Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dispute my property assessment (Open Book)?

Any disputes or questions regarding the details of your assessment can be answered by your local Assessor. Please contact your local Assessor to discuss your options.

How can I change my mailing address for tax billing purposes?

Instructions on how to file an address change request can be found on the Outagamie County Treasurer’s website.

Note: Address change requests may take up to 24 hours to process and update on the county website.

How can I find out where my lot lines are?

If you are looking for the general location of your lot lines, a good place to start is looking at an aerial photo of your property on the County GIS website. There are multiple ways to search for your property (owner name, address, parcel number), choose the method that works best for you.

If you need to know exactly where your property lines are, the best way to find out is by contacting a local surveyor to further assist you with locating and marking the exact location of your property lines. Find a list of area surveyors(PDF, 464KB). Outagamie County doesn’t provide a service to locate your property lines.

How can I get an address assigned to my property?

Outagamie County issues some addresses for properties within the county. Please visit Addressing & Street Names for more information.

How can I sell a portion of my property to someone else?

There are two steps that need to occur in order to accomplish this. The first step in the process is to consult with a Professional Land Surveyor in regards to providing a legal description for the parcel that will be sold. Per the Outagamie County Subdivisions and Platting Ordinance, a Professional Land Surveyor will have to prepare a Certified Survey Map of the property. If the parcel of land is to be sold to an adjoining property, the Certified Survey Map will show your parcel of land with the proposed acquisition and your neighbor’s parcel of land less the proposed acquisition. Find a list of local Professional Land Surveyors(PDF, 464KB).

The second step is to either have your surveyor or an attorney draft a deed with the legal description of the proposed acquisition. The deed will need to be signed by the required parties and then recorded with the Outagamie County Register of Deeds Office. Simply stated, the Certified Survey Map creates the map and legal description of the property to be transferred, and the recorded deed actually transfers title to the property.

There are a couple of additional things to keep in mind:

  • The Outagamie County Subdivisions and Platting Ordinance does not apply to properties located within an incorporated village or city.
  • The Ordinance has additional property split regulations that may apply. Not all properties can be split using a standard Certified Survey Map.
  • Additional county ordinances may prohibit properties from being split.

How can I split my property and what is the process?

Outagamie County Development and Land Services regulates land division and provides review for proposed subdivision plats and certified survey maps. The Outagamie County Subdivisions and Platting ordinance governs the division of land into smaller parcels. This ordinance includes requirements for layout, public streets, improvements, dedications and lot design. A certified survey map (CSM) is required if the division of land will create fewer than five lots. A subdivision plat is needed to create five or more lots.

Find a list of area surveyors(PDF, 464KB) to further assist you with a CSM or plat.

How do I file an Outagamie County zoning permit application?

Outagamie County Permit applications must be filed online using the CityView Web Portal. Review a quick guide on how to apply through CityView(PDF, 449KB). Don’t hesitate to contact Development & Land Services Staff if you have additional questions.

How do I pay after-the-fact permit application fees?

When submitting a permit application using CityView Web Portal, the system will automatically assign regular application fees. After filing the application, but before paying the standard application fees, you will need to contact a Development & Land Services staff member to adjust the permit application fees correctly. Once the fees are adjusted, you will be able to log back into your Cityview account and pay the after-the-fact fees under ‘My Items’.

I am planning a project (construction, excavating, filling/grading, etc). What permits are required?

Every project is a little different and the location of the specific project plays a significant role in determining what permits are required. Please review this permitting guide(PDF, 202KB) and then consult with Development & Land Services Staff for additional information.

I need a building permit. How and where can I get one?

Building Permits are issued by the building inspectors of the local towns, typically after Outagamie County Zoning Permits have been issued. Please use this permitting guide(PDF, 202KB) to review any permits you may need prior to obtaining a building permit.

I need to, or would like to, rezone my property. What is the rezoning process?

Zoning regulations and property zoning designations indicate what uses are allowed for specific properties. Check the process for rezoning a property(PDF, 146KB). It is best to consult with the Department of Development and Land Services staff to discuss existing, future and intended land uses for a specific property that is regulated by the Outagamie County Zoning Ordinance.

I own two adjacent properties. Can I combine the two properties into one tax bill? And, if so, what is the process for doing so?

For properties that are located within one of the Townships of Outagamie County, parcels need to be combined as outlined in the Outagamie County Subdivisions and Platting Ordinance. A Certified Survey Map is required and the process is similar to splitting an individual property into two or more parcels.

Properties that are located within a “City” or “Village” may combine/split a parcel or parcels with approval from your Municipal Clerk and your local Assessor. A letter signed by Municipal Clerk and ALL owners of the parcel or parcels can be emailed to the Real Property Lister: terri.lison@outagamie.org.

Combine/Splits will be processed for the following Tax Roll year. For example a request received on June 10th 2020 would be reflected on the 2021 Tax bill. Please contact your Municipal Clerk as well as your Local Assessor for information regarding how this may or may not affect your property assessments.

My property is serviced by a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS). Where can I find additional information regarding septic systems?

Please visit the Sanitary/Septic Permits page for additional information regarding Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems.

Additional information can be found on the following websites:

What are my property and improvement assessments?

Please visit the Outagamie County Ascent Land Records website. Search your property by parcel ID, Street Number/Name or by Name. Once the record is found click on “Select Detail” and then Assessments. If you have further questions regarding the details of your assessment, please contact your local assessor.

What is the lottery and gaming credit? Am I eligible for this? Can I have it removed?

Please visit the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website for more information on the Wisconsin Lottery and Gaming Credit Program.

What is the permitting process for construction of a new home?

The permitting process for construction of a new home depends on a variety of factors. Please review this permitting guide(PDF, 202KB) and then consult with Development & Land Services Staff for additional information.

What is Zoning?

Depending on where you live, chances are your property is zoned by your local municipality, whether it be the township you live in or Outagamie County. For more information on Town vs County zoning, check our short guide(PDF, 210KB). In short, zoning is a tool used by local governments to promote orderly growth and certainty for residential, agricultural, commercial, public, and industrial land uses. Each zone will have its own unique set of development standards, setbacks, and land uses that are allowed by right or special exception.

When do I need a sanitary permit and how do I apply for one?

A sanitary permit is needed anytime a property owner does any of the following:

  • Installs a new or replacement Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS)
  • Modifies an existing POWTS
  • Makes a new connection to an existing POWTS (e.g., new construction with bathroom)
  • Adds additional bedrooms to an existing residential structure

Property owners cannot file a Sanitary Permit application. Applications need to be made by a plumbing contractor and are filed electronically through the county website. Further questions can be directed towards a Code Inspector. 

When should I have my property surveyed? When is a survey required?

When you acquire property some decide to survey their property to locate property boundaries and to monument your property corners. Having an accurate survey of your property will give you a clear understanding of where your property boundaries are.

If a neighbor disputes where the lot line is between your properties, an accurate survey can be a useful document showing where property boundaries are located.

If you are building a fence along any of your property lines, knowing where you property line and property corners are can aid in proper placing of the fence. The fence needs to be installed accurately inside your property. Property boundary disputes can occur when fences are built without a proper understanding of where property lines are located, and a fence gets built on the neighbors’ side of the line.

Where and how can I get a copy of my recorded deed?

The Register of Deeds Department has records of all recorded documents, including Deeds. Please visit their website for more information on how to obtain a copy of the recorded deed to your property.

Where can I find a survey of my property?

Not all properties have a survey. If a property is in a subdivision, the Register of Deeds has a copy of that Subdivision. If you are looking to see if a survey was prepared at some point on a particular property, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the County PLSS (Public Land Survey System) GIS Map.
  2. Zoom the map to the location of the property and click on the property.
  3. Select the tab “View Plat of Survey Documents”. Click through the list to see if the property is among the Plat of Surveys within the list.

Please contact Development & Land Services Staff with further questions.

Where can I find the County Assessment and Tax Rolls?

Prior year County Assessment Rolls and Tax Rolls can be found on the Outagamie County Open Data website. Current assessment year Assessment Rolls and Tax Rolls will be available in January of the following year. For example: The 2020 Rolls will be posted to the Open Data Website in January 2021.

Who is my assessor / who assesses my property for property tax purposes?

Why did I receive a notice that my septic tank needs to be pumped?

The Outagamie County Sanitary Ordinance, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources require that septic maintenance is conducted once every three years or when sludge levels in the septic tank is one third of the volume of the tank. The county is required to ensure compliance with the state requirements as well as keep and maintain records on all Private Onsite Waste Treatment Systems (POWTS) within the county.

If you have received a pumping notice from the county, our records indicate that the last time your system was pumped was three years ago, please contact a pumper of your choice to complete the maintenance. Find further information on your system.

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