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Oneida County, WI Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Oneida County, WI, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing ordinance: Oneida County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, Ord. No. 20-2013
Permit required: Zoning permit before any new floodplain development
Enforcing office: Oneida County Zoning Director
Penalty: $50 forfeiture plus costs, each day a separate offense
Applies to: Unincorporated towns, not Rhinelander or villages

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Oneida County, WI.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Oneida County, WI on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

Oneida County requires a zoning permit before any new development, repair, modification, addition or use change inside its mapped floodplain, under the Oneida County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 20, Ord. No. 20-2013). Because Wis. Stat. § 59.69 keeps county zoning out of the City of Rhinelander and any village, the requirement runs in the unincorporated towns.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Oneida County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

This ordinance shall be known as the Oneida County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance for Oneida County, Wisconsin. ... A zoning permit shall be obtained before any new development repair, modification or addition to any existing structure; or change in the use of a building or structure, including sewer and water facilities, may be initiated. ... Any violation of the provisions of this ordinance by any person shall be unlawful and shall be referred to the Oneida County Corporation Counsel who shall expeditiously prosecute all such violators. A violator shall, upon conviction, forfeit to the municipality a penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $50, together with a taxable cost of such action. Each day of continued violation shall constitute a separate offense.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4929683; v20 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).

Full Breakdown

Oneida County adopted this ordinance by Ord. No. 20-2013 under the authority of Wis. 23 for villages and cities), plus the mapping requirement in Wis. 30. 4, names it 'the Oneida County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance for Oneida County, Wisconsin,' and it regulates every area shown on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map, divided into Floodway, Floodfringe and General Floodplain Districts. 1(2), a property owner must obtain a zoning permit from the Oneida County Zoning Director before starting any new development, repair, modification or addition to an existing structure, or before changing the use of a building, structure, sewer or water facility inside a mapped floodplain.

1 must deny any permit that would obstruct flood flow or raise the regional flood height. Because Wis. 5(12) newly annexed land stays under the County's provisions only until the annexing municipality adopts its own compliant ordinance.

Violations & Fines

Violating any provision of the Floodplain Zoning Ordinance is unlawful under § 20.9.1 and is referred to the Oneida County Corporation Counsel for prosecution. A convicted violator forfeits a penalty of $50, plus the taxable costs of the action, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Every violation is also declared a public nuisance that the County, the state, or any citizen may sue to enjoin or abate under Wis. Stat. § 87.30.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this rule apply inside the City of Rhinelander?

No. Wis. Stat. § 59.69 bars county zoning from reaching incorporated territory, so Oneida County's Chapter 20 floodplain permit requirement governs only the unincorporated towns. Rhinelander and any village in the county must adopt and enforce their own floodplain zoning ordinance under Wis. Stat. § 62.23 or § 61.35 to meet the same FEMA National Flood Insurance Program standards.

What triggers the permit requirement?

Under § 20.7.1(2), any new development, repair, modification or addition to an existing structure, or any change in the use of a building, structure, sewer or water facility located in a mapped floodplain requires a zoning permit from the County Zoning Director before work begins.

What happens if I build without a permit?

The violation is referred to the Oneida County Corporation Counsel under § 20.9.1. Conviction carries a $50 forfeiture plus court costs, with each day the unpermitted work or structure continues counted as a separate offense, and the County or state may also sue to abate it as a public nuisance.

Sources & Official References

[1]Oneida County, WI General Code (eCode360)

Other rules in Oneida County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Oneida County rules

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