OWNING RURAL LAND |
FAQ by new landowners |
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What can I do with my land?
What are some of my options? |
Contact our office at 608-637-5480 |
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Before buying any property, it is a good idea to know if there are any property or fence line disputes.
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Check with adjoining landowners. Resolve any issues before you purchase! |
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Does the land have any restrictions on it? Check for easements, government programs that restrict use, mineral rights, utility easements, buried waste or fuel tanks, trusts, and local or county zoning. |
The Title Company, Register of Deeds, and your Realtor are good places to start. Also check with the DNR, NRCS, LWCD, and the seller. |
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Does the septic system function properly? Has it been maintained? Will it have to be replaced? Will a "perk" test be required? |
Check with the Zoning office at
608-637-5270. |
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What are the property taxes on the land? Will they go up or down once I purchase it? |
Check with the tax assessor for that Township, and County Treasurer
(608-637-5365). |
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Is there a legal description of the land or a survey? You may want to consider having the property surveyed by a licensed surveyor. |
Check with the landowner and the Register of Deeds to see if a survey already exists. |
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What can I dispose of at the county landfill? Where is the landfill? |
Call Vernon County Solid Waste
& Recycling at 608-634-2900 |
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There are woods on the property. Are there any programs available for me? |
Contact the DNR Forester in Viroqua
at 608-637-3784. |
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Who should I go to for information about selling timber, planting seedlings or removing "nuisance" trees? |
Contact the DNR Forester in Viroqua at 608-637-3784, or the County Forester at 608-637-5480. |
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I'd like a pond. Is there anything I have to do before I call an excavator? |
Yes! Call the LaCrosse DNR office
at 608-785-9000
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There is a stream or spring on the property. I'd like to alter its' course/widen it/dam it up. Do I have to check with anyone first? |
Yes! Call the LaCrosse DNR office
at 608-785-9000 |
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I want to build a bridge or drive through a stream to get to the place I intend to have a structure built. Do I need to call the DNR on this, too? |
Yes! Call the LaCrosse DNR office
at 608-785-9000 |
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What are noxious weeds and what am I required to do about them? |
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What other invasive species should I know about? |
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There is a well on the property. How do I go about getting the water tested? |
Contact the Viroqua, Wisconsin
UW-Extension office 608-637-5276 |
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Are there any restrictions on what, when or where I can burn trash, old lumber, building materials, tires, leaves, grass, or anything else? |
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I want to have cows or pigs or sheep or horses or other animals on my property. Are there any regulations on what type or how many animals I can have? Are there any rules about what I do with the waste from the animals? |
Yes, contact our office at
608-637-5480. |
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The land I am buying is a little wet. How do I find out if it is considered a wetland? |
Contact NRCS. In Vernon County, that number is 608-637-2183. For information on wetland regulations, visit this web page or this web page |
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I want to build a house/cabin/shed/etc. near the stream that runs through my property. Are there any restrictions on where I build? |
Yes. Contact the Vernon County Zoning and Sanitation office (608-637-5270) to find out if the location you want to use for a building site is located in a floodplain. |
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For a list of offices, departments and agencies that can answer these and other questions, visit our Questions & Answers page.
For a listing of LWCD staff, visit our LWCD Office page. |
