Land Use Services

Overview of Land Use Services Department

The Land Use Services Department consists of the five areas listed below.  The Resource Planning Committee oversees the Land Use Services Department and the Board of Adjustment helps administer the zoning ordinance (see information provided below the Division information).  More information about land use planning and management in Wisconsin can be found at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Center for Land Use Education.

Zoning.  Staff members process all regular zoning permit applications, as well as conditional use permit applications, the latter of which go to the Resource Planning Committee for public hearing and approval or denial.  Staff also process the paperwork for petitions for variance from county zoning ordinances, appeals of either Resource Planning Committee or zoning administrator decisions, and petitions for zoning ordinance text or map amendments.  The public hearings at which decisions are made regarding variances and appeals are held by the Board of Adjustment.  Public hearings regarding text or map amendments are conducted by the Resource Planning Committee, with the County Board making the final determinations regarding such petitions.

Sanitarian.  The Sanitarian office administers the county’s Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) regulations which are derived from state administrative code.   The POWTS regulations are intended to protect ground and surface waters via the regulation, inspection, and monitoring of wastewater treatment systems in unsewered areas of the county.  The program involves significant coordination with soil testers, septic system installers, plumbers, property owners, and state-level agencies.  

Real Property Listing.  The Real Property Listing program is tasked with providing accurate tax parcel information for all 41,100+ parcels of real estate in Door County.  The information processed and verified deals with all documents of transfer recorded at the Register of Deeds, all plat of surveys, and all assessments and real estate and personal property tax-related matters.  Information maintained includes computer databases and related GIS layers, websites, and physical maps regarding all aspects of properties and their ownership, past and present. 

Real Property Listing staff also generate, coordinate, and distribute for all 19 municipalities the assessment rolls, tax rolls, assessment notices, property tax bills, and related documents to and with County departments, assessors, town officials, taxation districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Natural Resources, and other related agencies. 

Geographic Information Systems/Land Information Office (GIS/LIO).  The GIS mapping functions of the department include acting as the county’s state-mandated Land Information Office, maintenance and upgrades to the county-wide GIS information, and maintenance of land information data to create a wide variety of land information-related maps for county staff, local municipalities and agencies, residents, and property owners.    

Addressing.  The Land Use Services Department oversees the addressing program in effect in the unincorporated areas (towns) and three of the four villages.  The addressing program ensures consistent address number assignment, avoidance of duplicative road names, and transfer of information to E-911 dispatch entities.  Program responsibilities include all aspects of assignment of addresses, ordering and placement of signs, creation of all maps related to addresses, tracking of all expenses, and communication of address information to Intrado, the county’s E-911 system manager.  Parcel addresses (fire numbers) can be applied for on-line here.  A mailing address change form (printable) can be found here.

Planning.  Planning program staff members are responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive, farmland preservation, and other land use-related plans, as well as developing and updating the department’s ordinances.  Planning staff also organize and participate in a variety of educational and information-sharing programs with local municipalities, government agencies, and non-profits. 

Resource Planning Committee.  The Resource Planning Committee (RPC) is the Land Use Services Department’s oversight committee consisting of five county board members.  The RPC conducts public hearings regarding conditional use permit applications as well as text or map amendment applications, with the County Board making the final determinations regarding such applications.

• Committee Member Information
• Agendas and Minutes
• RPC / Plan Commission Reference Materials - GENERAL
• RPC / Plan Commission Reference Materials - STATUTES

Zoning Board of Adjustment.  The Board of Adjustment (BOA) is a county board-appointed board that participates in the administration of zoning ordinances.  The BOA conducts hearings regarding applications for variances from county zoning ordinances, appeals of either RPC or zoning administrator decisions, and zoning ordinance text or map amendments.  Board of Adjustment - Rules of Procedure.