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

Town of Dakota’s own rules

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County-zoned land inside Dakota town.

  • County zoning applies in unincorporated areas of all 18 townships, except the stated Town of Warren area; the opened material did not provide Dakota's parcel district map or full district schedule.

  “Setback/Zoning Requirements are administered by the County Zoning Office, and apply in the unincorporated areas of all 18 Townships, except those lands in the Town of Warren* which are greater than 1,000 feet from a lake and 300 feet from a stream or the edge of the floodplain.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  County-zoned land inside Dakota town.

  • The source says county setback/zoning requirements apply in unincorporated areas of all 18 townships; Dakota is a town rather than a city or village.
  • Specific yard dimensions require the applicable county zoning district and were not established by the opened source.

  water setback: 75 feet (from the ordinary high-water mark of a lake or trout stream; boathouses and livestock housing excepted)

  “Setback/Zoning Requirements are administered by the County Zoning Office, and apply in the unincorporated areas of all 18 Townships, except those lands in the Town of Warren* which are greater than 1,000 feet from a lake and 300 feet from a stream or the edge of the floodplain. [...] Minimum water setback in all zones is 75’ from the ordinary high water mark of a lake, 75’ from the ordinary high water mark of all trout streams, except for boathouses and livestock housing.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Travel trailers and recreational vehicles in Dakota town, which is within the county's unincorporated town zoning area.

  • They cannot be stored on vacant lands.
  • Recreational use is allowed in most zoning districts only if the unit leaves with the occupants.
  • A conditional-use permit may allow unoccupied storage on parcels over 10 acres zoned general agricultural.

  parcel size for conditional storage: > 10 acres (must be zoned general agricultural)

  “In those areas of Waushara County which are governed by the County Zoning Laws, travel trailers and recreational vehicles cannot be stored on vacant lands. These units can be used for recreational purposes in most zoning districts, but must leave with the occupants. A travel trailer or recreational vehicle can, however, be stored at a place of residence, or inside a completely enclosed building. A conditional use permit may be obtained for unoccupied storage of a travel trailer on parcels of land more than 10 acres in size and zoned general agricultural.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private wastewater systems inside Dakota town where the area is not served by municipal sewer.

  • Only applies in areas not served by municipal sewer.

  “Septic System requirements are administered by the County Zoning Office and apply in all areas of the county not served by municipal sewer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, repaired, replaced, or altered septic systems inside Dakota town where not served by municipal sewer.

  • Work must be done by a qualified, licensed plumber.
  • A licensed Certified Soil Tester must take soil tests before permit issuance.

  “Permits are required for repairing, replacing, and altering existing septic systems, as well as installing new ones. All work must be done by a qualified, licensed plumber. Soil tests must be taken by a licensed Certified Soil Tester prior to issuing such permits.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic systems inside Dakota town where not served by municipal sewer.

  • Inspection is visual and is required every three years.
  • Inspection and servicing must be reported to the County Zoning Office.
  • Pumping must be completed by a licensed septage hauler.

  inspection interval: per 3 years

  “All septic systems must be visually inspected every three years for signs of leaking tank and/or ponding of absorption area (drainage field). Pumping of tanks must be completed by a licensed septage hauler. Inspection and servicing must be reported to the County Zoning Office.”

• Permit processPartial

  New dwellings and covered construction inside Dakota town.

  • A new dwelling or alteration to an existing dwelling requires sanitary, UDC building, and land-use permits.
  • Online building-permit application is available.

  “The construction of a new dwelling or any alteration to an existing dwelling will require a sanitary permit and UDC building permit in addition to a land use permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Dakota town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Dakota town.
• Local zoning — Land inside Dakota town, Wisconsin.
• Minimum dwelling size — New dwellings inside Dakota town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Dakota 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.