I was bored so started looking at some land for sale in Wisconsin.
Found 4ish acres in the middle of nowhere with nothing on it.
Let’s say I buy it (doubt it will happen since my wife’s reaction will be like WTF)
Do I have to do anything other than pay the taxes on it? Are there any liabilities I incur just by owning it?
I’ve had some land in CO for a couple of years. We haven’t done anything other than pay taxes, but it is a good question.
State laws vary considerably on whether/when a landowner can be liable to people who get hurt while on your property. Fortunately for you, Wisconsin law provides landowners with good protection.
If you stay up to date on your taxes, it is yours. Nothing else you need to do.
I would check on it every now and then. Not sure about WI but if someone is squatting on it or otherwise using it (say the neighbor builds a structure on it) for a long period of time like 20 years they could legally lay claim to it in some places.
In CO, if there is a chance other people are going on your land — to hunt, fish, play, etc. — you get legal immunity if you place a sign at the primary access point for your land. The language for the sign is on pp.3-4:
Ike is right.
I would still “insure” it anyway and post signs re no trespassing etc to further limit you liability exposure
Other than that not that I know of
There are things you can agree to with the WI DNR especially if it is forested that if you do greatly reduce or eliminate your property tax bill
I appreciate the info. I’ll take a look.
Such as…?
That’s my concern…trespass liability…attractive nuisance and other stuff I vague recollection of
Thanks I’ll read that over
I should add/clarify, as that may not fit your situation.
First, the usual caveat: I am not currently a CO lawyer, you are not my client, and you should not rely on this information, though I hope it is helpful.
Second, CO law divides recreation visitors into three categories:
Visitors who pay an admission fee. Presumably not your situation. If you charge an admission then you are liable for failure to properly warn/guard against dangers in your property.
People whom you allow to use the property, but don’t charge a fee. If you post the sign described in the statute I linked, then visitors in this category are treated like trespassers, for liability purposes.
Trespassers. They can only hold you liable if you intentionally hurt them.
I see if I can look it up. It has to do with allowing them on your land and allowing them to identify areas the need to be thinned out. I think they pay for the tree cutting/thinning then but I’d have to check.
It’s basically opposite of CA. They want to actively manage forestry so a wild fire doesn’t wipe out everything
I owned a piece with my brother and uncle a while ago. My brother still owns. When you agree, assuming it’s a non producing piece of land I think we paid like $200 per year in taxes for 35 acres of land used for hunting
Thanks again. It’s rural property that has yet to be built on. It’s is technically part of an HOA, but not really (no dues, many lots still not developed even though it was established in the 60s). Definitely no one has permission to be on it but us.
Check if you can build on it. You never know what you may want to do in the future.
Are there any first nation aka native tribes claim on it such as ancestral property, sacred ground, unseeded land? Here in BC this is a huge deal.
Managed Forest Law | | Wisconsin DNR
looks like it has to be at least 20 acres or at least 10 adjacent to another piece of equal size.
Anyway, read through this page. Again, the concept is they are trying to actively manage areas/sections of land for forestation.
When they came on our land they were very specific (with spray paint) down to certain trees, certain clumps of trees, certain ground cover they wanted cleared out. Somebody smart with a master plan looking at a large area. And again, my understanding is it all had to do with not letting a fire or an infestation or disease run wild over large sections of land.
I know a bunch of landowners in CO that got very large bills for having to mitigate the bark beetle infestation when that came through- maybe 15 years ago.
I’m sure these types of programs are designed to deal with more than that but I think that’s part of why they do it
You may want to check what kind of water rights you have and drilling cost to get a well put in. Also how far does electricity have to come to your property. Electric poles ain’t cheap
Just post it. You should be scot free.
I’m currently liable for controlling the presence of half a dozen animals and plants. @windywave would be worth checking if there are any organisms that WI wants to keep out that you may be on the hook for.