Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 145 - Plumbing and fire protection systems and swimming pool plan review.
145.19 - Sanitary permits.

145.19 Sanitary permits.
(1b) Definition. In this section, “sanitary permit" means a permit authorizing the installation of a private on-site wastewater treatment system that is issued by the department or any governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems.
(1g) Permit required. No person may purchase or install a private on-site wastewater treatment system unless the owner of the property on which the private on-site wastewater treatment system is to be installed holds a valid sanitary permit issued under this section. No person may sell at retail, as defined under s. 100.201 (1) (d), a septic tank for installation in this state unless the purchaser holds a valid sanitary permit issued under this section.
(1m) Application process. The department shall prescribe the information to be included in an application for a sanitary permit. The applicant shall submit the completed application for a sanitary permit to the governmental unit. The governmental unit shall approve or disapprove the sanitary permit according to the rules promulgated by the department under this chapter.
(1r) Test results. The results of any percolation test or other test relating to the disposal of liquid domestic wastes into the soil shall be retained by the governmental unit where the property is located. The governmental unit shall make the test results available to an applicant for a sanitary permit and shall accept the test results as the basis for a sanitary permit application unless the soil at the test site is altered to the extent that a new soil test is necessary.
(2) Fee. No fee for a sanitary permit may be less than the amount determined under department rule. The governing body for the governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems may establish a fee for a sanitary permit which is more than the amount determined under department rule. A governmental unit may not charge more than one fee for a sanitary permit or the renewal of a sanitary permit in any 12-month period.
(3) Fees and records of permits forwarded to the department. The governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall forward to the department within 90 days after each valid permit is issued a portion of the fee, as determined under department rule. The governmental unit shall also compile a periodic summary of the permits that it has issued. The summary shall contain the information required by the department by rule, and shall be submitted by the governmental unit to the department at intervals to be determined by the department by rule.
(3m) Notice in permit. A sanitary permit shall include a notice displayed conspicuously and separately on the permit form, to inform the permit holder that:
(a) The purpose of the sanitary permit is to allow installation of the private on-site wastewater treatment system described in the permit.
(b) The approval of the sanitary permit is based on regulations in force on the date of approval.
(c) The sanitary permit is valid and may be renewed for a specified period.
(d) Changed regulations will not impair the validity of a sanitary permit.
(e) Renewal of the sanitary permit will be based on regulations in force at the time renewal is sought, and that changed regulations may impede renewal.
(f) The sanitary permit is transferable.
(4) Use of fee. The portion of this fee retained by the governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall be used for the administration of private on-site wastewater treatment system programs.
(6) Groundwater fee. In addition to the fee under sub. (2), the governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall collect a groundwater fee of $25 for each sanitary permit. The governmental unit shall forward this fee to the department together with the fee under sub. (3). The moneys collected under this subsection shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.
(7) Period of validity. A sanitary permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue and renewable for similar periods thereafter. A sanitary permit shall remain valid to the end of the established period, notwithstanding any change in the state plumbing code or in any private on-site wastewater treatment system ordinance during that period.
(8) Transfer of permit. A sanitary permit may be transferred from the holder to a subsequent owner of the land, except that the subsequent owner must obtain a new copy of the sanitary permit from the issuing agent.
History: 1979 c. 34, 221; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (20); 1983 a. 410; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1997 a. 27; 2011 a. 146 ss. 63 to 65, 68 to 74.