excludes the land-use/zoning permit.

  “Includes all required building, HVAC, electric & plumbing permits, and final occupancy permit, does not include Land Use / Zoning Permit.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Parcel development in Gale town.

  • Private access easements are not a substitute for public-road frontage.
  • Table also lists 100 feet public-road frontage, a 4-to-1 length/width ratio, and 10-foot side and rear yards.

  minimum lot size: 1 acre · minimum public road frontage: 100 feet

  “Gale 1 Acre 100 Feet 4 To 1 10 Feet 10 Feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Parcel development in Gale town.

  • Road setback differs by road class.
  • Navigable-water setbacks and soil-dispersal-system setbacks also apply.

  side yard setback: 10 feet · rear yard setback: 10 feet · state highway setback from centerline: >= 110 feet (or 50 feet from right-of-way line, whichever is greater) · county highway setback from centerline: >= 75 feet (or 42 feet from right-of-way line, whichever is greater) · town/public-street setback from centerline: >= 63 feet (or 30 feet from right-of-way line, whichever is greater)

  “Class A - State Highways - 110 feet from the centerline or 50 feet from right-of-way line, whichever is greater. Class B - County Highways - 75 feet from the centerline or 42 feet from the right-of-way line, whichever is greater. Class C - Town, public streets and highways not otherwise classified - 63 feet from the centerline or 30 feet from the right-of-way line, whichever is greater.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes placed outside a licensed manufactured-home park inside Gale town.

  • Must have a completely enclosed poured-concrete or concrete-block foundation at least 8 inches wide.
  • Footings must extend below frost line, at least 48 inches from ground level.
  • Must be installed under manufacturer instructions, connected to utilities, and anchored to the foundation.

  minimum foundation width: >= 8 inches · minimum footing depth: >= 48 inches (from ground level)

  “All manufactured homes located outside of a licensed manufactured home park in Trempealeau County must meet the following requirements when placed on the site: [...] Is set on a completely enclosed foundation of poured concrete or concrete block, not less than 8 inches wide, with footings extended to below the frost line, a minimum of 48 inches deep from ground level [...] Is installed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and is properly connected to utilities, and properly anchored to the foundation.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems inside Gale town.

  • The county sanitary permit precedes the building/zoning permit.

  “A sanitary permit must be issued by the Department of Land Management before the building/zoning permit can be issued.”

• Septic permitRequired

  A Gale-town project using a private sanitary system.

  • Application must be filled out and signed by a Wisconsin licensed plumber.
  • A copy of the recorded deed must be filed before issuance.
  • The sanitary permit must issue before the building/zoning permit.

  “Permit application for a sanitary system (SBD-6398) shall be filled out and signed by a Wisconsin licensed plumber. [...] A COPY OF THE RECORDED DEED MUST BE FILED WITH THIS DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF THE SANITARY PERMIT. [...] A sanitary permit must be issued by the Department of Land Management before the building/zoning permit can be issued.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sanitation choices inside Gale town.

  • County fee schedule separately lists sanitary reconnection and privy permits.

  privy permit fee: 105 USD

  “Sanitary (re-connect -$130.00) or (privy - $105)”

• Well permitRequired

  Well construction inside Gale town.

  • Permit must issue before construction.

  “A Well Location Permit ($30.00) must be issued from the Department of Land Management prior to construction.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Gale town, which is within Trempealeau County's unincorporated area.

  • A Certified Survey Map is required for land divisions under 20 acres.
  • County Department of Land Management review and approval must occur before recording with the Register of Deeds.

  CSM threshold: < 20 acres (land divisions of less than 20 acres)

  “The Trempealeau County Subdivision Ordinance is in effect for all of the unincorporated areas of Trempealeau County. A Certified Survey Map (CSM) is required for land divisions of less than 20 acres. The Certified Survey Maps must be reviewed and approved by the Trempealeau County Department of Land Management prior to being recorded at the Register of Deeds office.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  A permit application for development inside Gale town.

  • For towns, the county application calls for notation if the driveway has been approved.
  • This source does not state the separate driveway-permit standards or identify every project requiring driveway approval.

  “Note: (For Towns-If driveway has been approved – please initial in the box)”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Structures proposed in a floodway inside Gale town.

  • This evidence addresses floodway structures, not all mapped floodplain development.

  “No structure shall be erected in the floodway area.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County land-use, building, sanitary, well, and related permits for projects inside Gale town.

  • Fee schedule is effective January 1, 2025.
  • Work started before obtaining a permit is charged double the fee or $200, whichever is greater.
  • Fees are nonrefundable.

  residential land-use/zoning site evaluation: 210 USD · sanitary at-grade or mound permit: 475 USD · well permit: 65 USD

  “Residential housing (Dwellings, houses and additions including attached garages) - Administrative, Land use / Zoning Related Site Evaluation ………………………………$210.00 [...] Sanitary (at-grade or mound) …………………………………………………………………. $475.00 [...] Well ………………………………………………………………………………………………. $65.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Land-use and uniform-building permit requests for projects inside Gale town.

  • Town or city official signature is required before presentation and payment at the county office.
  • Application states the applicant is subject to applicable codes, laws, statutes, ordinances, and permit conditions.

  “Required for all permits – must be signed by town or city official prior to presentation and payment at the County office.”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Gale town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Gale town.
• Building height — Buildings inside Gale town.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Gale town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Gale 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.