I own or want to purchase a lot with a wetland on it. Is it buildable?

The District is not a land use control authority and does not issue building permits, therefore this question cannot be answered on the basis of the presence of a wetland alone. However, the District does have jurisdiction over all wetlands. Filling, draining, or excavating these wetlands requires a permit and generally requires 2:1 replacement in addition to requiring the applicant to provide appropriate justification for impacting the wetland (economic considerations alone are not valid).

There are no wetlands on my property because it is or has been farmed

This may not be correct. Wetlands can and do exist in farmed areas. Many wetlands are only wet for brief periods of time in the spring and can then be planted to a crop in late spring or early summer. Applicants should hire a qualified wetland consultant (see consultant directory at http://www.wetlanddelineators.org) to conduct a wetland determination and/or delineation for their property or contact the District Wetland Specialist.

What are the District's setback requirements from wetlands?

The District currently has no setback requirements from wetlands. Some Cities and Townships have setback requirements. However for properties within a designated Shoreland zone (within 1000 feet of a lake, 300 feet of a river or protected watercourse), certain setback requirements from the lake or watercourse would apply (contact the District Permit Coordinator).