Vernon County Septic (POWTS) Ordinance and Permits

Vernon County writes its septic rules into Chapter 70, Article II of the county code, Private Onsite Wastewater Systems, administered by the Zoning and Sanitation Department in Viroqua. Every septic tank in the county is on a three-year pump-and-inspect schedule, and the county keeps a public permit search where you can look up the system on a property before you buy it.

The ordinance

Article II (sections 70-31 through 70-143) was adopted as Ordinance 2016-3 on July 26, 2016, under the county’s authority in Wis. Stat. §§ 59.70 and 145. It adopts the statewide SPS 383 and SPS 385 codes by reference and then adds the county’s own rules on permits, soil tests, inspections, and maintenance. It is a citable ordinance, published on Municode, not a program brochure.

The three-year maintenance program

Section 70-112 is the rule most homeowners actually meet. Every septic tank must be visually inspected and pumped within three years of installation and at least once every three years after that. The one exception: if the inspection finds sludge and scum taking up less than one third of the tank, pumping can wait.

• Pumping has to be done by a certified septage servicing operator under NR 113. A plumber, a licensed pumper, or a county or state employee can do the visual inspection.
• You, the owner, are responsible for getting a copy of the inspection report to the department: the condition of the tank, whether effluent is surfacing, and the date of the inspection and pumping.
• Weather, spring road weight limits, and site access can push the date at the county’s discretion, so a late-winter due date is not a crisis. Call first.
• Holding tanks are different: the owner signs a maintenance agreement with the town, village, or city, and it gets recorded with the register of deeds so it follows the property (section 70-113).

The statewide version of this rule is on Wisconsin septic maintenance rules. The county’s own program fees are set by the zoning committee, not written into the ordinance.

Permits and soil tests

A sanitary permit, in the property owner’s name, is required before any private sewage system is installed, replaced, reconnected, or modified (section 70-77). You do not need one to add manhole risers or to replace covers, risers, baffles, or pumps. Starting work before the permit is issued is a violation, and an after-the-fact permit costs double, never less than $1,000.

• If any part of a system has failed, the whole system gets evaluated for code compliance before a permit is issued, including a new soil and site evaluation unless a valid report is already on file (section 70-77(d)).
• Soil test pits are on-sited by the county, and the department will not enter a pit that is not ramped or stepped (section 70-76). Tell your soil tester and backhoe operator before the day of the test.
• A permit expires two years after issuance if the system has not been installed and approved; renew before the date or you apply again (section 70-81).
• Selling a property with a valid permit? The state transfer form goes to the department, and the transfer does not reset the expiration date (section 70-82).

The general Wisconsin process is on septic system permits in Wisconsin.

Look up an existing system

Vernon County runs a public permit search where existing sanitary permits can be looked up by property. Buying a house with a septic system in the county? Pull the record before the inspection so the inspector knows what was permitted, when, and by whom.

Vernon County permit search (apps.vernoncountywi.gov)

Fees

Permit fees are set by the zoning committee and approved by county board resolution (section 70-89), so they change without the ordinance changing. Fees are not refunded once a permit is issued. Call the department for the current sanitary permit fee and the maintenance program fee before you budget.

County contact

Frequently asked questions

How often does Vernon County require a septic tank to be pumped

Within three years of installation and at least every three years after that, unless an inspection shows sludge and scum under one third of the tank volume. The inspection report goes to the Zoning and Sanitation Department.

Do I need a permit to replace a septic pump or a tank lid

No. Section 70-77 exempts manhole risers and the replacement of covers, risers, baffles, and pumps. Anything else that installs, replaces, reconnects, or modifies the system needs a sanitary permit first.

Can I see the septic permit on a house before I buy it

Yes. The county permit search at apps.vernoncountywi.gov lists existing permits by property.

What does the sanitary permit cost

The fee is set by the zoning committee and is not printed in the ordinance. Call 608-637-5270 for the current number. An after-the-fact permit is double the fee and at least $1,000.

Other county pages: Sauk County, Dane County.