Brown County, WI Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Notice required
- 24 hours before installation
- Inspection deadline
- By end of next work day
- Applies in
- Unincorporated Brown County only
- Who inspects
- County issuing agent / Zoning Administrator
- Legal basis
- Wis. Stat. § 59.70(5)
Summary
In unincorporated Brown County, no private on-site wastewater treatment system (POWTS) may be backfilled until the county inspects it. The installing plumber must give at least 24 hours' notice, and the county has staged inspection points through completion.
11.10 INSPECTION. (1) The issuing agent shall inspect or cause the inspection of all POWTS after construction, but before backfilling, no later than the end of the next work day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, after receiving notice from the plumber in charge.
(2) The issuing agent shall file reports and inspections as required by the county or the department.
(3) The plumber installing the system shall notify Brown County Zoning at least 24 hours in advance of any installation of the system to schedule the inspection(s). The County has 24 hours to inspect prior to backfill once the POWTS is entirely ready for inspection and not backfilled excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. The county could have several inspections on one property location, during the installation of septic tank/holding tank install, building sewer installation, before backfilling of the mound system, at-grade, conventional, etc. to leave laterals open for viewing upon inspection before any backfill takes place.
(4) The interior plumbing of a structure may be inspected to verify that all domestic waste discharges to a State approved POWTS.
(5) POWTS may be inspected periodically, after initial installation inspections, to determine whether the construction, operation, or maintenance of a POWTS conforms to the Wis. Stats., Wis. Admin. Code and this Ordinance.
Full Breakdown
Brown County Code § 11.10 requires the issuing agent to inspect every POWTS after construction but before backfilling, no later than the end of the next work day (excluding weekends and holidays) after the plumber's notice. The plumber must notify Brown County Zoning at least 24 hours in advance of installation to schedule inspection. The county may run several inspections on one property, septic tank/holding tank installation, building sewer installation, and pre-backfill checks for mound, at-grade, or conventional systems, leaving laterals open for viewing before backfill. Interior plumbing may also be checked, and completed POWTS are subject to periodic follow-up inspections. This applies only to lands in unincorporated Brown County not served by public sewer; it does not reach Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon, or the county's other incorporated cities and villages.
Violations & Fines
Backfilling before the county's pre-backfill inspection, or failing to give 24 hours' notice, lets the Zoning Administrator prohibit use of the system until it is inspected and approved; unresolved violations go to Corporation Counsel for legal enforcement under § 11.13-11.14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to notify Brown County before a septic system is backfilled?
Does the county inspect a septic system more than once?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brown County
Compare Brown County to another location·View the Wisconsin building safety overview
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