Transcript Zoning, Permits and Codes!

WELCOME
Getting Smart About Home Modifications
A Webinar Series Sponsored by the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Webinar #5
Permits, Zoning and Codes!
WITH
Matt Tucker, Mike VanErem & Dave Porterfield
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GOALS
Establish a basic understanding of:
 The Purpose of Zoning
 Obtaining a Permit;
 when you need it
 How to obtain it
Presenters
 Matt Tucker
Zoning Administrator
 Mike Van Erem
Plan Review Specialist
 Moderator: Dave Porterfield
Property Developer, Movin’ Out, Inc.
Zoning: definition
The division of lands by legislative
regulations, into areas or zones,
which specify allowable land uses
and size restrictions.
Zoning: Why do we have it?
Zoning is a tool used by a town, village,
city or county to help manage how
the land within its borders is used.
Zoning: How does it work
Areas of land are designated as districts
or zones.
Each type of district or zone allows for a
different type of land use and has
specific area requirements.
Zoning: Why is it done?
Zoning is the rule of government to regulate the use
and development of lands in order to promote the
health, safety and general welfare of the public.
It is enacted to
 help guide and control development,
 to implement long-range planning goals and
objectives
 to address specific development issues that are
important to the community.
Zoning: Is it required?
Not all units of local government use
zoning, but they have the legal
authority to do so if they wish.
Zoning: How is it administered?
 Each municipality administers and
enforces their own local zoning rules
 Federal and State government
mandate certain uniform regulations:
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Shore land
Floodplain
Wetlands
Airport height and use restrictions
Zoning: Accessibility Modifications
 What you need to know, in general, when
planning a home modification project
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Setback requirements
Height restrictions
Required yards
Historic properties or districts
Design requirements
Maintenance regulations
Private deed restrictions
Zoning: Accessibility Modifications
 What you need to know, specifically,
when planning a home modification project
 Property line locations
 Building locations
 Site-related features that may be regulated
by local zoning code such as
 Driveway, fence or tree/vegetation locations
 Special conditions of approval for design or
placement, such as urban design or historic
district rules
Zoning: Who Do You Work With?
 Local government offices
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City
Village
Township
County
 Websites –
Google or Bing to learn more
 Many agencies have developed sites that
contain most or all of their zoning
requirements
Zoning: What is a Typical Process?
 Timelines and process vary by community and
by the complexity of the project
 Get to know your zoning official(s) prior to
doing a project to learn about the local
process.
 Control YOUR part of the process by being
prepared with plans and information that will
be helpful to staff who review and approve
projects.
Building Codes and Permits
 In order to carry out a building
project, a local building permit is
required to assure that what you plan
to build will be in compliance with
building codes.
Building Code: Defined
 The building code is a “minimum
standard” that insures that all
projects are safe.
Wisconsin Building Codes
 Wisconsin uses what is called the
Uniform Dwelling Code for all 1 and 2
family homes.
 Individual communities can be MORE
restrictive, if they choose.
Building Code Enforcement
 Larger municipalities have building
inspectors.
 The local building inspector issues
building permits and makes inspections
 Some municipalities hire private firms
to do their inspections
 If a municipality chooses not to
enforce the code, the State will do it.
more
Building Code Enforcement
 The Uniform Dwelling Code is
required to be enforced for all 1 and 2
family homes in the State of
Wisconsin built after 1980.
 Any enforcement of code for homes
built prior to 1980 is up to each
municipality.
Building Codes and Permits:
Home Modifications
 There is no uniform process and no
uniform fee applied to acquiring and
paying for building permits.
 Every municipality can, and usually
does, do things differently!
Building Permit: “Typical” Process*
 Plan your project
 Draw up plans – draw to scale; show door
sizes, dimensions and all structural
information. For a ramp, you typically need a
floor plan, cross-section, elevation and site
plan.
 Meet with staff – plans may be reviewed on the
spot and a permit issued
 Permit staff will then run through inspections
for the project
*Remember there is no uniform process so the
municipality where you are working could be quite
different. Meet your building/permit staff before
starting a project so you know what will be required.
Finding Who to Work With
 Each municipality should have some sort of
“building department.” Ask the city, village,
township or county administrative office.
 If you can’t figure out who/what the
building dept. is in the municipality where
you want to do a project, contact the
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce, Safety and Buildings Division at
608 266 3151
Things to Remember
 Always call before starting a project on a home; most
of the time a permit IS required
 Plans/drawings are required to get a permit.
 Working without a permit can result in fines and/or
reconstruction of the project.
 Ramps require frost footings 48 inches below ground
(this is often missed!)
 Accessibility codes for 1 and 2 family homes are very
minimal. Do not rely on building codes or permits to
assume your project will work for the person using it.
 Example: required ramp slope is no more than 1:8.
However, this is unlikely to work for most people!
Questions?
There is a short lag between the
time you type a question and
the time we receive the
question, so to remind you
where to find the information
from this presentation in the
future…
Getting Smart About Home Modifications
Re-runs
 Power point presentations are located at
www.movin-out.org Click on ‘learn more’
in the first paragraph of the home page
which will lead you to the power point
presentations.
 The webinar itself can be replayed by going
to the DHS webcast catalogue at
http://media1.wi.gov/dhfs/catalog/ Once
there you can search for the presentation
you want by name, date, presenter or
subject, (e.g. Home Modifications).
CONTINUING
WEBINAR SCHEDULE
The final session is next week
Tuesday 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
November 17: Building a Ramp
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