Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Waupaca, Wisconsin

Waupaca’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Waupaca city limits

  • Chapter 17 is the city's own zoning code, with the zoning district map incorporated by section 17.102

  “this chapter shall be known, cited, and referred to as the "city of waupaca zoning ordinance"”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Waupaca city

  • Districts include A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, MH, B-1 to B-7, I-1, I-2 and non-standard districts (SPO, PUD, RC, PUL and others)

  “the following zoning districts are hereby established: (1) a-1 agricultural district (2) residential districts (a) r-1 single-family residential district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family detached dwelling in A-1 district, inside Waupaca city

  • Two-family: 1,200 square feet; 450 square feet per unit

  minimum floor area: >= 650 square feet

  “principal structure, single-family detached minimum floor area 650 square feet maximum height 35 feet principal structure, two-family minimum floor area 1,200 square feet; 450 square feet per unit maximum height 35 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in R-1 district, inside Waupaca city

    “principal structure, single-family detached minimum floor area 450 square feet maximum height [a] 35 feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 agricultural district, inside Waupaca city

  • Minimum width 300 feet
  • Open space 4.25 acres per dwelling unit

  minimum lot area: >= 5 acres

  “lot minimum area five acres minimum width 300 feet open space 4.25 acres per dwelling unit”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

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

    “lot minimum area 5,000 square feet per dwelling unit minimum width 50 feet minimum open space 25 percent of lot area”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal structure in R-1 district, inside Waupaca city

  • Accessory structures have separate setbacks (e.g., side and rear three feet on lots under one acre)
  • Modifications section may alter yards

  street yard: >= 20 feet · side yard: >= 8 feet per side · rear yard: >= 20 feet

  “minimum setbacks [a] principal structure street yard 20 feet side yard eight feet per side rear yard 20 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 agricultural district, inside Waupaca city

    “minimum setback street yard 80 feet side yard 50 feet rear yard 50 feet [a] see the modifications section of this chapter.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family principal structure in R-1 district, inside Waupaca city

  • Footnote [a] on height applies; see modifications section
  • Accessory structures have lower limits

  maximum height: <= 35 feet

  “principal structure, single-family detached minimum floor area 450 square feet maximum height [a] 35 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 agricultural district, inside Waupaca city

    “agricultural structures maximum floor area none height maximum 50 feet principal structure, single-family detached minimum floor area 650 square feet maximum height 35 feet”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Waupaca city (R-1 allows ADU up to 700 sq ft, 35 ft high)

  • Principal use must be a single-family dwelling
  • Principal structure must exist before ADU construction
  • Principal or accessory dwelling must be owner-occupied (temporary absence up to 6 months)
  • One ADU per lot
  • Occupants not to exceed one family or 2 unrelated individuals
  • Separate entrance required if within or attached to the principal structure

  ADU maximum area (R-1): <= 700 square feet

  “accessory dwelling units (adu) are accessory to a principal use, which shall be a single-family dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Waupaca city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder rules inside Waupaca city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Waupaca city
• Inspections — Building inspection inside Waupaca city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates inside Waupaca 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.