WELCOME Getting Smart About Home Modifications

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WELCOMEGetting Smart About Home Modifications

• A Webinar Series Sponsored by theWisconsin
  Department of Health Services
• Webinar 5
• Permits, Zoning and Codes!
• WITH
• Matt Tucker, Mike VanErem Dave Porterfield

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Please let us know who you are

• Go to the ASK button in the upper left quadrant
  of your screen. Click on it and it will open a
  dialogue box.
• Type in where you are listening from and how many
  people are listening from the same computer.
• Questions can be asked in the same way and you
  may ask questions as you think of them, at any
  time during the presentation. Well generally
  answer questions at the end of the presentation
  unless there is something specific we need to
  clarify.

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GOALS

• Establish a basic understanding of
• The Purpose of Zoning
• Obtaining a Permit
• when you need it
• How to obtain it

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Presenters

• Matt Tucker
• Zoning Administrator
• Mike Van Erem
• Plan Review Specialist
• Moderator Dave Porterfield
• Property Developer, Movin Out, Inc.

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Zoning definition

• The division of lands by legislative regulations,
  into areas or zones, which specify allowable land
  uses and size restrictions.

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Zoning Why do we have it?

• Zoning is a tool used by a town, village, city or
  county to help manage how the land within its
  borders is used.

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Zoning How does it work

• Areas of land are designated as districts or
  zones.
• Each type of district or zone allows for a
  different type of land use and has specific area
  requirements.

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Zoning Why is it done?

• Zoning is the rule of government to regulate the
  use and development of lands in order to promote
  the health, safety and general welfare of the
  public.
• It is enacted to
• help guide and control development,
• to implement long-range planning goals and
  objectives
• to address specific development issues that are
  important to the community.

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Zoning Is it required?

• Not all units of local government use zoning, but
  they have the legal authority to do so if they
  wish.

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Zoning How is it administered?

• Each municipality administers and enforces their
  own local zoning rules
• Federal and State government mandate certain
  uniform regulations
• Shore land
• Floodplain
• Wetlands
• Airport height and use restrictions

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Zoning Accessibility Modifications

• What you need to know, in general, when planning
  a home modification project
• Setback requirements
• Height restrictions
• Required yards
• Historic properties or districts
• Design requirements
• Maintenance regulations
• Private deed restrictions

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Zoning Accessibility Modifications

• What you need to know, specifically, when
  planning a home modification project
• Property line locations
• Building locations
• Site-related features that may be regulated by
  local zoning code such as
• Driveway, fence or tree/vegetation locations
• Special conditions of approval for design or
  placement, such as urban design or historic
  district rules

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Zoning Who Do You Work With?

• Local government offices
• City
• Village
• Township
• County
• Websites Google or Bing to learn more
• Many agencies have developed sites that contain
  most or all of their zoning requirements

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Zoning What is a Typical Process?

• Timelines and process vary by community and by
  the complexity of the project
• Get to know your zoning official(s) prior to
  doing a project to learn about the local process.
• Control YOUR part of the process by being
  prepared with plans and information that will be
  helpful to staff who review and approve projects.

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Building Codes and Permits

• In order to carry out a building project, a local
  building permit is required to assure that what
  you plan to build will be in compliance with
  building codes.

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Building Code Defined

• The building code is a minimum standard that
  insures that all projects are safe.

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Wisconsin Building Codes

• Wisconsin uses what is called the Uniform
  Dwelling Code for all 1 and 2 family homes.
• Individual communities can be MORE restrictive,
  if they choose.

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Building Code Enforcement

• Larger municipalities have building inspectors.
• The local building inspector issues building
  permits and makes inspections
• Some municipalities hire private firms to do
  their inspections
• If a municipality chooses not to enforce the
  code, the State will do it.
• more

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Building Code Enforcement

• The Uniform Dwelling Code is required to be
  enforced for all 1 and 2 family homes in the
  State of Wisconsin built after 1980.
• Any enforcement of code for homes built prior to
  1980 is up to each municipality.

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Building Codes and Permits Home Modifications

• There is no uniform process and no uniform fee
  applied to acquiring and paying for building
  permits.
• Every municipality can, and usually does, do
  things differently!

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Building Permit Typical Process

• Plan your project
• Draw up plans draw to scale show door sizes,
  dimensions and all structural information. For a
  ramp, you typically need a floor plan,
  cross-section, elevation and site plan.
• Meet with staff plans may be reviewed on the
  spot and a permit issued
• Permit staff will then run through inspections
  for the project
• Remember there is no uniform process so the
  municipality where you are working could be quite
  different. Meet your building/permit staff before
  starting a project so you know what will be
  required.

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Finding Who to Work With

• Each municipality should have some sort of
  building department. Ask the city, village,
  township or county administrative office.
• If you cant figure out who/what the building
  dept. is in the municipality where you want to do
  a project, contact the
• State of Wisconsin
• Department of Commerce, Safety and Buildings
  Division at
• 608 266 3151

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Things to Remember

• Always call before starting a project on a home
  most of the time a permit IS required
• Plans/drawings are required to get a permit.
• Working without a permit can result in fines
  and/or reconstruction of the project.
• Ramps require frost footings 48 inches below
  ground (this is often missed!)
• Accessibility codes for 1 and 2 family homes are
  very minimal. Do not rely on building codes or
  permits to assume your project will work for the
  person using it.
• Example required ramp slope is no more than 18.
  However, this is unlikely to work for most people!

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Questions?

• There is a short lag between the time you type a
  question and the time we receive the question, so
  to remind you where to find the information from
  this presentation in the future

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Getting Smart About Home ModificationsRe-runs

• Power point presentations are located at
  www.movin-out.org Click on learn more in the
  first paragraph of the home page which will lead
  you to the power point presentations.
• The webinar itself can be replayed by going to
  the DHS webcast catalogue at http//media1.wi.gov/
  dhfs/catalog/ Once there you can search for the
  presentation you want by name, date, presenter or
  subject, (e.g. Home Modifications).

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CONTINUINGWEBINAR SCHEDULE

• The final session is next week
• Tuesday 10 a.m. 11 a.m.
• November 17 Building a Ramp
• Webinar Series Feedback
• Please send your feedback regarding the webinar
  series to info_at_movin-out.org