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

Town of Cameron’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings, structures, permanent building equipment, and their parts built, enlarged, altered, demolished, or moved into the Town of Cameron.

  • Repairs, replacements, or minor alterations valued at $1,000 or less are excepted when they do not change occupancy, area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, light, heat, or ventilation.
  • For a building designed for human habitation, a Wood County sanitary permit must be obtained before the Town building permit is issued.

  minor-work exemption threshold: <= 1000 USD (Only if work does not change occupancy, area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, light, heat, or ventilation.)

  “No building, structure, permanent building equipment, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be built, enlarged, altered, or demolished within or moved into the Town unless a permit is obtained by the owner or the owner’s agent from the Zoning Administrator.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings subject to the Town zoning ordinance inside the Town of Cameron.

  • Inspection timing and manner are those necessary to secure compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and orders.

  “Buildings shall be inspected at such time and in such manner as may be necessary to secure compliance with the laws, ordinances, rules and orders applicable thereto.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Cameron, Wood County, Wisconsin.

  • Wood County states that where towns have adopted their own zoning ordinances, zoning administration and enforcement are the town's responsibility.
  • Town zoning amendments require Wood County Board approval.

  “The Town Board of the Town of Cameron, Wood County, Wisconsin, does ordain as follows:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside the Town of Cameron.

  • District boundaries are established by the Official Zoning Map, which is part of the ordinance.

  districts: R-1 Residential; R-2 Rural Residential; AG-1 Agricultural; C-1 General Commercial; C-2 Commercial; I-1 Industrial

  “For the purposes of this Ordinance, the Town of Cameron, Wood County, Wisconsin, is hereby divided into the following districts:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational-vehicle occupancy as a residence inside the Town of Cameron.

  • A recreational vehicle may be occupied during construction of a permanent dwelling for no more than one year, with a Zoning Administrator permit and required fee.
  • Section 8 exceptions also apply, including occupancy in a licensed recreational-vehicle park.

  temporary construction occupancy: <= 1 year (A Zoning Administrator permit and required fee are required.)

  “No recreational vehicle or mobile home shall be located and occupied as a residence within the Town except as provided in Section 8 below, and after the date of adoption of this Ordinance, except for the purpose of using such unit while a permanent dwelling is being constructed, not to exceed a period of one year for such purpose.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Certified survey maps and subdivision plats for land inside the Town of Cameron.

  • The platting process must follow and conform to the Wood County Land Subdivision Ordinance and Wisconsin Statutes chapter 236.
  • The Town reviews plats forwarded by the Wood County Planning & Zoning Office.

  “The subdivision platting process shall follow and conform to the provisions of the Wood County Land Subdivision Ordinance and Chapter 236, Wisconsin Statutes.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Building-permit applications involving driveway access inside the Town of Cameron.

  • Plans must reflect access and/or driveway plans consistent with §6.03.7 of the ordinance.
  • The ordinance's site-development review considers vehicular access for commercial and industrial development proposals.

  “With such application there shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator a set of plans covering the proposed project, alterations or improvements, showing the location of any proposed building with respect to adjoining streets, alleys, lot lines and other buildings, and reflecting access and/or driveway plans consistent with Section 6.03.7 of this Ordinance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building permits inside the Town of Cameron.

  • For buildings designed for human habitation, a Wood County sanitary permit is required before the Town permit issues.
  • The project must comply with the Town ordinance, Wood County ordinances, Wisconsin laws, and lawful state orders.
  • A permit lapses unless building operations commence within 12 months.

  permit commencement deadline: <= 12 months (Measured from permit date.)

  “Application for a building permit shall be made in writing on a blank form furnished by the Zoning Administrator and shall state the name and address of the owner of the project and the owner of the land upon which it is to be constructed.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Cameron

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems inside the Town of Cameron, Wood County.

  • The regulatory framework includes the Wisconsin Uniform Plumbing Code and Wood County Ordinance #702.
  • Maintenance requirements vary by installed-system type and household waste strength and volume.

  “The Wood County Planning & Zoning Office is the County agency responsible for the regulation and inspection of septic systems”

• Septic permitRequired

  POWTS work and non-plumbing sanitation systems inside the Town of Cameron.

  • Emergency repairs or removal of stoppages may occur without a sanitary permit if reported to the Administrator as soon as possible for a determination whether a permit is required.
  • The ordinance applies to all lands and waters within Wood County.

  “No person shall locate, install, move, reconstruct, extend, enlarge, convert, substantially alter or change the use of a POWTS or any of its component parts without the appropriate sanitary permit and without full compliance with the provisions of the permit and this ordinance and all applicable local, county and state regulations.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private septic systems inside the Town of Cameron.

  • Maintenance requirements vary based on the installed-system type and individual household waste strength and volume.

  “visibly inspected at least once every three (3) years”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development work inside the Town of Cameron where the parcel is within a shoreland or floodplain zone.

  • Covered work includes soil disturbance, new construction, additions or alterations outside the existing footprint, retaining walls, sidewalks, driveways, and landscaping.
  • State DNR permits may also be needed near lakes and streams.

  “Approval by the Wood County Planning and Zoning Office is required”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside the Town of Cameron.
• Building code adopted — Residential buildings inside the Town of Cameron.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside the Town of Cameron.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling units inside the Town of Cameron.
• Building height — Buildings inside the Town of Cameron.

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.