Vilas County Zoning & Planning is resposible for enforcing zoning and land use regulations throught the unincoporated areas of Vilas County, with the exception of areas in the Towns of Lac du Flambeau, Manitowish Waters, and Preque Isle located greater than 1000 feet from a lake, pond or flowage, or 300 feet from a river or stream. For questions regarding specific properties, please contact the appropriate Deputy Zoning Administrator for that town. Click here for a list of Deputy Zoning Administrators.
Forms
- Zoning Permit Application (updated 5/14/2018)
- (This form is used for Zoning Permit Application, Demolition Permit Application, and Shoreland Alteration Permit Application)
Note: Additional permits for asbestos and/or lead abatement may be required from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or the Wisconsin Department of Health Services prior to begining the demolition of a structure. Please click here or check the demolition section of our Solid Waste & Recycling Program Page for contact information.
Note: In certain cases when completing a Vegetative & Stormwater Mitigation Agreement, an affadavit is required to be recorded with the Register of Deeds. Please contact the Planning & Zoning Department for more information.
Information
The towns of Arbor Vitae, Lac du Flambeau, Land o' Lakes, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle, and St. Germain have town zoning ordinances and town permits may be required for all projects in these areas. See the links to local government sites below for more information on zoning requirements in these communities.
Vilas County Handouts
- Existing Structures Closer Than 75' to OHWM
- Fee Schedule
- Lakes List
- Other Agency Contacts
- Mitigation Information Sheet
- Permit Checklist
- Plumbers
- Pumpers
- Setback Requirements
- Soil Testers
- Town & Uniform Dwelling Code Contacts
- Uniform Dwelling Code Reqirements
- Zoning Use Brochure
- Zoning Use Table
- Deputy Zoning Administrator Schedule
Other Agency Handouts
- The Water’s Edge: Helping Fish and Wildlife on Your Waterfront Property (WisDNR)
- Ordinary High Water Mark Information (WisDNR)
- Ordinary High Water Mark Brochure (WisDNR)
- Rain Gardens: A How-To Manual for Homeowners (WisDNR)
- Sensible Shoreland Lighting (WisDNR)
- Natural Shoreline Habitat Brochure (MDEQ)
- Restore Your Shore (MnDNR)
- Controlling Runoff and Erosion from Your Waterfront Property
- US Dept of Agriculture NRCS Web Soil Survey (USDA)
- Shoreland Zoning Over the Years (UWEX CLUE)
- Wet Boathouse Repair (WisDNR)
- Artificial Wetland Permit Exemption Guidance Document (WIsDNR)
- Non-Federal Wetland Permit Exemption Guidance Document (WisDNR)
Note: All dry boathouses are subject to regulation by the Vilas County Zoning & Planning Department. Wet boat houses and boat shelters erected over the water are subject to regulation by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Videos
- Shoreland Zoning Video Part 1: Introduction to Shoreland Zoning & Recent Changes to Required Shoreland Lot Sizes (UWEX CLUE)(Video)
- Shoreland Zoning Video Part 2: Changes to Shoreland Setbacks, Vegetation Protection & Impervious Surface Standards (UWEX CLUE)(Video)
- Shoreland Zoning Video Part 3: Changes to Standards for Buildings Located Close to the Shoreline (UWEX CLUE)(Video)
- Shoreland Zoning Video Full Length (UWEX CLUE)(Video)
Ordinances
- General Zoning Ordinance
- Shoreland Zoning Ordinance
- Floodplain Zoning Ordinance
- Metallic Mining Ordinance
- Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation Ordinance
- Private Sewage System Ordinance
- Recycling Ordinance
- Subdivision Control Ordinance
- Wireless Communications Ordinance
Building Codes
Vilas County Zoning & Planning does not enforce the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling (UDC) or commercial building codes The UDC is enforced by inspectors hired by each town, and the commerical building code is enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Use the contacts below for more information about the UDC or commercial building codes.
| Arbor Vitae, Boulder Jct, Cloverland, Conover, Lac du Flambeau, Land o' Lakes, Lincoln, Manitowish Waters, Plum Lake, Presque Isle, Washingtion, Winchester |
Phelps, St. Germain, City of Eagle River |
Commercial Buildings |
| RC Inspection Agency 6642 CTH W Winchester, WI 54557 (715) 543-2094 www.rcinspectionagencyllc.com |
Baas Inspection Agency 9695 County Road A Alvin, WI 54542 (715) 545-3292 |
Wisconsin DSPS Ryan Geiger (608) 235-7405 ryan.geiger@wisconsin.gov www.dsps.wi.gov |
Land Use Planning
Vilas County Zoning & Planning is the agency responsible for countywide comprehensive planning under Wis. Stat. §66.1001. In conjunction with the fifteen local municipalities in Vilas County, and the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission we have adopted the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, which includes the Farmland Preservation Plan.
Vilas County Plans & Maps
- Vilas County 2010 Comprehensive Plan
- Map 7-1 - Current Land Use
- Map 7-2 - Generalized Future Land Use
- Map 7-3 - Ownership
- Vilas County Farmland Preservation Plan
For more information about the Vilas County Farmland Preservation Plan, contact the Vilas County Land & Water Conservation Department at (715) 479-3747 or visit www.vilasconservation.org
Town Plans
- Arbor Vitae
- Boulder Junction
- Cloverland
- Conover
- Lac du Flambeau
- Land o' Lakes
- Lincoln
- Manitowish Waters
- Phelps
- Plum Lake
- Presque Isle
- St. Germain
- Washington
- Winchester
Floodplain Zoning
In 2012, Vilas County adopted the Vilas County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance and was accepted into the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This allows Vilas County property owners to purchase flood insurance from FEMA if they are located in a flood hazard area. It also restricts development in the floodplains to help minimize potential loss of life and property in a flood event. For more information on the NFIP or the floodplain zoning in general, please contact Dave Sadenwasser in the Vilas County Zoning & Planning Department at (715) 479-3734 or dasade@vilascountywi.gov.
A home in the 100 year floodplain has a 26% chance of being flooded at least once during the course of a 30 year mortgage. Click here to learn more.
- Vilas County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- National Flood Insuance Program (NFIP) (FEMA)
- NFIP Hotline (888) 379-9531
- FEMA Disaster Hotline (800) 621-FEMA
- Wisconsin DNR Floodplain Management Program (WisDNR)
- Vilas County VMapp
- DNR Suface Water Data Viewer (WisDNR)
- FEMA Map Service Center (FEMA)
Annual Reports
Links
Vilas County Sites
- Vilas County Government
- Vilas County Land & Water Conservation Department
- Vilas County Online Mapping
- Vilas County Register of Deeds Public Access
- Vilas County Forestry, Recreation & Land Department
- Vilas County Public Health Department
- Vilas County Sheriff's Department
- Vilas County Highway Department
State of Wisconsin Sites
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
- DNR Asbestos Removal and Notification Program
- DNR Office Locations and Contact Information
- DHS (Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services) Asbestos Program
- DHS Lead-Safe Wisconsin
- DNR Wetland Identification and Confirmation Service
- DNR Wetland Delineation Professional Assurance Program
- DNR Wetland Permit Exemption Page
- Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
- DSPS Personal Onsite Waste Treatment System (POWTS) Program
- DSPS Universal Dwelling Code (UDC) Program
- DSPS Commercial Building Program
- UW Extension - Center for Land Use Education
- UW Extension - Lakes Partnership
Local Government Sites
- Town of Arbor Vitae
- Town of Boulder Junction
- Town of Cloverland
- Town of Conover
- City of Eagle River
- Town of Lac du Flambeau
- Lac du Flambeau Tribe
- Town of Land o' Lakes
- Town of Lincoln
- Town of Manitowish Waters
- Town of Phelps
- Town of Plum Lake
- Town of Presque Isle
- Town of St. Germain
- Town of Washington
- Town of Winchester
Miscellaneous Sites
- North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC)
- Baas Inspection Agency
- RC Inspection Agency
- Wisconsin Association of Lakes
- Wisconsin Wetlands Association
- Vilas County Lakes & Rivers Association
- Wisconsin County Code Administrators (WCCA)
- Wisconsin Healthy Lakes Initiative
