Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Suamico, Wisconsin

Village of Suamico’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, removal, demolition, and covered electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and HVAC work on buildings and structures in Suamico village.

  • The stated rule is except as provided in § 16.04(2).
  • A permit must be obtained from the Building Inspector before covered work begins.

  “no person shall excavate for, erect or construct any building or structure [...] without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspector.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Electrical work by a homeowner in an owner-occupied single-family dwelling or its accessory buildings in Suamico village.

  • The homeowner must prove competency to comply with applicable rules and regulations.
  • The allowance is only beyond the main building disconnect.

  “Any homeowner may personally perform electrical work in an owner-occupied single-family dwelling or accessory buildings, beyond the main building disconnect”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Suamico village.

  • The Village adopts state codes and subsequent amendments by reference.
  • The Uniform Dwelling Code adoption excepts SPS 320.05(1), (3), (4), and (5).

  “The following State of Wisconsin codes and subsequent amendments and recodifications thereto are hereby adopted by reference and incorporated in this code as if fully set forth.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction projects in Suamico village whenever an inspection type applies.

  • The applicant or authorized representative must request inspections after each construction phase.
  • Work may proceed if an inspection is not performed within two business days after proper notice, or when the Building Inspector allows it because specific circumstances prevent timely inspection.

  “The following inspections shall be completed for all projects whenever applicable.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building, structure, or portion thereof erected, constructed, altered, enlarged, moved, or converted to another use in Suamico village.

  • The Building Inspector may specifically authorize an exception.
  • Temporary or partial occupancy may be approved for up to six months if the building is in substantial compliance and presents no reasonable public health, safety, or welfare threat.

  “Except as specifically authorized by the Building Inspector, a Certificate of Occupancy is required prior to the occupancy or use of any building or structure”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Village of Suamico.

  • The code applies together with greater restrictions established by other Village, federal, state, and county laws.

  “The jurisdiction of this code shall include all lands, persons, and waters within the Village.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family and two-family residential dwellings in the Village's residential and agricultural zoning classifications.

  • The required minimum is the finished space above grade for each separate residential or agricultural zoning classification.

  “Minimum size of a residential dwelling shall be the finished space above grade, as required by each separate residential or agricultural zoning classification.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots for family dwellings in Suamico village zoning districts.

  • A nonconforming recorded lot may be occupied by a single-family dwelling if it meets Brown County Code requirements.

  “the minimum number of square feet per family dwelling required for the district in which it is located”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured Home Class II occupancy inside Suamico village.

  • Outside a manufactured housing park, a hardship or immediate necessity permit may be issued for no more than 90 days on one premises in any 12-month period.
  • The permit requires written consent and sanitary-facility information; a vacant-lot application must identify safe water and a toilet within 200 feet.

  outside-park permit duration: <= 90 days (For any one premises in any 12-month period.) · vacant-lot toilet distance: <= 200 feet (Safe water supply and toilet from proposed Class II manufactured-home location.)

  “All occupied Manufactured Homes Class II not located in a manufacturer housing park shall be subject to the remaining regulation of this code.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  A parcel inside Suamico village adjacent to a sanitary sewer main and having a building usable for human habitation.

  • Connection is required within six months after written Village notice.
  • A connection permit is required before connecting to the municipal sewerage system.

  connection deadline after written notice: 6 months (For an owner of a qualifying parcel adjacent to a sanitary sewer main.)

  “All persons connecting to the municipal sewerage system must first receive a connection permit from the department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Suamico village.

  • Land divisions creating lots under 10 acres must comply.
  • The ordinance excludes will/court-order transfers, leases of no more than 10 years, mortgages/easements, specified adjoining-owner exchanges, and divisions producing parcels over 10 acres.

  regulated land-division lot size: < 10 acres (All divisions resulting in lots less than 10 acres must comply.)

  “Compliance. All divisions of land resulting in lots less than 10 acres shall comply with this chapter.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development, repair, modification, additions, or use changes in Suamico village floodplain-regulated areas.

  • A land-use permit must be obtained before the stated work begins.
  • The application is submitted to the Zoning Administrator and requires general information and a scaled site-development plan.

  “A land use permit shall be obtained before any development; repair, modification or addition to an existing structure; or change in the use of a building or structure”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals inside Suamico village.

  • A completed application and required fee are required before a permit may issue.
  • The application must include a state tourist-rooming-house license, inspection form, proof of insurance, floor plan, site plan, and other listed items.
  • Each permit and license runs July 1 through June 30; forthcoming-year applications are due June 1.

  “No permit shall be issued unless the completed application form is accompanied by payment of the required fee.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications in Suamico village.

  • Application must be submitted by the property owner or authorized agent.
  • The Building Inspector may require other information required by law or by the inspector.

  “An application for a permit shall be submitted by the property owner or authorized agent and shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the Building Inspector.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Suamico or Brown County directly.

• Lot coverage — Land inside Suamico village.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Suamico village.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Suamico village.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Suamico village.
• Who permits septic — Private onsite wastewater systems serving land inside Suamico village.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Suamico means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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