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

Town of Wescott’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings within Chapter 89's scope inside Wescott town.

  • Structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems requiring extensions require permits.
  • Restoration or repair to a previous Code-compliant condition, re-siding, re-roofing, and finishing interior surfaces are exempt.
  • Two copies of plans are required when the application is filed.

  “Building permit required. No person shall build, add onto or alter any building within the scope of this article without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the Building Inspector. Any structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems that require extensions shall require permits.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  One- and two-family dwellings, specified alterations, residential accessory buildings exceeding 200 square feet, and camping units within the scope of Chapter 89 inside Wescott town.

  • Chapter 89 scope covers one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980; alterations or additions to pre-June 1, 1980 dwellings; garages and residential accessory buildings exceeding 200 square feet; and camping units as defined in SPS 327.08.

  adopted code: Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapters SPS 320-325 and 327 (All amendments thereto are adopted and incorporated by reference.)

  “Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code adopted. The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, Chapters SPS 320-325 and 327 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code ("Code") and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference and shall apply to all buildings within the scope of this article.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction governed by Wescott Chapter 89.

  • Applicant or authorized representative must request inspections.
  • Construction may not proceed beyond an inspection point until inspection is completed, except where inspection has not occurred within two business days and the applicant and Building Inspector otherwise agree.
  • Required sequence includes footing/foundation, rough, insulation, final, and concurrent erosion-control inspections.

  inspection response time: <= 2 business days (Final inspection excluded; construction may proceed if otherwise agreed after the period.)

  “Inspection notice. The applicant or an authorized representative shall, in writing or orally, request inspections of the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall perform the requested inspection within two business days after notification, except the final inspection. Construction shall not proceed beyond the point of inspection until the inspection has been completed.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Wescott, Wisconsin.

  • Chapter 285 was adopted by the Town Board and amended through April 25, 2018; subsequent amendments are noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Wescott 2-16-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03, as amended through 4-25-2018. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Wescott town.

  • The code identifies Waterfront Residential, Residential, Rural Residential, Manufactured Home, Manufactured Home Park, Agricultural/Woodlands/Open Space, Business, Industrial, and Institutional/Semi-Public districts.
  • The permitted/conditional-use table identifies uses by Wescott zoning district.

  “§ 285-18 Agricultural/Woodlands/Open Space (A/W/OS) District purpose. § 285-19 Business (B) District. § 285-20 Industrial (I) District purpose. § 285-21 Institutional/Semi-Public (I/SP) District purpose.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions, subdivisions, and replats of unincorporated land in the Town of Wescott.

  • The chapter does not apply to the stated exclusions, including transfers by will or court order, leases not exceeding 10 years, mortgages, easements, specified boundary adjustments, cemetery plats, assessor's plats, and public-agency acquisitions or exchanges.
  • Compliance with the chapter, Shawano County Subdivision Ordinance, Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 236, development plans, or the official map is required.

  “Compliance. No person, firm or corporation shall divide land which results in a land division, subdivision or replat without compliance with this chapter, the Shawano County Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 236 of the Wisconsin Statutes, Town and County Development Plans or the Official Map of the Town of Wescott.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access or culverts in public rights-of-way inside Wescott town.

  • Applies to installation, relocation, or replacement.
  • County, state, or federal highway accesses may have additional approvals; the most restrictive applicable requirements control.
  • Written application, a scaled site plan, and a Town Board-established fee are required.

  “This chapter applies to all driveway access and culverts located within public rights-of-way in the Town. No driveway access and/or culvert in a public right-of-way may hereinafter be installed, relocated or replaced without a driveway access/culvert permit as provided herein.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Wescott building permits.

  • Fees are determined by Town Board resolution and paid when the permit issues.
  • For building work expected to exceed $50,000, the applicant must deposit a $1,000 cash bond at application.

  cash bond: 1000 USD (Modification, remodeling, or new construction anticipated to exceed $50,000.)

  “Permit fees. Building permit fees shall be determined by resolution of the Town Board and shall be paid at the time the building permit is issued.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits under Wescott Chapter 89.

  • Applicant submits two copies of plans when filing.
  • For a preliminary construction permit, plans must be submitted, a Town Board-established preliminary fee paid, and the owner must execute the specified waiver, release, and acknowledgment.
  • A building permit expires two years after issuance if the dwelling exterior has not been completed.

  “Submission of plans. The applicant shall submit two copies of plans at the time the building permit application is filed.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Wescott

Town of Wescott 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 onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Wescott town.

  • Shawano County states that its POWTS ordinance is county-wide.

  “In addition, the Shawano County Planning and Development Department has jurisdiction County-wide with the following Ordinances: POWTS (Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Ordinance), Non-Metallic Mining Ordinance, Floodplain Ordinance, Shoreland-Wetland Zoning Ordinance, Land Division Ordinance, 911 Uniform Property Numbering System Ordinance, and Citation Authority Ordinance.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Structures with plumbing inside Wescott town.

  • Applicant must hire a plumber to complete the sanitary-permit application.
  • A 911 address is required.
  • The plumber must submit the application to Shawano County.
  • Fee depends on system type and review required.

  “A sanitary permit is required for all structures which will have plumbing in it. This will require hiring a plumber to complete the sanitary permit application, a 911 address is required to complete this application, and the plumber will need to submit the application to the County. The fee is based off of the type of system to be installed and the review required.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Hunting, fishing, or recreational structures inside Wescott town using a privy or non-plumbing toilet.

  • A County privy permit or non-plumbing toilet permit is required.

  “If you are building a Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Structure a Privy Permit or Non-Plumbing Toilet Permit is required from the County.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Floodplain development inside Wescott town.

  • Shawano County states its Floodplain Ordinance has county-wide jurisdiction.
  • Structures in a floodway are prohibited; floodplain construction may be possible depending on zone and required steps such as floodproofing.
  • A flood-zone-specific hydrologic and hydraulic study may be required.

  “Building of structures in a flood way is prohibited, building in a floodplain may be possible depending on the zone, and if appropriate steps are followed such as flood proofing.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Wescott town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Wescott town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Wescott town.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Wescott town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Wescott 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 Wescott 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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