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Land Management
Sanitary Permits

If you are planning a new construction project in Pepin County where public sewer service is not available, an on-site, wastewater sewage disposal system is required. A sanitary permit is required for these systems to ensure that wastes do not cause a public health hazard. A sanitary permit must be obtained prior to a building permit, prior to the start of construction and all appropriate fees must be paid. The process to obtain a sanitary permit is as follows:

1. Have soil tests taken. These tests must be performed by a Certified Soil Tester (CST) licensed by the State of Wisconsin. A list of CSTs who work in Pepin County can be obtained from the Land Management Office.

2. If the soils are suitable for a conventional, in-ground septic system and the system is to serve a one- or two-family residence, the county can issue a sanitary permit without a state plan review.

3. If the soils dictate a mound system, in-ground pressure system, at-grade system or a holding tank, or if the system is to serve a three or more unit residential building, a commercial building or an industrial building, the plans must be approved by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce before the county can issue a sanitary permit.

4. Plans for both county and state (if required) approval must be drawn by an architect, engineer, plumbing designer or the master plumber installing the system. A list of septic system installers who work in Pepin County can be obtained from the Land Management Office.

5. Completed plans and soil tests must be submitted to the Land Management Office, along with the appropriate fees,  for approval.

6. Once approved, the sanitary permit should be taken to the local building permit issuing agency (Town clerk or County Land Management Office).

Please remember that arranging for soil tests, review of permit applications, site inspections, etc. takes time. Plan your building project well in advance to account for these requirements.

The excavation of a basement or footings is considered start of construction and is prohibited until a sanitary permit and building permit are obtained. Starting construction without these permits will result in a double permit fee as a penalty.

The application for a sanitary permit is typically the first step in the construction sequence. Later steps in the sequence, such as the request for an address, will require an accurate legal description. It is important that a certified survey map or other instrument used for describing the land be available at the time the sanitary permit is applied for. This will ensure a smooth flow through the subsequent development process steps.

For further information on the sanitary permit process, please contact Pepin County Land Management Office by email or by calling 715-672-8897.