Department Overview

Issue Zoning/Occupancy Permits: These permits are issued within the unincorporated Townships of La Crosse County. A permit is required for all, new construction as well as additions and modifications to existing structures. The issuance of a Zoning /Occupancy permit is intended to insure compliance with the various Zoning ordinances in effect in the County. Permit fees will vary according to the type of construction proposed.

Receive & process applications for rezoning: The application forms for rezoning are available in the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. An application fee is required with each application. Please contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office regarding the current fee schedule. Petitions for rezoning come before the Planning, Resources, and Development Committee for public hearing.  It is advisable to contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office to determine available meeting dates and deadlines for applications. There is also a list of information, which a petitioner must provide as a part of the application process. The Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office is responsible for publication of required legal notices and notification of adjacent property owners and other parties at interest.

Receive and process applications for Conditional Use Permits: A Conditional Use is a proposed use of a structure or property which is of a special nature, or is dependent on contemporary circumstances which make it impractical to predetermine its permissibility, or the detailing of specific standards, regulations or conditions in the Zoning Ordinance. The application forms for Conditional Use Permits are available in the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. An application fee is required with each application. Please contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office regarding the current fee schedule. Applications for Conditional Use Permits come before the Planning, Resources, and Development Committee for public hearing.  It is advisable to contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office to determine available meeting dates and deadlines for applications. There is a list of information, which an applicant must provide as part of the application process. The Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office is responsible for publication of required legal notices and notification of adjacent property owners and other parties at interest.

Receive and process applications for Special Exception Permits: A Special Exception Permit authorizes certain construction activities within the Shoreland District of navigable lakes, streams and flowages in the unincorporated areas of La Crosse County. Activities authorized may include filling, grading, lagooning, dredging, ditching and excavating. The application forms for Special Exception Permits are available in the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. An application fee is required with each application. Please contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office regarding the current fee schedule. Applications for Special Exception Permits come before the Planning, Resources, and Development Committee for public hearing.  It is advisable to contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office to determine available meeting dates and deadlines for applications. There is a list of information, which must be provided as part of the application process. The Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office is responsible for publication of required legal notices and notification of adjacent property owners and other parties at interest.

Receive and process applications for variances: Application forms for appeals to the Board of Adjustment requesting a variance from a dimensional standard(s) of the Zoning Ordinance are available in the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. An application fee is required with each application. Please contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office regarding the current fee schedule. Appeals to the Board of Adjustment are heard at public hearing on a monthly basis. It is advisable to contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office to determine available meeting dates and deadlines for applications. There is a list of information, which must be provided as part of the application process. The Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office is responsible for publication of required legal notices and notification of adjacent property owners and other parties at interest.

Issue Zoning Certificates for the Farmland Preservation Program: Beginning in January of each year the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office issues a Zoning Certificate to those farm owners who wish to claim a tax credit under the provisions of the Wisconsin Farmland Preservation Program. The zoning certificate designates the tax parcels and acreage of each which is eligible for inclusion in the tax credit claim. A nominal charge for copies is included along with the State of Wisconsin Schedule FC form for filing. A separate zoning certificate is required for each year that a credit is applied for.

Administer the provisions of the County Zoning Ordinance, County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, County Shoreland/Wetland Zoning Ordinance: This is a central function of the "zoning side" of the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. It is this daily administrative activity which generates all the petitions, appeals and permits noted in the previous information. This activity requires coordinated efforts with the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other county agencies involved in this effort are the Environmental Health Dept., Dept. of Land Conservation, and the County Surveyor.

Maintain assessment rolls for all parcels of land in the unincorporated areas of La Crosse County as well as incorporated Cities and Villages of the County: This is a central function of the "land information side" of the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. This activity is carried out in cooperation with the individual assessors of each of the twelve (12) townships, four (4) villages and two (2) cities of La Crosse County. Information such as assessed values of real estate and improvements and personal property values along with school district and special districts are kept and maintained on each parcel. Also information concerning changes in ownership, property splits, address changes, volume and pages of recent deeds, legal descriptions and property zoning are also maintained.

Maintain parcel mapping system for unincorporated areas of La Crosse County and incorporated Cities & Villages of the County: The maintenance of the County-wide parcel mapping system is another key function of the "Land Information Side" of the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office. This activity occurs as a direct result of the maintenance done on the assessment rolls for the various municipalities. Parcel mapping incorporates information found on the assessment rolls such as: tax computer number, parcel address, parcel owner and legal description. This Geographic Information System has multiple mapping layers for storing virtually unlimited parcel specific information. Separate mapping layers exist for such geographic features as township boundaries, water features, State, County and Federal highway boundaries, and census tracts, census block boundaries, condominiums and more. It is recommended that you contact the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office to obtain information on the status of specific information layers and their availability and cost for reproduction or export.

Print tax bills and associated reports for unincorporated areas of La Crosse County and incorporated Cities & Villages of the County: This activity is really the end result or culmination of the maintenance work performed on the assessment rolls throughout the year. This work is accomplished in partnership with the assessors of each municipality, treasurers of each municipality, school districts and each of the eighteen local units of government. This unique partnership has evolved to its present form and function over a period of many years in an attempt to standardize and coordinate the tax billing and collection system in La Crosse County. Questions on the specifics of the system are best directed to the Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office.

For more information, please contact the La Crosse County Zoning, Planning, & Land Information Office at 608-785-9722.