Home Page: Freq Asked Questions
When do I need a Zoning Permit ?
A zoning permit is required at any point that you are making an improvement to your property (ie: fence, addition, alteration, dwelling, shed, garage, basement, etc.) Please refer to Chapter 14 of the Conover General Code (Zoning Ordinance). For zoning purposes, a building and structure is the same . . . "Structure" definition is a building, facility or other unit that is constructed or otherwise erected. "Building" definition is any structure that is intended to be a permanent accession to real property; that is designed or used for sheltering people, animals, plants, for storing property or for working, office, parking, sales or display space, regardless of any contribution that the structure makes to the production process in it; that in physical appearance, is annexed to that real property; that is covered by a roof or encloses space; that is not readily moved or disassembled; and that is commonly known to be a building because of its appearance and because of the materials of which it is constructed.
Do I need a zoning permit for the tarped type shelter placed over framework even if it is light-weight and moveable?
YES, this is a structure that is erected and can be used for multiple purposes and is creating space for your use. Even though it may seem portable and moveable, if it is not up one week (month or season) and down the next, this is considered permanent and requires a permit. In other words,
if not able to move this item without any assistance from human or machine,
it would not be considered mobile.
Where do I start in the process of obtaining a zoning permit?
You start at the local level which is the Town or community inwhich the structure will be located or the working will be done. The local authority can be more restrictive than the County. Once you have the "OK" of the Town by way of an approved permit, you proceed to the County level. If you are building a structure for human habitation (home, cabin or cottage), you are required to obtain in addition to the County Sanitary and Zoning Permits, a Wisconsin Administrative Permit. This permit is obtained from Northwinds Inspections LTD. You can contact them by calling 715-539-3000.
What are the minimum standards and rule of thumb for building in Conover?
You must have a minimum of 200 feet of water frontage to be a conforming lot for construction unless the parcel was recorded prior to August 14, 1977. No parcel may be divided creating a lot with less than 200 feet of water frontage (if applicable) or 60,000 sf. of area. Any structure must be setback 75 feet from water and 75 feet from the center of any public roadway. Accessory buildings 5 feet from side lot lines, dwellings must be 15 feet setback from side lot lines. All dwellings must have a minimum of 700 sf of living area.
What does the time period of the permit constitute?
Zoning permits for both Vilas County and the Town of Conover are for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance. In accordance with the Town General Code, the exterior of the structure must be in a completed condition. This means, the exterior has been sided ..... (no unfinished wood, celotex or like underlayment materials showing), roofing complete, windows and doors completed and finished. In simple terms, it should look on the outside like the job is DONE! The finishing of the interior with flooring, cabinets, doors wall coverings etc. can be beyond the permit period.
What about not being able to meet the deadline?
A zoning permit can be extended one time. This is done by re-applying for the permit from the Town and from Vilas County. Failure to do so, can and will result in a penalty (can be doubling of the fee) and any violation of the regulations can constitute a penalty. Each day a violation exists, shall constitute a distinct and separate violation and forfeitures will apply accordingly (Code 14.15(b).
What about areas on the application that I am not sure where to get the data asked for?
There is information on the permit application that may be questionable to you. In almost all instances, the Zoning Administrator can help you with them and most likely has complete access to this information becuase of the many positions within the Town inwhich the person has. The Permit Administrator can get your legal description, computer number, your zoning district and assist you with the fire number application.
What about the fire number?
The fire number is the physical location which you must use for someone finding you - example: ambulance call, fire call, delivery via some carrier like United Parcel Service or FedEx. It only becomes an address when you have properly filed for and requested mail delivery from the Conover Post Office (715-477-1354).
The fire number is obtained now (effective Jun 2007) via efforts of the Local Liason with Vilas County Mapping from a uniform grid. Names of roads and sequence of numbers is very important because of the enhanced 911 services. Once a fire number has been issued, the cost of the sign and post will be billed to the property owner at cost.
Special Note: Currently, the fire numbers have the name of the road on the top of the sign in 1.50 inch lettering. Future signs will not have the name of the road on it - instead, it will have the words "Twn Conover." The new standard will be white numbers and letters on a green background consisting of vinyl over aluminum. The estimated cost of a sign is $30 and the heavy-weight steel channel post is $8.95. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the fire signs for their property.
What if my home/cottage is just seasonal here in Conover?
Being seasonal, effects you in several ways. If this is not your primary residence, you are not entitled to the Wisconsin State Lottery Credit, you are not eligible to vote in more than one location*, you must notify the U. S. Postal Service of your where-abouts. Example, you live in Florida but come to your Conover Cottage/Home each summer when kids are out of school. In Florida before the time comes for you to leave, submit your forwarding card (PS Form 3575). The start date should be the date you will no longer get your mail at the Florida address. PS Form 8076 is an Authorization to Hold Mail and can be sent to the Conover Post Office to hold any mail that may be coming there and to safely protect your mail should you have any delay or problems in arriving in Conover. The card should not have a date of arrival - Just check box (B) indicating you will pick up mail when you arrive and then tell the Conover Post Office that they can start deliveriing to your Conover mail box.
At the end of the Summer, a Forwarding Card should be filed here to give us information on where to send mail to you at your home in Florida. The start date would be the day you leave and no longer get mail in your mailbox. It is a good idea and recommended, that you remove your mailbox from the edge of the road to protect it from damage from the winter snow. Because boxes of persons remaining in God's Country for the Winter are obligated to clear snow from the box so that the carrier can approach with a car without trouble, those boxes do not receive the heavy blow of snow from plows as would a box that never gets shoveled out. Much of the snow from the center of the road must be forced from the plow blade to the ditch line and depending upon the snow density and water content, the force can easily detroy a mailbox without any truck or blade hitting it.
After completing the PS Form 3575, you can mail a yellow Hold Card PS 8076 to your Florida Post Office so that they can hold mail coming with your Florida Address on it and at the same time, can stop forwarding that mail back up to Conover. When you safely arrive back in Florida, you can stop into your local Post Office, pick up accumulated mail and have them resume delivery to you there. That way, no mail will be heading North and South cris-corssing because these people do not know where you are at. Any questions you might have can be answered by your local Post Office Personnel or you can visit them on line at: www.usps.com.
Note: When ever you are using an ending date, check with the Post Office to make sure that date does not exceed the period of time for that particular service. There is a difference between a temporary and permanent move. A card is required for every LAST NAME and BUSINESS NAME that has been receiving mail.
There is a Difference
54519 is the Town of Conover. There is no such thing as the "Township of Conover." In fact, the State of Wisconsin does not have such a critter. Centuries ago, the term Township was referred to as a 6 mile by 6 mile section of land. This has been done away with in Wisconsin. There are Townships in other states like Illinois but we won't go there on this topic. Just remember, we are the TOWN OF CONOVER.
Burning Permits
Burning permits are issued by Wardens of the DNR. Permits are required for all burning when there is an absence of snow. You are prohibited from burning on Sundays and Legal Holidays. You should never burn when it is windy, never leave a fire unattended and make sure it is cold before you walk away. Piles should not exceed 6 ft. x 6 ft. and an area a minimum of 10 feet around the pile to be burned should be provided. Keep fighting tools and a water supply on hand. Burning of plastics, garbage, asphalt, treated or painted wood, rubber or oily substances is prohibited. You must call 888-947-2876 before each time you start a fire - even with a permit. Your permit can be had a Jensen-Akins Hardware and at Burnt Bridge Tavern.