Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Big Bend, Wisconsin

Village of Big Bend’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Big Bend village limits (Waukesha County)

  • Zoning code is hosted on the village's Revize site; effective/adoption date not extracted

  “these regulations are adopted under the authority granted by § 61.35, 61.351, 61.354, 62.23(7), and 87.30,144.26 and 144.266.wis. stats.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Big Bend village

  • Districts include A-1, AO, C-1, ECO overlay, R-1 through R-4, R-P, R-M, B-1 to B-4, I-1, LTD, IPS overlay, floodplain and shoreland

  “16.30 a-1 agricultural district 16.31 ao agricultural overlay district 16.32 c-1 conservancy district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residential district whose text immediately precedes 16.35 R-2 (R-1 rural density per table of contents order)

  • District heading not directly seen in excerpt; R-1 inferred from order; also one dwelling per 2 acres, 35 ft setback, 20 ft side/rear offsets, 35 ft principal height, 25% FAR

  first floor living area: >= 1600 sq ft · total living area: >= 1800 sq ft

  “16.34 r-1 residential district - rural density single family. [...] 5) building size a) minimum living area of 1,600 sq. ft. first floor and a total minimum living area of 1,800 sq. ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  C-1 Conservancy district only; residential districts not resolved

  • C-1 land within a larger parcel zoned otherwise must meet the lot area of that other district

  “there are no specific minimum lot size requirements although c-1 zoned lands that lie within a larger parcel or tract of land, the remainder of which is zoned in any other district shall have a minimum lot area equal to at least that which is required in that non-conservancy district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Offsets from C-1 Conservancy district boundary lines

  • Planning commission may approve a lesser offset, no less than 5 feet, with village engineer and building inspector input

  offset from C-1 boundary: >= 10 feet (not less than 5 ft with planning commission approval)

  “all structures, site disturbance activity and/or construction activity shall maintain a minimum 10 foot offset and/or setback (more if specifically required by any other provision of this code) from any c-1 boundary line. a lesser offset/setback, but no less than 5 feet, may be approved by the planning commission”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs, house trailers and mobile homes used for habitation inside Big Bend village

  • Long-term means 30 cumulative days per year
  • Exception only by advance planning commission approval for a specific limited period during construction or repair of a single family residence
  • Commission may weigh utilities, neighbor impact, duration, waste and water plans

  long-term habitation threshold: 30 cumulative days per year (planning commission approval during home construction/repair)

  “no house trailer, mobile home and/or recreational vehicle shall be used for the purpose of long term (i.e. 30 cumulative days per year) human habitation unless specifically approved in advance by the village planning commission for a specific and limited period of time during construction of a new single family residence or repair/reconstruction of a single family residence.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage systems for buildings inside Big Bend village not served by sewer; the permit is issued by Waukesha County, as the village code states

  • Village code requires building/plumbing inspector certification of sewage disposal before a principal building is permitted

  “if it is not served by an approved municipal or other state approved sanitary sewer system, a waukesha county sanitary system permit shall be required”

• Septic permitRequired

  New principal buildings inside Big Bend village not served by sanitary sewer (Waukesha County permit)

  • Applies only if not served by an approved municipal or state-approved sewer system
  • Permit required prior to installation

  “if it is not served by an approved municipal or other state approved sanitary sewer system, a waukesha county sanitary system permit shall be required”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New principal buildings inside Big Bend village

  • Building must be certified as connecting to public sanitary sewer or conforming to onsite sewage disposal rules
  • No distance rule found

  “no principal building shall be permitted, erected, structurally altered or relocated unless it has first been certified by the building inspector and/or plumbing inspector that it will be connected to public sanitary sewer or conforms to all village ordinances and other governmental laws or regulations then applicable to onsite sewage disposal systems”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Big Bend or Waukesha County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Big Bend village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Big Bend village
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Big Bend village
• Inspections — Building inspection inside Big Bend village
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy permits inside Big Bend village

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.