Reminder Regarding Your Floodplain Ordinance: Certificate Of Compliance

Please remember your floodplain ordinance requires that “No land shall be occupied or used, and no building which is hereafter constructed, altered, added to, modified, repaired, rebuilt or replaced shall be occupied until a certificate of compliance is issued by the zoning administrator, except where no permit is required, subject to the following provisions:

1)  The certificate of compliance shall show that the building or premises or part thereof, and the proposed use, conform to the provisions of this ordinance;

2)  Application for such certificate shall be concurrent with the application for a permit;

3)  If all ordinance provisions are met, the certificate of compliance shall be issued within 10 days after written notification that the permitted work is completed;

4)  The applicant shall submit a certification signed by a registered professional engineer, architect or land surveyor that the fill, lowest floor and floodproofing elevations are in compliance with the permit issued. Floodproofing measures also require certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the requirements of s. 7.5 (floodproofing standards) are met."

Please see Door County’s website as an example of a floodplain permit that requires a Certificate of Compliance as part of their permit process.

Story Map Shows The Results Of Floodplain Zoning And Hazard Mitigation

A story map released by Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) shows, through maps, photos and narrative, the power of floodplain zoning and hazard mitigation. This story focuses on the community of Gays Mills, Wisconsin.

General Process For County And Municipal Staff Working With The DNR Shoreland Zoning Team

When working with our shoreland zoning team, please work directly with the appropriately assigned team member as depicted in the coverage map below.

Shoreland Zoning Ordinance Amendments/Adoption

If you are adopting new or revised shoreland (NR 115), shoreland-wetland (NR 117) and Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (LSCR)(NR 118) zoning ordinances, please provide the appropriately assigned DNR staff person with the following information:

• A draft of the proposed shoreland, shoreland-wetland, or LSCR zoning ordinance revisions – with sufficient time for review and potential revisions prior to public review and public hearing.
• A copy of the public notice 10 days prior to the hearing for shoreland and shoreland-wetland zoning ordinance revisions and 30 days prior to the hearing for LSCR zoning ordinance revisions.
• A copy of the affidavit of publication for the public hearing.
• A copy of the affidavit of publication for the adopted revised shoreland, shoreland-wetland or LSCR zoning ordinance.
• A copy of the signed and dated shoreland, shoreland-wetland, or LSCR zoning ordinance resolution including the resolution/ordinance number within 10 days after the revisions are made (note no specific time requirement listed in NR 118 for LSCR).
• A copy of the certified shoreland, shoreland-wetland and/or LSCR zoning ordinance.

Variances, Rezonings, Conditional Use Permits (CUPS)/Special Exception Permits (SEPS)

For local shoreland (NR 115), shoreland-wetland (NR 117) and LSCR (NR 118) zoning requests, please provide the appropriately assigned DNR staff person with the following information:

• A hearing notice for all shoreland, shoreland-wetland, and LSCR zoning related variance, conditional use or special exception, and rezoning (appeal for a map or text interpretation, map or text amendment) requests at least 10 days prior to the hearing for shoreland and shoreland-wetland zoning requests, and at least 30 days for LSCR zoning requests.
• A copy of the application packet, site maps, diagrams and staff report (if prepared) or an electronic link to these for all shoreland, shoreland-wetland and LSCR zoning related requests, at the time of sending the hearing notice.
• Copies of all proposed shoreland, shoreland-wetland and LSCR zoning related land divisions submitted for review.
• A copy of the decision on any shoreland, shoreland-wetland and LSCR zoning related variance, conditional use or special exception and rezoning (appeal for a map or text interpretation, map or text amendment) request within 10 days after the shoreland or shoreland-wetland hearing and within five working days after the LSCR hearing.

Save The Date: Zoning Leadership Workshop Hosted By WCCA, UW-Extension, WI DNR And Center For Land Use Education At UWSP

The zoning leadership program will help you become a leader in county zoning. The program is designed for new county zoning staff. Those with five or fewer years of experience and have not previously attended a zoning leadership workshop will have priority. Participants can expect that there will be a nominal fee, the exact amount to be determined. The workshop will include the topics of floodplain, shoreland and general zoning.

Event Details

What: Zoning Leadership Workshop

Where: Upham Woods Camp (near Wisconsin Dells)

When: Feb. 21-22, 2023

Registration:

Registration details are coming soon via GovDelivery bulletin to all “floodplains” topic subscribers.

Please contact Scott Godfrey, Director of the Office of Planning & Development, Iowa County (Scott.Godfrey@iowacounty.org) for additional details. Please note this workshop is capped at 30 participants.

Reminder: Dam Safety/Floodplain Engineer Contacts

Please see the map below to find which dam safety/floodplain engineer covers your area. Phone numbers are included below for your convenience.

About The Wisconsin Floodplain Management Program

The program's goals are to protect life, health and property; to minimize costs for flood control projects; to reduce tax dollars spent for rescue, relief and repair of flood damage; to shorten business interruptions caused by flooding; to prevent future flood blight areas; to discourage victimization of unwary land and home buyers; and to prevent increased flood levels caused by unwise floodplain development.

Contact Us

Floodplain: Brian Cunningham,  Brian.Cunningham@Wisconsin.gov

Shoreland: Kay Lutze, Kay.Lutze@Wisconsin.gov

Dam Safety: Uriah Monday: Uriah.Monday@Wisconsin.gov

Floodplain and Shoreland Management Notes is published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Waterways Bureau. The purpose of the newsletter is to inform local zoning officials and others concerned about state and federal floodplain management, flood insurance, shoreland and wetland management, and dam safety issues. Comments or contributions are welcome. Please send comments to DNRFloodplain@Wisconsin.gov.

This newsletter is supported by funding through the FEMA Cooperative Agreement as part of the Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element of the National Flood Insurance Program. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the federal government.