Zoning permits revenue steady; county issues more building and sanitary permits in June and July

Zoning staff reported to the Ashland County Zoning and Land Committee on Aug. 5 that the county collected $14,645 in permit revenue in June 2025 and $11,140 in July 2025, and described the permit mix for each month.

For June 2025 the department recorded 21 building permits, eight sanitary permits, four non‑plumbing permits and seven grading permits, totaling $14,645. Staff said the July 2025 total was $11,140, including 16 building permits, 10 sanitary permits, one non‑plumbing permit and three grading permits. The committee noted the totals are roughly on track with previous years, though speakers said net new construction in the county remains low compared with statewide figures.

Staff explained the color coding on the revenue printout: red indicates deposits turned in after month end, light blue indicates permits issued by the Madeline Island zoning administrator, purple indicates credit card payments and green indicates cash; a dark blue entry reflected a 2021 credit. Committee members discussed a few individual permit payors and clarified that the spreadsheet shows the payor and the party for whom the permit was issued when a plumber or contractor paid the fee on behalf of an owner.

Committee members used the report as context for a broader discussion about encouraging net new construction and lot sizes in the county; those policy questions were noted as separate from the revenue report and will be considered in other discussions of county growth and planning.