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

Town of Sherry’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or substantial renovation of permanent structures inside Sherry town.

  • A Wood County sanitary permit is required before the municipality can issue the building permit.
  • The cited guide directs residents to the Town Chairman for municipality-specific building-permit program information.

  “Wisconsin law requires all municipalities to issue building permits to construct or substantially renovate permanent structures. A COUNTY SANITARY PERMIT IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE MUNICIPALITY CAN ISSUE A BUILDING PERMIT.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Sherry town, which is subject to Wood County Ordinance #700 rather than a town zoning ordinance located in this research.

  • Use is controlled by the parcel's Forestry and Recreation or Unrestricted district.
  • Other applicable law may limit uses in the Unrestricted district.

  “Saratoga, Seneca, Sherry, Sigel, and Wood, are hereby divided into two classes of use districts as follows, to wit: (A) Forestry and Recreation district, and (B) Unrestricted district.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Sherry town subject to Wood County Ordinance #700.

  • District boundaries are shown on the official Wood County zoning map dated November 14, 1934.
  • Use must conform to the regulations for the district in which the parcel lies.

  “the boundaries of the aforesaid two (2) use districts are shown upon the official map of wood county, attached hereto, being designated as the "zoning map showing use districts" wood county, wisconsin, dated november 14th, 1934”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems serving land inside Sherry town.

  • The program is governed by 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 as well as the issuance of sanitary permits and any code enforcement that may be required.”

• Septic permitRequired

  A structure or building for human habitation, or a building requiring a POWTS, inside Sherry town.

  • The appropriate sanitary permit must be applied for and issued by Wood County before work, a use change, or construction commences.
  • Servicing or repair by Wisconsin-licensed individuals may be exempt when reported in advance to the POWTS Administrator.

  “No person shall work on, change the use of, or commence construction on a structure or building designed for human habitation or requiring a POWTS until appropriate sanitary permits have been applied for and issued by Wood County.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installed POWTS inside Sherry town.

  • The installing plumber must permit field inspection after construction and before backfilling.
  • All POWTS using a treatment, holding, or dispersal component must be visibly inspected at least every three years.
  • Owners or service providers must report the completed service event and program fee by the due date.

  maintenance inspection interval: per 3 years (Applies to POWTS that utilize a treatment, holding, or dispersal component.)

  “All POWTS that utilize a treatment, holding or dispersal component shall be visibly inspected at least once every three (3) years to determine if the POWTS is performing as designed, if the component needs to be serviced, and whether wastewater or effluent from the POWTS is ponded on or discharged to the surface of the ground.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Sherry town structures or premises served by a POWTS or holding tank when a WDNR-approved public sanitary sewer becomes available.

  • The POWTS or holding tank must be disconnected within one year.
  • Availability is determined by the municipality or utility having jurisdiction.

  connection deadline: <= 1 year (After a WDNR-approved public sanitary sewer becomes available.)

  “When a public sanitary sewer system approved by the WDNR becomes available to a structure or premises served by a POWTS or holding tank, the POWTS or holding tank shall be disconnected within one year and connection made to the public sanitary sewer system.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A new, revised, or additional driveway/access point from land inside Sherry town to a Wood County Trunk Highway.

  • Requirement applies only to County Trunk Highway access.
  • Applicant must complete the County application and comply with the access-control ordinance.
  • Cost varies; see application.

  “Any time a new access point is needed off of a County Trunk Highway, you will need to obtain a "Highway Access Control Permit". You must also obtain the permit if a revision or addition is made to any existing driveway/access point.”

• Permit processPartial

  Town right-of-way, utility, and building-permit applicants inside Sherry town.

  • The official town page publishes applications but does not state a complete review process, fees, approval authority, or timeframes.

  “APPLICATION TO WORK IN TOWN OF SHERRY RIGHT OF WAY 11.24.25 APPLICATION FOR UTILITY PERMIT in TOWN ROAD Right of Way 3-1-25 AdvancedSBD-5823 Uniform Bldg Permit Appl_Fill-in”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Sherry

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

• Living in an RVAllowed (with conditions)

  Parcels in Wood County Ordinance #700's Unrestricted District inside Sherry town.

  • The use must not conflict with another law.
  • This claim does not apply to the Forestry and Recreation District.

  “in the unrestricted district, any land may be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with law.”

• Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

  Parcels in Wood County Ordinance #700's Unrestricted District inside Sherry town.

  • The use must not conflict with another law.
  • This claim does not apply to the Forestry and Recreation District.

  “in the unrestricted district, any land may be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with law.”

• Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Parcels in Wood County Ordinance #700's Unrestricted District inside Sherry town.

  • The use must not conflict with another law.
  • This claim does not apply to the Forestry and Recreation District.

  “in the unrestricted district, any land may be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with law.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Parcels in Wood County Ordinance #700's Unrestricted District inside Sherry town.

  • The use must not conflict with another law.
  • This claim does not apply to the Forestry and Recreation District.

  “in the unrestricted district, any land may be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with law.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Parcels in Wood County Ordinance #700's Unrestricted District inside Sherry town.

  • The use must not conflict with another law.
  • This claim does not apply to the Forestry and Recreation District.

  “in the unrestricted district, any land may be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with law.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Parcels in Wood County Ordinance #700's Unrestricted District inside Sherry town.

  • The use must not conflict with another law.
  • This claim does not apply to the Forestry and Recreation District.

  “in the unrestricted district, any land may be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with law.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Sherry town.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Sherry town.
• Inspections — General building inspections inside Sherry town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential structures inside Sherry town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Sherry 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.