Ashland County has adopted Zoning Ordinances that are implemented by the Zoning Administration for the purpose of promoting and protecting the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, to further the maintenance of safe and healthful conditions, to prevent and control water pollution, to protect spawning grounds, fish, and aquatic life to control building sites, placement of structures and land uses, to prevent overcrowding of any natural resource such as a lake, river or stream, to preserve shore cover and natural beauty, and to promote the better uses of natural resources. The Ashland County Zoning Committee oversees the operations of the Zoning Administration.
Ashland County Zoning is introducing a new software to the public called Catalis. This software will allow the public to apply for permits online. Currently you can apply for an Accessory Building Permit, Dwelling Permit and a Shoreland Grading Permit online. You will have the option to pay online via credit card. Pay in person and mail in payments are also accepted.
Catalis is an external website that will require an account to access the portal to apply for a permit. Click here to create an account with Catalis.
The state, local town, village, or city may also require permits and have zoning regulations. (Please obtain all permits prior to any construction)
Contact your Town Chairman or Clerk for township permits. Click on link for UDC Inspectors & Permits
Wells - Please contact the WI Department of Natural Resources to obtain a permit for the installation of a well.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
In accordance with the Ashland County Private Sewage System Ordinance adopted April 11, 2001, all septic and holding tanks must be pumped and maintained in accordance with SPS 383. In addition, there is no "Grandfather Clause," that exempts systems. Private Onsite waste treatment systems are required to be code compliant. Ashland County has been working on the sanitary system inventory to comply with the state of Wisconsin requirements for servicing and reporting. Any property owner or renter found violating the Ashland County Private Sewage System Ordinance (Adopted in 2001) will be subject to a fine of $767.50 for the first offense, and $1,267.50 for each additional offense. It is certainly in the best interest of the property owner to be certain they have a code compliant system and that it is being serviced as required. The Zoning office has been responding to complaints and has issued several citations to date. The Zoning office is aware of what system types people have and if they are being serviced or not. As we move forward, there will periodic checks of various locations throughout the townships across the county. It is the goal of Ashland County Zoning to encourage compliance and to assist property owners that do not understand what is required of them.