Dale, WI

Outagamie County has not adopted a countywide decibel-based noise ordinance for unincorporated areas. Noise complaints are handled under Wis. Stat. §947.01 (disorderly conduct) by the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office, and under noise ordinances adopted by individual towns, villages, and cities. The City of Appleton (Outagamie's largest municipality) defines "day" as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and prohibits loud, disturbing, or unnecessary sound at all hours, with the 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window functioning as quiet hours. Most other municipalities within the county follow similar 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet periods. Call non-emergency dispatch for the Sheriff at (920) 832-5605 for nuisance noise.

Outagamie County does not publish a county-wide STR occupancy cap. Maximum guest counts are governed by the property’s state Tourist Rooming House license under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72, set by Outagamie County Public Health during the pre-license inspection.

Outagamie County does not impose a county-level room tax; under Wis. Stat. §66.0615, room tax in Wisconsin is a municipal-level option. STR operators in unincorporated towns must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72, issued locally by Outagamie County Public Health (Environmental Health).

Outagamie County has no county-wide STR parking rule. Parking standards come from the underlying town’s zoning ordinance, or from Outagamie County’s Chapter 54 Zoning Ordinance in the 13 townships that opted into county zoning. On-street parking must comply with town rules and Wis. Stat. ch. 346.

Wis. Stat. §66.1014 preempts local STR bans for stays of 7 consecutive days or longer. Hosts renting more than 10 nights per year must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license from DATCP. Outagamie County does not operate a county-wide STR permit; municipal rules vary across Appleton, Kaukauna, and the towns.

Outagamie County zoning regulates ADUs only in 13 of 19 unincorporated towns under Wis. Stat. §59.69. The cities of Appleton, Kaukauna, Seymour, and incorporated villages (Kimberly, Little Chute, Combined Locks) administer their own zoning. Wisconsin has no statewide ADU mandate; 2025 Assembly Bill 449 proposing one has not been enacted.

Wis. Stat. §167.10 requires a user's permit for nearly all consumer fireworks (firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars, aerial repeaters). Permits issued by the mayor, village president, or town chairperson — or designee — where use will occur. Sparklers under 36 inches, snakes, smoke bombs, caps, model rocket engines, and small DOT 1.4 cones/fountains are exempt.

Pool barriers for one- and two-family dwellings governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320-325), which adopts IRC Appendix AG105 standards. A 48-inch enclosure with self-closing, self-latching gates is the typical requirement. Outagamie County zoning adds local setback rules for pools as accessory structures in unincorporated areas.

Outagamie County administers floodplain zoning in unincorporated areas under Wis. Stat. §87.30 and Wis. Admin. Code NR 116, with flood-prone parcels along the Fox River, Wolf River, Apple Creek, and Embarrass River. The county participates in the FEMA NFIP. Floodplain development requires a permit from the County Zoning Administrator.