The overall purpose of zoning in Wood County is to protect and promote the health, safety, prosperity,
and general welfare of county residents while enhancing the physical and natural environment of Wood
County. The Wood County Department of Planning and Zoning administers and enforces several types of
zoning in the county. This includes: Shoreland Zoning; Floodplain Zoning; and County General Zoning.
The Department of Planning and Zoning can be contacted at (715) 421-8466 with any questions regarding
zoning within the unincorporated areas of the county. Specific information on each type of zoning is
detailed below.
Shoreland Zoning
Administration of the County Shoreland Ordinance pertains especially to properties within 300 feet of a river
or navigable stream, and within 1,000 feet of a lake. Please note, that many very small streams and ditches
are regulated as required by the State. Riparian Permits may require that a county approved mitigation plan
be in place to offset the negative impacts of excessive impervious surfaces. A mitigation plan is required
when 15% to 30% of the lot size is defined as impervious surface.
Approval by the Wood County Planning and Zoning Office is required prior to starting work within a shoreland or floodplain
zone for the following projects:
- Filling, grading, ponding, lagooning, dredging, excavating and any soil disturbance work
- Sand blanket or pea gravel
- Seawall or riprap
- Additions/alterations to existing structures or reconstruction of structures outside of the current existing building footprint
- New construction of any type
- Retaining walls, sidewalks, driveways or other landscaping
When working near lakes and streams, you are advised to contact the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources in Wisconsin Rapids at 715-421-7800, because in most cases permits will be
needed from them also. In addition, you should contact the municipality that you live in to see if
any permits or approval are required for the projects you have planned.
Wood County
#704 Shoreland Zoning Ordinance
Shoreland Permit Application
The Shoreland GIS map layers, for reference purposed only, can be found at Wood County Land Records Viewer
Floodplain Zoning
In order to determine what lands are subject to flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) has collected data, analyzed it and transferred it to maps. The FEMA maps are called the
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM maps) and show areas that are considered to have a 1% chance of
a flood every year. This event is also commonly called the "100-year flood" or Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
In the Planning & Zoning Office we can help you determine if the property you own or are planning on
purchasing is in the floodplain. Property located in the floodplain may be subject to restrictions on
the use of the property and there may be a need to purchase flood insurance in order to secure a loan
from a lending institution to build, remodel, or purchase property.
In some cases, if we are not able to determine if the property is in the floodplain, you may need to
contact a registered land surveyor to collect elevation data for final determination. Land or real
property can sometimes be taken out of both flood insurance and regulatory requirements by obtaining
a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) from FEMA. A registered land surveyor can help obtain this specialized
document.
Wood County #703
Floodplain Ordinance
Floodplain Permit Application
The Floodplain GIS map layers, for reference purposed only, can be found at Wood County Land Records Viewer
South Wood County Park Dam Failure Analysis Maps
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County General Zoning
Wood County adopted the Wood County Zoning Ordinance in 1934. This ordinance is still in effect in all (22) towns within its jurisdiction.
Wood County #700 Zoning Ordinance
Map of County General Zoning in Wood County
Town Zoning
Due to the narrow scope of the Wood County Zoning Ordinance, (12) of the (22) towns have adopted
their own town zoning ordinances. In such cases, zoning administration and enforcement are the
town’s responsibility, not the Wood County Department of Planning and Zoning. All questions
regarding town zoning and land use requirements should be directed to the respective town.
Map of Town Zoning in Wood County
Municipal Contact Information - Official Wood County Directory
Town Zoning Amendments
Both the town zoning map and the text of the town zoning ordinance may be updated and amended over time. Specifically,
there are two types of zoning amendments:
- Map Amendment/Rezone: a change in the zoning district or boundaries of a zoning district.
- Ordinance Amendment: a change in the wording, context, or substance of the zoning ordinance.
Please note: Because Wood County has a county zoning ordinance, no town zoning ordinance or amendment
of a zoning ordinance may be adopted unless approved by the Wood County Board of Supervisors. This
requirement applies to town map amendments/rezones and ordinance amendments.
The form below shall be completed and submitted to the Wood County Department of Planning and Zoning for any zoning amendments approved at the town level.
Request for Town Zoning Amendment Approval
Town Zoning Resources
*Date approved by Wood County Board of Supervisors.
**Last Update