Land Division

County approval is required for all subdivision plats creating 5 or more lots of 5 acres each or less in area within a 5 year period. Certified Survey Maps of fewer than 5 lots located in Shoreland/Wetland/Floodplain Zoning Districts frequently require County approval. 

The County has approving authority for land divisions within a Township. The Township must also approve the land division and if your land is within the extraterritorial platting authority of a City or Village, they must also approve the land division.  Where a Township has adopted a subdivision control ordinance, the provisions of this chapter shall apply where more restrictive than the Township ordinance.

In 2023 Washington County relinquished land division objecting authority and no longer reviews plats in villages and cities. However, in the areas of the Village of Richfield and the Village of Germantown that have private onsite wastewater treatment systems soil tests are required to be submitted to Washington County Land Use Inspectors for review and approval. 

Washington County Code 257

View the Washington County Land Division Online Map:

https://maps.washcowisco.gov/apps/landdiv

Permit Application & Fees:

• Preliminary & Final Plat Review Checklist (Approving Authority)
• 2024 Permit Fees (pdf)

Related Info:

• State of Wisconsin Department of Administration
  
• Wisconsin Department of Administration Platting Manual
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation