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

Town of Buchanan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New, enlarged, altered, or repaired one- and two-family dwellings in Buchanan town.

  • A minor repair as defined by § 230-3 does not require a building permit.
  • Application is written on the Wisconsin uniform dwelling permit application.
  • Applicant submits one plan set for all new dwellings or additions.
  • The Building Inspector issues the permit if the work complies with Town ordinances and the Uniform Dwelling Code.

  “Building permits required. No one- or two-family dwelling of which initial construction shall be commenced after the effective date of this article shall be built, enlarged, altered, or repaired unless a building permit for that work shall first be obtained by the owner or his agent from the Building Inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Buchanan town limits.

  • Chapter 525 was adopted by the Town Board and by Outagamie County; the stated effective date is May 28, 2024.

  “Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Buchanan”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Buchanan town.

  • District uses and structures are governed by Chapter 525 and Table 525-31.1; nonlisted uses are prohibited except as provided by the ordinance.

  “AGD General Agricultural District. The intent of this district is to maintain highly productive agricultural lands in agricultural production by effectively limiting encroachment of nonagricultural development; by minimizing land use conflicts between agricultural and nonagricultural uses; and by minimizing public service and facility costs associated with nonagricultural development.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwelling permits in Buchanan town.

  • Application is written on the Wisconsin uniform dwelling permit application.
  • One plan set is required for new dwellings and additions.
  • Permit issuance depends on compliance with Town ordinances and the Uniform Dwelling Code.
  • Issued permit must be conspicuously posted at the building site.

  “Wisconsin uniform dwelling permit application”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Buchanan

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

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal and special-exception uses and structures in the RSF Residential Single-Family District inside Buchanan town.

  minimum lot size: >= 10000 square feet (RSF district.)

  “RSF Residential Single-Family District Use Type Principal and special exception uses and structures Maximum number of uses per lot Unlimited Maximum number of buildings per lot Unlimited Maximum number of dwellings per lot 1 Min. lot size 10,000 sq. ft.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal and special-exception uses and structures in the RSF Residential Single-Family District inside Buchanan town.

  • Side setback is six feet for permitted uses and 15 feet for special-exception uses.

  front building setback: >= 25 feet (RSF district.) · rear building setback: >= 30 feet (RSF district.)

  “Front building setback 25 feet Corner side building setback 25 feet Side building setback 6 feet for permitted uses/15 feet for special exception uses Rear building setback 30 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal and special-exception uses and structures in the RSF Residential Single-Family District inside Buchanan town.

  maximum lot coverage including accessory buildings and structures: <= 50 percent (RSF district.)

  “Maximum height of building 35 ft. Maximum lot coverage (incl. accessory buildings and structures) 50%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal and special-exception uses and structures in the RSF Residential Single-Family District inside Buchanan town.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (RSF district.)

  “Maximum height of building 35 ft. Maximum lot coverage (incl. accessory buildings and structures) 50%”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings in Buchanan town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings in Buchanan town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Buchanan town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Buchanan town.
• Who permits septic — Private onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Buchanan 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Buchanan 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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