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

Town of Hansen’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, addition, or alteration of one- and two-family dwellings inside Hansen town within the scope of Ordinance No. 9

  • Permit comes from the town building inspector before work begins (section 1.6).
  • As written, the $45,000 figure is tied to alterations in any twelve-month period; the 'build' and 'add onto' language is not limited by a dollar amount on its face, so the threshold reading should be confirmed with the town.
  • Permit fees are set by town resolution, not in the ordinance (section 1.7).

  alteration value threshold in any twelve-month period: > 45000 USD (Threshold stated in section 1.6 for alterations; build and add-onto work is listed without a dollar threshold)

  “no person shall alter, in excess of $45,000.00 value in any twelve-month period, build, add onto or alter any building within the scope of this ordinance without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980, inside Hansen town

  • Scope of the town's building ordinance is limited to one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 (section 1.3).
  • The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code is adopted by incorporation and applies only to buildings within the ordinance's scope.

  “the wisconsin uniform dwelling code, chapters comm 20-25 of the wisconsin administrative code and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference and shall apply to all buildings within the scope of this ordinance.”

• InspectionsRequired

  One- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980, inside Hansen town

  • The building inspector must be certified by the Division of Safety & Buildings in the UDC HVAC, electrical, and plumbing categories (section 1.5).
  • Inspection is tied to the ordinance scope and to permitted work; the ordinance does not state an inspection schedule in the text reviewed.

  “the scope of this ordinance includes the construction and inspection of one- and twofamily dwellings built since june 1, 1980.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Permanent or temporary structures inside Hansen town that the town board deems a safety hazard, such as pole buildings, garages, earthen dams, dikes, and roadways

  • Setback is measured from the center of the road (the compilation's definition).
  • Failure to comply will result in removal of the structure (the ordinance's enforcement sentence).
  • The ordinance is limited to structures the town board deems a safety hazard; it is not a general residential setback.
  • The county's 2026 planning letter reportedly says the sewage-system part of this setback conflicts with Wis. Admin. Code Comm 83; that letter was not opened and is not verified here.

  setback from road centerline: >= 50 feet (Applies only to structures the town board deems a safety hazard)

  “a 50-foot setback will be required for all permanent or temporary structures the town board would deem a safety hazard such as permanent pole buildings, garages, earthen dams, dikes and roadways.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside Hansen town under Ordinance No. 9

  • Fees are set by town resolution; the schedule was not found in the compilation.
  • The town's 2025 newsletter reportedly points to online building and culvert permit forms, which were not opened here.

  “the building permit fees shall be determined by resolution.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit sequence for a dwelling or septic work inside Hansen town

  • Building permits are issued by the town building inspector (section 1.6).
  • A county sanitary permit comes first for private septic work and for building permits that need one (county guide).
  • The town's application forms and step-by-step process were not located online in the text reviewed.

  “a county sanitary permit is required before the municipality can issue a building permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Hansen

Town of Hansen 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

  Private sewage (septic) systems on land inside Hansen town; Wood County Planning & Zoning is the administering authority in the town, as in the rest of Wood County

  • Regulation is under Wisconsin's Uniform Plumbing Code, as stated in the county guide.
  • The town's ordinance compilation lists no septic or sanitary ordinance, so the county program is the source for this topic.

  “the wood county planning & zoning office is the county agency responsible for the regulation and inspection of septic systems as well as the issuance of sanitary permits.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, repair, or alteration of a private sewage system on land inside Hansen town

  • A licensed plumber must sign the application before a permit issues (step two of the guide).
  • Application requires a soil report, approved plans, a recorded holding tank agreement if needed, and the fee (step three of the guide).
  • Building permit from the town can be applied for only after the county sanitary permit card is issued.

  “the sanitary permit is the regulatory device for assuring compliance with state statutes and the wisconsin uniform plumbing code and for granting permission to install a private sewage system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or inspection requirements inside Hansen town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Hansen town
• Local zoning — Whether Hansen town adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside the town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Hansen town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Hansen 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.