Zoning Administration
Sanitary Permits

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If you are planning a new construction project in Outagamie County where public sewer service is not available, a Private On-site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) is required. A sanitary permit is required for these systems to ensure that wastes do not cause a public health hazard. A sanitary permit must be obtained prior to a building permit, prior to the start of construction and all appropriate fees must be paid. The process to obtain a sanitary permit is as follows:

1. Have soil tests taken, unless holding tank is to be installed. These tests must be performed by a Certified Soil Tester (CST) licensed by the State of Wisconsin. A list of CSTs who work in Outagamie County can be obtained from the Zoning Department.

2. If the soils are suitable for a conventional (in-ground septic system) and the system is to serve a one or two family residence, the county can issue a sanitary permit without a state plan review.

3. If the soils dictate a mound system, in-ground pressure system, at-grade system or a holding tank, the plans may  be either approved by Outagamie County or the Wisconsin Department of Commerce before the county can issue a sanitary permit.

4. Plans for both county and state (if required) approval must be drawn by an architect, engineer, plumbing designer or the master plumber installing the system. A list of septic system installers who work in Outagamie County is available from the Zoning Department.

5. Completed plans and soil tests must be submitted to the Zoning Department along with the appropriate fees for approval.  Other necessary permits, such as Stormwater/Erosion Control, may also be required prior to issuance of a sanitary permit.

6. Once approved, the sanitary permit should be taken to the local building inspector who can then issue a building permit.

Please remember that arranging for soil tests, review of permit applications, site inspections, etc. takes time. Plan your building project well in advance to account for these requirements.

Excavation, which includes top soil stripping, is considered start of construction and is prohibited until a sanitary permit and building permit are obtained. Starting construction without these permits will result in a double permit fee as a penalty.  A driveway or access to the property may be installed.

The application for a sanitary permit is typically the first step in the construction sequence. The sanitary permit application can be found at http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivForms.html website or obtained through a master plumber.  Later steps in the sequence, such as the request for an address, will require an accurate legal description. It is important that a certified survey map or other instrument used for describing the land be available at the time the sanitary permit is applied for. This will ensure a smooth flow through the subsequent development process steps.

For further information on the sanitary permit process, please contact either Lesley Roll or Doug Depies at the Zoning Department by e-mail or by calling 832-5255.