Moving up here
Bought a place up here, or thinking about it? Here's who handles what: fire numbers, septic, permits, taxes, schools, the dump and the rest.
Your fire number
Out here your address is your fire number, the sign at the end of the driveway. It's how the ambulance finds you.
- County Zoning takes the application and Emergency Management assigns the number, then emails you. It's $75, check made out to Forest County Zoning.
- Send your 12-digit tax parcel number and a map: the nearest town road, where your driveway is, and the neighbors' driveways and fire numbers on both sides.
- If your driveway needs a permit from the town, county or state, get that first. The county won't give a number without it. Figure on up to 30 days.
- The town puts up the sign. Got an RV parked on a lot? That lot needs a fire number too.
- County Zoning715-478-3893Application form · Apply online
- Emergency Management, for a number you already have or a missing sign715-478-3430
From co.forest.wi.gov, Physical Address Fire Number Application, Road Naming and Uniform Addressing, Land Use Guide
Septic
- Every 3 yearsEvery septic and holding tank in the county has to be pumped or looked at by a licensed pro every three years, and the signed form goes to the county by September 1 of your year. A cabin counts the same as a house.
- Buying a placeIf the system is 10 years old or more, the county wants a full evaluation by a master plumber or certified inspector before the sale goes through. One done in the last 5 years counts. The county's land use guide asks for one on newer systems too if there's no county permit on file.
- New system or a fixGet a sanitary permit from the county first, and a licensed plumber does the work. A conventional system permit is $450 (2026 fee list).
- County Zoning & SanitaryCourthouse, Crandon, rooms 103 and 105715-478-3893Forms and the ordinance · Look up your permit
From co.forest.wi.gov, Sanitary Ordinance, 3 Year Septic Inspection FAQ, 2026 Fee Schedule
Building and land use
- Zoned by the countyArgonne, Hiles, Lincoln, Nashville, Wabeno and the Town of Crandon. Building there takes a county land use permit.
- Everywhere elseAlvin, Armstrong Creek, Blackwell, Caswell, Freedom, Laona, Popple River and Ross aren't zoned, but anything within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or creek is shoreland and still needs a county permit. Not sure where you are? Zoning will look it up on their map.
- What it runsNew construction is 20 cents a square foot, $100 minimum. An RV on a lot for more than 10 days takes a permit too (2026 fee list).
- Building a houseState building code inspections in Forest County are done by Duff Leaver Inspections out of Antigo.715-216-4734
- County Zoning715-478-3893Zoning page
- Still looking for a place? What to check before you buy is on its own page.Buying land up here
Driveways
- On a county roadPermit from the County Highway Department. You flag the spot in the ditch; 25 feet wide at the pavement, minimum.715-478-3516Permit form
- On a town roadYour town handles it. Ask at the town hall before you dig.
- On a state or US highwayThat's a WisDOT connection permit.WisDOT permits
From co.forest.wi.gov highway depart, co.forest.wi.gov information, wisconsindot.gov
Schools
Most of the county goes to one of three districts. Which one depends on your town, and sometimes the road.
- CrandonMost of the county: the city and town of Crandon, Argonne, Lincoln, Nashville, Alvin and most of Hiles. Elementary, middle and high school in Crandon.sdofcrandon.com
- LaonaLaona, Caswell, Ross and Popple River. Robinson Elementary and Laona High.laona.k12.wi.us
- Wabeno AreaWabeno, Freedom and Blackwell. Elementary and high school in Wabeno.wabeno.k12.wi.us
- Goodman-Armstrong CreekThe Town of Armstrong Creek. The schools are down in Goodman.goodman.k12.wi.us
- A corner of Hiles goes to Three Lakes. To be sure for one address, look it up on the state's map; your tax bill lists the district too.Look up an address
From data-wi-dpi.opendata.arcgis.com, sco.wisc.edu, wabeno.k12.wi.us
Doctors and hospitals
- In CrandonAspirus Crandon Clinic on W. Glen Street, and the Potawatomi Health & Wellness Center, which takes everybody, not just tribal members.Aspirus Crandon · Potawatomi Health & Wellness
- HospitalsMost ambulance runs from here go to Aspirus in Rhinelander, and most of the rest to Aspirus Langlade in Antigo, especially from the southwest end. Up in the north end of the county, Aspirus in Eagle River or Marshfield Medical Center in Iron Mountain can be closer.Rhinelander · Antigo · Eagle River · Iron Mountain
- AmbulanceRescue squads the county lists: Crandon Area Rescue, Laona Rescue, Goodman/Armstrong Rescue and Pickerel Rescue. Get your fire number up so they can find you. Emergencies, 911.
Power, gas and phone
- ElectricWisconsin Public Service has most of the county. We Energies has most of Alvin and parts of Ross, Popple River, Caswell and Hiles. The state's map leaves some land out in Popple River, Ross and Alvin in nobody's territory, so ask before you buy a lot back in there.
- Natural gasWPS has gas in Argonne, Blackwell, Crandon, Freedom, Hiles, Laona, Lincoln, Wabeno and a bit of Armstrong Creek, but that doesn't mean a line runs down your road; ask WPS. Alvin, Caswell, Nashville, Popple River and Ross have no gas service.
- Internet and cellDepends a lot on the road. Check an address on the state and federal maps before you count on it.Wisconsin broadband map · FCC map
- City water and sewerOnly in Crandon, Laona and Wabeno. Everywhere else, figure on your own well and septic.
From psc.wi.gov Maps, emun, psc.wi.gov BroadbandMaps, 2024 2026 County Directory
The dump
Every town runs its own. Bring your town's card or sticker; most only take their own residents and taxpayers. Hours as the towns post them:
- ArgonneSaturdays 9 to 5, plus Wednesdays 2 to 6 from Memorial Day to Labor Day.Town site
- Armstrong CreekSundays 9 to 1 and Wednesdays noon to 3, all year. Residents only; show the decal or the dump pass card from your tax bill.Town site
- Town of CrandonWednesdays 9 to 5, Saturdays 9 to 1.Town site
- City of CrandonPickup is by Republic Services.715-477-0077City site
- HilesSouth site on County S and north site on Babcock Road, Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 to noon. Sundays 8 to noon in summer too (south May to October, north May to September).Town site
- LincolnOn Potawatomi Trail, a quarter mile east of County W. Wednesdays 11 to 3, Saturdays 9 to 3, Sundays 11 to 3. Bring your permit card. No appliances, mattresses, tires, electronics, building stuff or yard waste.Town site
- NashvilleNorth site on Stautner Lane and south site on County DD in Pickerel; days change with the season. One card per address, no brush.Hours on the town site
- WabenoRecycling center on Soper Street: Wednesdays 11 to 5, Saturdays 9 to 3, Sundays 10 to 2. Residents and taxpayers, with the yellow card.Town site
- Alvin, Blackwell, Caswell, Freedom, Laona, Popple River, RossNo hours posted online that we could find. Ask at the town hall: Alvin 715-545-3323, Caswell 715-784-0827, Laona 715-674-4071.
Towns change hours with the seasons. If it's a long drive, call first.
From argonnewi.gov, armstrongcreek.org, townofcrandon.com, townofhiles.org, townoflincolnforestwi.gov, nashtownwi.com, wabeno.org, townofcaswellwi.com
Paying property tax
- Unless your town sets other dates, the first half is due January 31 and the rest by July 31. Your bill says where each payment goes; some towns take the first half and the County Treasurer takes the rest.
- County Treasurer715-478-2412Pay online
- What it runs town by town is in the table below.
Burning brush
- Forest County is on the DNR's daily burning list. You need a free DNR burning permit to burn whenever the ground isn't all snow, and you check that day's rules after 9 in the morning before you light anything. The DNR permit doesn't cover inside the City of Crandon; ask the city.
- DNR burn permits1-888-947-2876Get a permit online · How it works
License and plates
- Moving from another state? Get a Wisconsin driver's license within 60 days, in person. Title and plate your vehicles when you move here; your old plates don't ride out their time.WisDOT new residents · What to bring
- DMVCrandon has a DMV on S. Lake Avenue, open only part of the week. Otherwise Rhinelander, Antigo or Eagle River.Days and hours
County offices
The courthouse is at 200 E. Madison St. in Crandon, open weekdays 8:30 to 4:30.
- Sheriff's officeEmergencies, call 911.715-478-3331
- County ClerkDog and marriage licenses, elections.715-478-2422
- Treasurer715-478-2412
- Register of DeedsDeeds and birth, death and marriage records.715-478-3823
- Veterans Service Office715-478-3722
- Zoning, sanitary and recycling715-478-3893
From co.forest.wi.gov county clerk depart, co.forest.wi.gov treasurer depart, co.forest.wi.gov register of deeds, co.forest.wi.gov veterans depart, forestcountysheriff.org, 2024 2026 County Directory
Voting and your town
- Register at MyVote, online up to 20 days before an election, at your town clerk's office until the Friday before, or at the polls on Election Day. Bring proof of where you live; you need to have lived there 28 days.MyVote Wisconsin
- Your town runs the election and the polling place. When your town board meets is on our town boards page.Town boards
- Dog licenseFrom your town or the County Clerk. Bring proof of a rabies shot.
From elections.wi.gov, co.forest.wi.gov elections 1, townoflincolnforestwi.gov, co.forest.wi.gov county clerk depart
Mail and the library
- Post officesArgonne 54511, Armstrong Creek 54103, Crandon 54520, Laona 54541, Wabeno 54566. Long Lake 54542 and Pickerel 54465 are just over the line.
- LibrariesCrandon, Laona and Wabeno, all three in the Wisconsin Valley Library Service.Crandon · Laona · Wabeno
From tools.usps.com, wvls.org
Tribal nations
- Forest County Potawatomi Community715-478-7200fcpotawatomi.com
- Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Mole Lake715-478-7500sokaogonchippewa.com
Property tax by town
What the 2025 tax bill came to for every $100,000 a place is worth, the way the state figures full value. Your own bill depends on your assessment, and the lottery credit comes off after this if you live here.
| Where | Per $100,000, after the state's school credit | Before it |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Alvin | $759 | $870 |
| Town of Nashville | $839 | $944 |
| Town of Hiles | $841 | $948 |
| Town of Argonne | $861 | $970 |
| Town of Lincoln | $863 | $963 |
| Town of Freedom | $868 | $957 |
| Town of Popple River | $886 | $1,024 |
| Town of Blackwell | $891 | $974 |
| Town of Crandon | $953 | $1,065 |
| Town of Wabeno | $974 | $1,067 |
| Town of Caswell | $1,130 | $1,274 |
| Town of Laona | $1,167 | $1,305 |
| Town of Armstrong Creek | $1,174 | $1,378 |
| City of Crandon | $1,229 | $1,326 |
| Town of Ross | $1,240 | $1,378 |
From the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's 2025 Town, Village and City Taxes (taxes levied 2025, paid 2026). Where a town has more than one school district, it's an average, so your number can be a little different.
Everything here comes from the county, the towns, the state or whoever runs it, with a link to where we got it. Checked October 19, 2026. Rules and phone numbers change, so call before you drive anywhere.