Washburn County, WI zoning map, flood zone and property lines by address
Free, no account. Or open the Wisconsin map and tap a lot.
Towns in Washburn County: Spooner, Shell Lake.
Flood zone by address
ParcelSheet reads FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer at the lot: the zone, whether it is a high risk area where lenders ask for flood insurance, and the base flood elevation where FEMA lists one. FEMA's countywide study for Washburn County has 127 FIRM panels, the newest effective October 2012; no coastal V zones are mapped in it.
The official panel and any Letter of Map Amendment are at FEMA's Map Service Center. An elevation certificate for a Washburn house comes from a licensed surveyor and is often on file with the county or city building office.
Property lines
The parcel outline, parcel number and mapped size come from the Wisconsin statewide parcel layer (from each county, compiled by the State Cartographer), so a Washburn lot shows the same lines the real property lister draws. Washburn County covers about 510,153 acres of land and 35,970 acres of water.
Mapped lines are approximate. The Washburn County real property lister keeps the parcel record (Washburn County website); a licensed surveyor sets the true corners.
Zoning
In Wisconsin zoning is set by the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is: in Washburn County, Spooner, Shell Lake each zone the land inside their limits. ParcelSheet shows the use code on the lot's parcel record and the municipality it sits in; the county, town or city zoning office has the district, the uses it allows and the lot size it needs. The Washburn County website lists the county's municipalities.
ADU and guest houses
Under Wisconsin's zoning laws (Wis. Stat. 59.69 for counties, 60.61 for towns and 62.23 for cities), the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is can allow an accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a house. Whether a Washburn lot can add one depends on its district; the county, town or city zoning office has the rule. ParcelSheet shows the mapped lot size and the ground's slope, the first two things the question turns on.
Septic and soil
ParcelSheet reads the USDA soil survey at the lot: the soil's name, its septic absorption rating and whether it is prime farmland. Washburn County is soil survey area WI129, Washburn County, Wisconsin, last updated September 2026, on Web Soil Survey.
A new or changed septic system in Washburn County needs a permit from the Washburn County sanitary permit office under the state POWTS rules (Department of Safety and Professional Services).
Setbacks
Setbacks in Washburn County come from the zoning district: the front, side and rear distances a house must keep. ParcelSheet does not draw setback lines; the county, town or city zoning office gives them for the lot's district, and Spooner and Shell Lake for land inside their limits.
Hazards that apply
- Wetlands and wildfire. ParcelSheet shows the National Wetlands Inventory near a Washburn lot and the Forest Service wildfire hazard rating at it.
Questions
Is my house in a flood zone in Washburn County?
Type the address in the box above and ParcelSheet reads FEMA's flood zone at the lot's center. FEMA's countywide flood map for Washburn County has 127 panels, the newest effective October 2012. A lender or insurer uses the official FIRM panel; FEMA's Map Service Center has it.
How do I find property lines in Washburn County?
Open the Wisconsin map, type the address, and the parcel outline from the Washburn County real property lister shows on the map with its parcel number and mapped size. Mapped lines are approximate; only a licensed surveyor sets the true corners.
What is my property zoned in Washburn County?
Zoning in Washburn County is set by the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is (such as Spooner, Shell Lake). ParcelSheet shows the use code on the parcel record and names the municipality; the county, town or city zoning office has the final word.
Can I build an ADU in Washburn County?
Under Wisconsin's zoning laws (Wis. Stat. 59.69 for counties, 60.61 for towns and 62.23 for cities), the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is can allow an accessory dwelling unit, and each sets its own rules. In Washburn County ask the county, town or city zoning office for the lot's district first; ParcelSheet shows the lot size as mapped so you can see the room you have.
Do I need a septic permit in Washburn County?
Yes. A new or changed septic system in Washburn County needs a permit from the Washburn County sanitary permit office under the state POWTS rules (Department of Safety and Professional Services). ParcelSheet shows the USDA soil survey's septic rating at the lot, from survey area WI129 (Washburn County, Wisconsin).
What can I build on 5 acres in Washburn County?
Zoning in Washburn County is set by the county, the town or the city or village, depending on where the lot is (such as Spooner, Shell Lake). The zoning district decides the uses, how many homes and the smallest lot it allows on 5 acres. ParcelSheet shows the lot size as mapped and the use code on the parcel record; the county, town or city zoning office has the district and its rules. See the Washburn County website.
What are the residential setbacks in Washburn County (2026)?
Setbacks in Washburn County come from the zoning code of the municipality the lot sits in: the front, side and rear distances depend on the lot's district. ParcelSheet does not draw setback lines or give a number it did not read; the county, town or city zoning office gives them for the district. See the Washburn County website.
Next to Washburn County: Barron County, Burnett County, Douglas County, Sawyer County.
The Wisconsin map · All Wisconsin counties · Flood zones explained · FIRM panels and LOMAs · All 50 states