Town of Whitewater

Automated Garbage & Recycling Program
NO RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Fireworks: You must obtain a permit from the Town to use fireworks. Please call the Town Hall at 262-473-4639.

Building Permits: State Law requires a building permit to ensure all State Codes are followed. Additional information is available under the "Building Permits" tab.

Operator License Bartender License: State Law requires all bartender's to complete an application, pay a $25 fee, and be approved by the Whitewater Town Board. Click here to download the blank application and instructions.

Mailbox Damage Reimbursement Request: The Town of Whitewater will consider claims for mailboxes damaged when struck by Town equipment performing snow plowing in the right-of-way. The Town will consider reimbursement up to $75 towards the costs to repair or replace mailboxes and/or posts that have been directly hit by Town equipment (not snow or ice being pushed against the mailbox), which were in good condition, and which were installed and maintained in conformance with U.S.P.S. specifications for minimum height and setback.

The Town will not pay claims for mailboxes or posts damaged along Town streets when the Town has determined that:
1. The mailbox and/or post were improperly installed or maintained or were not in good condition;
2. The mailbox was not of a standard design or not placed in conformance with U.S.P.S. specifications even though it might have been damaged by Town equipment;
3. The weight of plowed snow or ice resulted in the damage to the mailbox and/or support structure; or
4. The Town representative determines that a force other than Town equipment caused the damage.
5. Newspaper boxes will not be repaired, replaced, or reinstalled by the Town.
To read the full mailbox damage policy, click here.
To download the claim form, click here.

Local government No-Fee Application for IoH and Ag CMV: An operator is required to apply for a no-fee permit from the maintaining authority of the road on which the IoH/Ag CMV is being operated on. The applications can be downloaded by clicking the links below. Additional information can be found at: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/ag/permits.htm
No Fee Permit Application for Implements of Husbandry (IoH) – Local Government (MV2582)
No Fee Permit Application for Agricultural Commercial Vehicles (Ag CMV) – Local Government (MV2583)

Building Inspector / Building Permits: Building Permits are a requirement of the State of Wisconsin, Walworth County and Town of Whitewater.  Building Permits for all structures including new homes, storage, commercial, and agricultural use, including any new construction, extensive remodeling, electrical, plumbing, heating & air, pools, decks and additions. A penalty will be imposed for starting any type of construction without first obtaining a permit.

All permits are issued by appointment only.  For an appointment with the building inspector, please call Building Inspections Services: 608-921-1891. Jon Mesler.  jon.mesler@gmail.com

Commercial Building Inspections are handled by the State of Wisconsin, DSPS-Division of Industry Services.  Find the State Building Inspector contact information at https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/Contacts.aspx.

Assessor:  If you wish to speak to or make an appointment with the town assessor, please call Municipal Group; Ryan Kernosky, 715-204-4563 or ryan@municipalgroup.org

The Town of Whitewater follows Walworth County zoning restrictions. Property owners contemplating a zoning change,  variance changes, or other changes to your property, should first contact the Walworth County Land Management office (262-741-4972) to determine if the potential change is covered by the County zoning guidelines. The County will either approve or deny the request. If the request is denied, an appeal may be directed to the Town Board and they will either suggest approval or uphold the County's denial. For appeals, please contact the Town Clerk, Jorja Boiley (262-473-46390) or Email: clerk.treaas@townofwhitewaterwi.gov to request the opportunity to be included on the next meeting's agenda. Please allow one week advance notice. Conditional use issues are presented to the Town for approval, not the County. 

Notice of Open Book and Board of Review

Pursuant to Sec. 70.45 of Wis. Statutes the assessment roll for the current year are  open for examination at a date and time to be determined by the Town Assessor and Town Clerk. Dates and times are published in the Whitewater Register and on the Town website 30 days prior to the scheduled Open Book and Board of Review. Both the Open Book and Board of Review meet at the Town Hall, W8590 Willis Ray Rd, Whitewater.. Instructional material about the assessment and board of review procedures will be available at that time for information on how to file an objection and the board of review procedures under Wisconsin Law.

Please be advised of the following requirements to appear before the board of review and procedural requirements if appearing before the board:

1. No person will be allowed to appear before the board of review, to testify to the board by telephone, or to contest the amount of any assessment of real or personal property if the person has refused a reasonable written request by certified mail of the assessor to enter onto property to conduct an exterior view of such property being assessed.
2. After the first meeting of the board of review and before the board's final adjournment, no person who is scheduled to appear before the board of review may contact or provide information to a member of the board about the person's objection, except at a session of the board. Open book shall occur no less than 7 days prior to the board of review.
3. The board of review may not hear an objection to the amount or valuation of property unless, at least 48 hours before the board's first scheduled meeting, the objector provides to the board's clerk written or oral notice of an intent to file an objection, except that upon a showing of good cause and the submission of a written objection, the board shall waive that requirement during the first 2 hours of the board's first scheduled meeting, and the board may waive that requirement up to the end of the 5th day of the session or up to the end of the final day of the session if the session is less than 5 days with proof of extraordinary circumstances for failure to meet the 48-hour notice requirement and failure to appear before the board of review during the first 2 hours of the first scheduled meeting.
4. Objections to the amount or valuation of property shall first be made in writing and filed with the clerk of the board of review within the first 2 hours of the board's first scheduled meeting, except that, upon evidence of extraordinary circumstances, the board may waive that requirement up to the end of the 5th day of the session or up to the end of the final day of the session if the session is less than 5 days. The board may require objections to the amount or valuation of property to be submitted on forms approved by the Department of Revenue, and the board shall require that any forms include stated valuations of the property in question. Persons who own land and improvements to that land may object to the aggregate valuation of that land and improvements to that land, but no person who owns land and improvements to that land may object only to the valuation of that land or only to the valuation of improvements to that land. No person may be allowed in any action or proceedings to question the amount or valuation of property unless the written objection has been filed and that person in good faith presented evidence to the board in support of the objections and made full disclosure before the board, under oath, of all of that person's property liable to assessment in the district and the value of that property. The requirement that objections be in writing may be waived by express action of the board.
5. When appearing before the board of review, the objecting person shall specify in writing the person's estimate of the value of the land and of the improvements that are the subject of the person's objection and specify the information that the person used to arrive at that estimate.
6. No person may appear before the board of review, testify to the board by telephone, or object to a valuation if that valuation was made by the assessor or the objector using the income method of valuation, unless no later than 7 days before the first meeting of the board of review the person supplies the assessor with all the information about income and expenses, as specified in the assessor's manual under s. 73.03 (2a), Wis. stats., that the assessor requests. The Town of Whitewater has an ordinance for the confidentiality of information about income and expenses that is provided to the assessor under this paragraph that provides exceptions for persons using information in the discharge of duties imposed by law or the duties of their officer or by order of a court. The information that is provided under this paragraph, unless a court determines before the first meeting of the board of review that it is inaccurate, is not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1), Wis. Stats.
7. The board shall hear upon oath, by telephone, all ill or disabled persons who present to the board a letter from a physician, surgeon, or osteopath that confirms their illness or disability. No other persons may testify by telephone unless the Board, in its discretion, has determined to grant a property owner’s or their representative’s request to testify under oath by telephone or written statement.
8. No person may appear before the board of review, testify to the board by telephone, or contest the amount of any assessment unless, at least 48 hours before the first meeting of the board, or at least 48 hours before the objection is heard if the objection is allowed under s.70.47 (3) (a), Wis. stats., that person provides to the clerk of the board of review notice as to whether the person will ask for the removal of a member of the board of review and, if so, which member, and provides a reasonable estimate of the length of time the hearing will take.

Jorja Boiley, Town Clerk/Treasurer

Click here to view the Property Assessment Appeal Guide

Click here to view the Guide for Property Owners

Click here to view the Real Property Objection Form 

Click here to view the Personal Property Objection Form

Request for Waiver of Board of Review Hearing Form

Request to Testify by Telephone or Submit a Sworn Written Statement at the Board of Review Form

The Town of Whitewater is under Walworth County zoning restrictions. Property owners contemplating zoning change, conditional use or variance changes, should first contact the Walworth County Land Management office (262-741-4972) to determine the type of change needed, then contact the Town of Whitewater Clerk/Treasurer Jorja Boiley (262-473-4639) or Email: clerk.treas@townofwhitewaterwi.gov to get on the agenda for the next Town Board Meeting. Contact Jorja at least one week prior to the next Town Board meeting, which is usually the second Wednesday of the month, to get on the agenda.

The Town of Whitewater has adopted the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (with additions and exclusions) for all one- and two-family dwellings constructed after June 1, 1998. For more information on the building permit and inspection process, click the "Building Permits" tab under "Services."

Commercial Building Inspections are handled by the State of Wisconsin, DSPS-Division of Industry Services, Contact State Building Inspector Steve Gothard.

Phone: 608-235-0568.

Branch Chipping Service:

Branch chipping 2025: May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 2, October 6.

Branch Chipping is done by appointment only. Chipping begins the first Monday of May, June, July, August, September and October. The July and September dates may change based on the which Monday the holiday is celebrated.

In the event of inclement weather or if the number of requests are more than can be completed in one day, the service may be changed to the following day. 

To register for service, please call the Town Hall at 262-473-4639. When leaving a message through voice mail, please provide your name, address and phone number to be added to the list. You may also request service via email: 
clerk.treas@townofwhitewaterwi.gov

Your request should be made no later than the Thursday before the first Monday of the month. Calls taken after Thursday may not be included on the requested date.

• If you want chips delivered for your landscaping use, please leave a message at the town hall and they will be delivered the next time they' are available. Also indicate where you want the chips placed if you do not plan to be at your residence to accept delivery.
• Have branch ends placed toward the road in ONE orderly stack, 3 feet high by 5 feet wide by your fire number. Maximum branch diameter of 6”.
• No roots, leaves or yard debris. (OK to have greens and leaves on branches)
• Branches for pick up need to be placed next to your fire number. Do not place branches across the road in the right of way.
• No building materials
• Twigs and small branches should be placed in a tote or small container placed near the larger pile of branches. The crew will leave the tote/container for you to re-use. Please do not use a John's Disposal container for this purpose.
• Please do not use bags of any kind
• This service is provided as a courtesy. If you have more branches than what can be chipped in a 15 minute timeframe, there will be a charge of $25.00 per each additional 15 minutes. The charge will be billed by the Town.

Road Maintenance: Town of Whitewater provides snowplowing, sanding, mowing,  and maintenance for all town roads. There are 53 miles of roads in the Township to maintain and the services provided may require more than one day to complete and depending on the service some of the roads may take priority over others. Snowplowing is scheduled based on the normal road usage. 
Please DO NOT use the road right-of-way for dumping of refuse, leaves, branches, or trash, etc. Changing the configuration of the right of way, including filling with dirt or landscaping and planting of vegetation is not allowed and you will be asked to remove any impediment placed in the right of way.
When plowing your driveway, do not push the snow across the road onto Town right-of-way or in the road itself.  During normal business hours, please report any dangerous road conditions by calling the Town Hall (262.473.4639) or Public Works Superintendent, Carl Ahrens: 920-723-0458. After normal business hours: call 911, Cark Ahrens or Supervisor, Bob Strand: 262-391-3421.