Services
Permits, licenses, and town services
Some things are handled by the Town, some by Jackson County, and some by the State. This page says which is which so you are not sent in circles.
Recent changes
What has changed in 2026
A few things the Town does have changed this year. If you are going on how it used to work, start here.
| What changed | When |
|---|---|
| The Town no longer plows private driveways. The electors ended that service. Sanding of private driveways continues at $40 per occurrence, provided the driveway has already been plowed. Private contractors are available for driveway plowing. | Annual town meeting, April 21, 2026 |
| Call the Patrolman directly about roads. Don Hart is the Town Patrolman. Road hazards, downed trees, washouts, plugged culverts, and damaged signs go to him first, not through the Clerk. Call a Board member if you cannot reach him. | June 2026 |
| The Fire Department may bill for certain calls. The Board adopted an ordinance allowing the fire department to bill, through a third-party billing service, for services such as motor vehicle accidents and other roadway incidents. Fire dues continue to cover structure fires, and billing is generally directed to the insurance of the parties involved. | Ordinance adopted June 8, 2026 |
| The Town Board stays at three members. Adding two supervisor seats would require the Town to adopt village powers, so the Board decided not to pursue it at this time. | July 13, 2026 |
Minutes for any of these meetings are available from the Clerk. See Meetings and Minutes.
Driveways and culverts
Which office you need depends on which road you are coming off of:
- Town road — call the Town Patrolman, Don Hart, at (715) 896-9109.
- County highway — Jackson County Highway Department, (715) 284-0264.
- State or federal highway — Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The Town does not charge a driveway or culvert permit fee. If you are putting in a new driveway access, or placing or replacing a culvert in the town right of way, call the Patrolman. He will come out, look at the site with you, and help work out what is needed so water carries properly and the road does not wash out. If the situation needs to go further, he brings it to the Town Board or refers it to the County.
Call before you dig, not after. Culvert size and placement are much cheaper to get right the first time, and a driveway that pushes water onto the road becomes everyone's problem in the spring.
If you are building, your driveway also has to be shown on the site plan you file with Jackson County so county minimums can be checked.
Building permits and inspections
Building in Jackson County takes permits from more than one office, and they come in order. Start with the County, finish with the Town.
| Permit | Issued by | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitary permit — required first for any dwelling meant for human habitation | Jackson County Zoning & Land Information | (715) 284-0220 |
| Address number — required for every structure before occupancy, including camping units | County assigns the number; the Town orders and installs the sign | County (715) 284-0220, then the Clerk |
| UDC building permit and inspections — new one- and two-family dwellings, and additions or alterations to homes built after June 1, 1980 | General Engineering Co., the Town's contracted inspector | Kent Erickson, (608) 697-7774 |
| Livestock and animal facility licensing | Jackson County Land Conservation | (715) 284-0256 |
Do not start construction before the permits are issued. The County charges a penalty of ten times the permit fee for work started early.
Jackson County Zoning & Land Information, 307 Main St., Suite B03, Black River Falls, WI 54615 ยท co.jackson.wi.us
Dog licenses
Wisconsin law requires a license for every dog over five months of age. The license year runs January 1 through December 31, so a license has to be renewed every year.
License by April 1. Under Wis. Stat. § 174.05(5) a $5.00 late fee is added for any dog five months or older that was not licensed before April 1, or within 30 days of your acquiring the dog, or by the date the dog turned five months old.
Bring a current rabies vaccination certificate. The certificate has to be in hand before a license can be issued, so if the shot is due, get that done first. You will be issued a numbered tag for the dog to wear.
License your dog with the Town Clerk.
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Spayed or neutered dog | $5.00 per dog |
| Unaltered dog | $10.00 per dog |
| Kennel license — obtained from the Jackson County Treasurer, not the Town | $35.00 for up to 12 dogs, plus $3.00 for each additional dog |
| Late fee, if licensed after April 1 | $5.00 per dog |
Property taxes and assessment
Property taxes have their own page, because there is a lot to say. It covers where your tax money actually goes, the current mill rates and assessment ratio, how to read the bill, the lottery and first dollar credits, every way to pay, and what to do if you think your assessment is wrong.
- Where your property tax money goes
- Mill rates and assessment ratio
- How to read your tax bill
- Credits that reduce your bill
- Paying your property taxes
- If you disagree with your assessment
- Buying, selling, or splitting a parcel
Short version: bills are mailed in December, the first installment or full payment goes to the Town Treasurer, Lori Greenwold, and later installments go to the Jackson County Treasurer. The assessor is Eric Kleven, (715) 529-1032. Talk to him at Open Book before you object to the Board of Review.
Roads and winter maintenance
The Town maintains town roads: grading, gravel, patching, brushing, culverts, and snow plowing. County highways and state highways are maintained by the County and the State.
The Town does not plow private driveways. The electors ended that service at the 2026 annual town meeting. Sanding of private driveways is still available at $40 per occurrence, provided the driveway has already been plowed.
To report a washout, a plugged culvert, a downed tree in the right of way, a damaged sign, or a road hazard, call the Town Patrolman, Don Hart, at (715) 896-9109. You do not need to go through the Clerk for road matters. If a road hazard is an immediate danger to traffic, call 911.
Mailboxes, driveway aprons, and anything else placed in the town right of way are placed there at the owner's risk during plowing.
Fire number and address signs
Every structure in Jackson County must have an address number assigned before it is occupied, including travel trailers and camping units. The number is assigned by Jackson County Zoning and Land Information, and the application goes into the county E911 response system so emergency services can find you.
Here is how it works. The County assigns the address and sends the Clerk a letter with the new number and, where needed, a map showing where the driveway meets the road. The Clerk then orders the sign, and it is installed near that intersection. The cost of the sign and installation is payable to the Town. The current charge is $100.00.
To apply for an address, contact the Jackson County GIS / 911 Coordinator at (715) 284-0284.
If your existing fire number sign is missing, faded, or knocked down, tell the Clerk or the Patrolman. A sign nobody can read is a problem on the worst possible night.
Recycling and disposal
Open Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at the Town Hall grounds, N10752 School House Road, Hixton, WI 54635.
| What | How to bring it |
|---|---|
| Household trash | In the blue bags, which are sold on site for $2.25 per bag. Trash has to be in a blue bag. |
| Recyclables | Loose, not in bags. There is no charge for recyclables. |
Bagged recyclables are the most common mix-up. Bring them loose so they can go straight into the containers.
Renting the Town Hall
The Town Hall is available to rent for private events. The rental fee is $50.00.
To reserve it, contact the Town Clerk, Jess Lind, at northfieldtownclerk@gmail.com or (301) 752-0774. Backup contact: Ben Kissinger, (715) 533-4495.
Emergency and utility numbers are posted in the hall and are also listed on the Contact page.
Alcohol beverage licenses
Alcohol licenses run July 1 through June 30. Applications are made on state Form AB-200 through the Town Clerk, and the Town Board acts on them at a meeting.
| License | Fee | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Class “B” beer and liquor Class “B” beer $75 + Class “B” liquor $425 |
$500 | Taverns and restaurants, for drinking on the premises |
| Class “A” beer and liquor Class “A” beer $25 + Class “A” liquor $425 |
$450 | Stores selling sealed containers to take away |
| Operator (bartender) license | $20 each | Anyone serving alcohol |
| Temporary Class “B” picnic license | $10 each | A club or organization serving beer at a single gathering or picnic |
| Background check | $10 | Charged once, on a first application |
| Publication fee | $35 | Cost of publishing the license notice in the newspaper |
About the background check. It is charged the first time a person applies. It applies to a new operator's license applicant, and to a person named as the agent on a business's license. It is not charged again on renewal.
Picnic licenses. A temporary Class “B” license under Wis. Stat. § 125.26(6) covers beer at a single event or a short run of dates. The license must be framed and posted where the beer is served. Apply through the Clerk well before your event so the Board can act on it.
These fees were continued by the electors at the 2026 annual town meeting. The Town Board was asked to review comparable fees in Jackson County and similar municipalities.
Pocket gopher bounty
The Town pays a bounty of $2.00 per tail for pocket gophers. Bring tails to the Clerk. See the Clerk for how claims are handled.
Burning
Burning permits in DNR-protected areas are issued by the Wisconsin DNR, and daily burning restrictions change with fire danger. Check conditions before you burn.
Managed Forest Law
Managed Forest Law and Forest Crop Law are state programs administered by the Wisconsin DNR for enrolled forest land. Enrollment, withdrawal, and cutting notices go through the DNR, not the Town.
On the 2025 tax roll the Town had 1,488 acres enrolled in managed forest land. See Managed forest land for the detail.
Not sure who handles it? Ask the Clerk. If it belongs to the County or the State, you will be pointed to the right office. See Contact.