Mosinee, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Mosinee, WI, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Statutory authority
- Wis. Stats. §§ 61.35, 62.23, 87.30
- Flood-height denial threshold
- 0.01 foot increase
- Forfeiture range
- $10.00 to $50.00 per day
- Watercourse alteration notice
- To DNR and FEMA required
- Annexed land
- County rules apply until city adopts its own
Summary
The City of Mosinee's floodplain zoning article, adopted under Wis. Stats. §§ 61.35, 62.23 and 87.30, requires every development in a mapped floodplain to be reviewed for flood safety before a permit issues. Sec. 42-1162 demands flood-resistant construction and equipment placement, and the zoning administrator must deny a permit that would raise the regional flood height by 0.01 foot or more.
This article for floodplain protection is adopted pursuant to the authorization contained in Wis. Stats. §§ 61.35, 62.23 and 87.30. ... The community shall review all permit applications to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding. If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements shall be designed or modified and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads; be constructed with materials resistant to flood damage; be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages; and be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.
Full Breakdown
Article V of Chapter 42, Floodplain Zoning, was adopted pursuant to Wis. 30 (Sec. 42-1151) to keep uncontrolled use of the Wisconsin River's floodplain from damaging property and the tax base (Sec. 42-1152). Sec. 42-1162 requires the city to review every permit application to determine whether the building site will be reasonably safe from flooding; in a flood-prone area, new construction and substantial improvements must be anchored against flotation, collapse and lateral movement, built with flood-resistant materials, and have electrical, heating, plumbing and HVAC equipment located to keep water out during a flood.
Sec. 01 foot or more, unless the city first amends the floodplain maps and floodway lines under Sec. 42-1187. Watercourse alterations under Sec. 42-1164 require advance written notice to neighboring municipalities, the DNR and FEMA, and the applicant must secure all state and federal permits before work starts. Because this article implements the state-mandated floodplain regime under Wis. 30 rather than a purely local choice, the zoning administrator's decisions are also tied to Wis. Adm. Code ch. NR 116, and Sec. 42-1168 keeps Marathon County's floodplain rules in force on any newly annexed land until the city adopts its own compliant ordinance for it.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 42-1189 makes any floodplain development built in violation of the article unlawful. The city attorney prosecutes, and a violator forfeits not less than $10.00 and not more than $50.00 plus taxable costs, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. Every violation is also declared a public nuisance the city, the state or any citizen can sue to enjoin or abate under Wis. Stats. § 87.30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build in a Mosinee floodplain?
Can the city deny my floodplain permit?
What happens if I build in the floodplain without following the rules?
Does the City of Mosinee or Marathon County regulate floodplain land I just annexed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mosinee
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