We have done many projects on the area lakes over the years, and have a lot of experience in the process. We have a good working relationship with Walworth County, and we are usually able to get the permits needed to do projects on the lakes, as long as we play by the rules. Recently, things have changed, however. Some changes are for the better, and some for the worse, and the permit process has become very complicated.
In the Fall of 2016, new regulations were put in place to protect shorelines. Previously, any new structure within 75 ft of the shoreline needed approval, and now it is anything within 300 ft. That means any new structure needs an Engineered Survey of the property, Shoreline Zoning Permit, and complicated Permeability calculations.
The good news, though, is that existing structures are still relatively easy to get approval on replacement, as long as the footprint is the same. Any structure (legal or not) that is proven to have been there 10 years or more is grandfathered in, and requires minimal permitting to replace (but not expand).
The County Department we work with also lost a key employee, who chose a different career path. This has added to the confusion and slowing of the permitting processes.