Zoning

General Information

Oconto County Zoning is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the following ordinances and programs: Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Ordinance, Wisconsin Fund Grant Program, Floodplain Ordinance, Animal Waste Management Ordinance, Shoreland/Wetland Zoning Ordinance, and Non-Metallic Mining Reclamation Ordinance.

We provide information and assist with applications for county permits for land use, minor structures, assist in assigning Emergency 911 property addresses, process sanitary permits, issue sign permits, process applications for public hearing actions such as zone changes, conditional use permits and variances, conduct certified survey and plat reviews and assist state and federal agencies with their permitting when needed. In addition, Oconto County Zoning also conducts onsite inspections, issues violation notices and coordinates all phases of public hearing actions for the County Planning and Zoning Committee and the County Board of Adjustment.

Zoning Links

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Wetlands (Information on Regulations, Wetland Maps, Functionality, Wetland Science) - Wetlands are nurseries for fish and wildlife, purifiers for lakes, rivers and groundwater, and storage for floodwaters. They're also playgrounds for birders, hikers, hunters and paddlers, and a storehouse for carbon, one of the greenhouse gases fueling climate change.
Safety and Buildings Division - Uniform Dwelling Code (One- and Two-Family Dwelling) Program - The Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980. Consultation and education are provided concerning Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) construction standards and inspection procedures. Building materials are evaluated for conformance with standards. UDC inspection and contractor credentials are administered.

Floodplain FAQs

What is a “flood zone determination” as it relates to a mortgage?

Flood Zone Determination is a process used by lending institutions to meet their federal banking regulation requirements to make an evaluation of whether or not the structure they are processing for a loan is in the one percent chance flood hazard area. Lenders can do this evaluation themselves or, as most elect to do, hire such service provided by firms that make flood zone determinations their sole business.

What is the Flood Zone for Oconto County?

The 100- and 500-year Flood Zones may be viewed at the Oconto County Land and Water Resources Department. Unofficial maps may be viewed on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.

How do lenders find flood zone determination companies?

The Federal Emergency Management's (FEMA) website provides a list of companies that are in the business of providing flood determination services. FEMA makes the following note regarding the list: "FEMA does not attest to the quality or accuracy of the services offered. That must be determined by potential users of those services. FEMA does not approve, endorse, regulate, or otherwise sanction any company on this list."

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