This bill is explained in the Notes provided by the joint legislative council in
the bill.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the joint legislative council's special
committee on the historic building code. The bill has the following key provisions:
Historic Building Code
Requires the department of commerce, in cooperation with the state historical
society, to develop a pamphlet to inform owners of historic buildings about the scope and
applicability of the historic building code.
Requires the department of commerce to interpret the historic building code
liberally to facilitate the preservation and restoration of historic buildings.
Creates a process for the department of commerce to review decisions by local
governments regarding compliance with a local ordinance or regulation, to determine if
the local ordinance or regulation is in conflict with the historic building code. Also, this
bill provides an informal process for the state historical society to review decisions of the
department of commerce and local units of government regarding historic buildings and
to negotiate possible changes in those decisions.
Allows local governments by ordinance to establish alternate standards for
handrails and guardrails of historic buildings that are converted from single-family to
multi-family use.
Requires the department of commerce to waive plan review and inspection fees for
a preservation or restoration project affecting a building that is more than 100 years old
and is listed or eligible for listing on the national or state register of historic places.
Other Structural Regulations
Modifies the current bed and breakfast statutes to allow structural additions, in
buildings at least 50 years old, that would otherwise be prohibited by current statutes.
Requires consistency under state law with current federal law for certain housing
accessibility requirements for physically disabled persons in certain historic buildings.
Requires local units of government to interpret liberally the local regulations that
apply to historic structures in order to facilitate the preservation and restoration of
historic buildings and structures.
Demolition of Historic Buildings
Provides that a municipal order to raze a historic building may be appealed by
representatives of a local historical society or by the owner of a historic building that is
within 200 yards of the building subject to the order.
Requires additional notice and the opportunity to request a public hearing with
respect to municipal orders, permits or actions to raze historic buildings or buildings that
are more than 50 years old.
Income Tax Credits for Historic Buildings
Makes the state income tax credit that supplements the federal income tax credit
for renovation of historic buildings available earlier in the renovation process, by making
it available when the state historic preservation officer approves the application, rather
than upon final approval by the U.S. secretary of the interior.
Allows partners who share in the costs of renovating historic buildings to allocate
among themselves the state supplemental income tax credit for the renovation costs.
Rural Historic Preservation
Requests a joint legislative council study, commencing in 2000, of methods to
promote rural historic preservation.

Creates a grant program for the costs of renovating historic agricultural buildings
or structures, with a 50% match requirement, funded in the amount of $75,000 in each
year of the biennium, to be administered by the state historical society.
Makes an appropriation to the state historical society for the purpose of entering
into a contract to conduct a survey to identify and document historic properties in rural
areas.
For further information regarding the provisions in this bill, see the notes
throughout the bill.
SB371, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
SB371, s. 2 3Section 2. 20.245 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB371,3,54 20.245 (3) (f) Historic agricultural building grant program. The amounts in
5the schedule for the historic agricultural building grant program under s. 44.46.
SB371, s. 3 6Section 3. 44.46 of the statutes is created to read:
SB371,3,10 744.46 Historic agricultural building grant program. (1) In this section,
8"historic agricultural building" means any building or structure that is designed for
9agricultural purposes and that is significant in the history, architecture or culture
10of this state.
SB371,4,2 11(2) From the appropriation under s. 20.245 (3) (f), the historical society shall
12award grants to owners of historic agricultural buildings to assist in the restoration
13of the buildings. To receive a grant, the owner shall match the amount of the grant,
14shall agree to use the total amount of funds to restore the historic agricultural

1building and shall agree to use the restored historic agricultural building in a
2manner consistent with the public policy expressed in s. 44.30.
Note: Under current law, the state historical society is assigned numerous
responsibilities related to the preservation of historic and archeological resources in this
state.
This bill creates a historic agricultural building grant program to be administered
by the state historical society. Under the program, the state historical society is required
to award grants to owners of historic agricultural buildings to fund the restoration of such
buildings. Each grantee is required to make a matching contribution equalling the
amount of the grant and to agree to use the restored building in a manner that is
consistent with the state public policy on historic preservation.
The "public policy expressed in s. 44.30", as referenced in the new grant program,
is as follows:
"The legislature finds that the historic, architectural, archaeological and cultural
heritage of the state is among the most important assets of the state and furthermore that
the social, economic and physical development of contemporary society threatens to
destroy the remaining vestiges of this heritage. It is therefore declared to be the public
policy and in the public interest of this state to engage in a comprehensive program of
historic preservation to promote the use and conservation of such property representative
of both the rural and urban heritage of the state for education, inspiration, pleasure and
enrichment of the citizens of this state.".
SB371, s. 4 3Section 4. 59.69 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,4,144 59.69 (4m) Historic preservation. A county, as an exercise of its zoning and
5police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of
6the community and of the state, may regulate by ordinance any place, structure or
7object with a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other
8significant value, for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its
9significant characteristics. The county may create a landmarks commission to
10designate historic landmarks and establish historic districts. The county may
11regulate all historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to
12preserve the historic landmarks and property within the district and the character
13of the district, and shall interpret the county's regulations liberally to facilitate the
14preservation and restoration of historic buildings and structures
.
Note: This provision requires a county to interpret liberally its regulations that
apply to historic structures in order to facilitate the preservation and restoration of
historic buildings and structures.
SB371, s. 5
1Section 5. 60.64 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,5,12 260.64 Historic preservation. The town board, in the exercise of its zoning
3and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare
4of the community and of the state, may regulate any place, structure or object with
5a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other significant value for
6the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant
7characteristics. The town board may create a landmarks commission to designate
8historic landmarks and establish historic districts. The board may regulate all
9historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the
10historic landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district,
11and shall interpret the board's regulations liberally to facilitate the preservation and
12restoration of historic buildings and structures
.
Note: This provision requires a town board to interpret liberally its regulations
that apply to historic structures in order to facilitate the preservation and restoration of
historic buildings and structures.
SB371, s. 6 13Section 6. 62.23 (7) (em) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,6,614 62.23 (7) (em) Historic preservation. A city, as an exercise of its zoning and
15police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of
16the community and of the state, may regulate by ordinance, or if a city contains any
17property that is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the
18state register of historic places shall, not later than 1995, enact an ordinance to
19regulate, any place, structure or object with a special character, historic,
20archaeological or aesthetic interest, or other significant value, for the purpose of
21preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. A city
22may create a landmarks commission to designate historic or archaeological
23landmarks and establish historic districts. The city may regulate, or if the city

1contains any property that is listed on the national register of historic places in
2Wisconsin or the state register of historic places shall regulate, all historic or
3archaeological landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve
4the historic or archaeological landmarks and property within the district and the
5character of the district, and shall interpret the city's regulations liberally to
6facilitate the preservation and restoration of historic buildings and structures
.
Note: This provision requires a city to interpret liberally its regulations that apply
to historic structures in order to facilitate the preservation and restoration of historic
buildings and structures.
SB371, s. 7 7Section 7. 66.038 of the statutes is created to read:
SB371,6,9 866.038 Razing historic buildings and buildings that are more than 50
9years old. (1)
Definitions. In this section:
SB371,6,1210 (a) "Authority" means a housing authority under ss. 66.40 to 66.404, a
11redevelopment authority under s. 66.431 or a housing and community development
12authority under s. 66.4325.
SB371,6,1313 (b) "Historic building" has the meaning given in s. 66.05 (9) (a) 1m.
SB371,6,1514 (c) "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town or county, and includes
15an authority acting on behalf of or at the direction of a city, village or town.
SB371,6,1816 (d) "Resident", in the case of a local governmental unit that is an authority,
17means a resident of the city, village or town on whose behalf or at whose direction the
18authority is acting.
SB371,7,2 19(2) Notice to state historical society. If a local governmental unit issues an
20order or permit or other similar directive or authorization to raze a building, or if a
21local governmental unit intends to raze a building that is owned by the local
22governmental unit, and the building is either a historic building or more than 50

1years old, the local governmental unit shall notify the state historical society of the
2order, permit, directive or authorization or of its intent.
SB371,7,5 3(3) Delay in razing. (a) Except as provided in sub. (4) (a) 3. and (b), a local
4governmental unit may not raze a building subject to sub. (2) during the following
5period after the notice is given to the state historical society:
SB371,7,66 1. For a historic building, 60 days.
SB371,7,77 2. For a building more than 50 years old that is not a historic building, 30 days.
SB371,7,98 (b) Upon request by the state historical society, the local governmental unit
9may extend the period of delay in razing under par. (a).
SB371,7,1310 (c) During the period of delay in razing under par. (a) and during any extension
11of a period of delay, the state historical society shall have access to the building to
12create or preserve a historic record and access to the building shall be a condition of
13the order, permit, directive or authorization issued by the local governmental unit.
SB371,7,16 14(4) Opportunity to request public hearing; written findings. (a) 1. For a
15building subject to sub. (2), the state historical society may direct the local
16governmental unit to provide notice and the opportunity to request a public hearing.
SB371,7,2517 2. If the state historical society directs the local governmental unit to provide
18notice and the opportunity to request a public hearing under subd. 1., the local
19governmental unit shall provide notice to any person who requests notice by mail and
20by publishing a class 1 notice, under ch. 985. Within 30 days after the local
21governmental unit publishes the notice, if 5 or more residents of the local
22governmental unit submit a request for a hearing on the matter, the local
23governmental unit shall either hold a public hearing or make written findings
24setting forth the reasons for denying the request for a hearing and responding to
25issues raised in the request for a hearing.
SB371,8,4
13. If 5 or more residents of the local governmental unit submit a request for a
2hearing under subd. 2., the period of delay in razing under sub. (3) (a) does not end
3until the local governmental unit holds the public hearing or makes written findings,
4as required under subd. 2.
SB371,8,95 (b) If the state historical society does not direct the local governmental unit to
6provide notice and the opportunity to request a public hearing, the state historical
7society may waive the period of delay in razing under sub. (3) (a) if the state historical
8society determines that the delay is not necessary to accomplish the purpose of sub.
9(3) (c).
SB371,8,12 10(5) Reuse of building materials. The owner of the building that is razed shall
11reuse the building materials or contract with a demolition contractor who will reuse
12the building materials, to the maximum extent feasible.
SB371,8,14 13(6) Applicability. This section does not apply to part of a building that is not
14a historic building if that part of the building is 50 years old or less.
Note: This provision creates a new requirement related to an order or permit
issued by a local governmental unit to raze a building, or a decision by a local
governmental unit to raze a building that it owns, if the building is a historic building or
is more than 50 years old. "Local governmental unit" is defined to mean a city, village,
town or county, and includes a housing, redevelopment or housing and community
development authority acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, a city, village or town.
This provision expands a provision in current s. 66.05 (9) (c), which is a statute relating
to demolition orders. This provision also applies to housing authorities.
This provision requires a local governmental unit to notify the state historical
society of the order or permit or of its intent. The bill requires a delay in razing the
property to allow time for the state historical society to document the property and create
a suitable historic record of it. Also, this delay will give time for public review of the
decision to raze the building.
If the state historical society does not waive further review, the local governmental
unit must provide notice to any person who requests notice by mail and by publishing a
class 1 notice (a one-time newspaper notice) under ch. 985, stats. Thereafter, 5 or more
residents of the local governmental unit may request a hearing and the local
governmental unit is required either to hold a public hearing or to make written findings
setting forth the reasons for denying the request for a hearing and responding to issues
raised in the request for a hearing.
The time periods specified in this provision do not affect the provisions for judicial
review. Under s. 68.13, stats., any party to a proceeding that results in a final

determination may seek review by a court within 30 days of receipt of the final
determination.
Also, the new statute requires reuse of building materials, to the maximum extent
feasible, following demolition of the building.
SB371, s. 8 1Section 8. 66.05 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,9,232 66.05 (1m) (a) The governing body or the inspector of buildings or other
3designated officer in every municipality may order the owner of premises upon which
4is located any building or part thereof within such municipality, which in its
5judgment is so old, dilapidated or has become so out of repair as to be dangerous,
6unsafe, insanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use, and
7so that it would be unreasonable to repair the same, to raze and remove such building
8or part thereof and restore the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition, or if it
9can be made safe by repairs to repair and make safe and sanitary or to raze, remove
10and restore the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition at the owner's option;
11or where there has been a cessation of normal construction of any building for a
12period of more than 2 years, to raze and remove such building or part thereof and
13restore the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition. The order shall specify a
14time in which the owner shall comply therewith and specify repairs, if any. It shall
15be served on the owner of record or the owner's agent where an agent is in charge of
16the building in the manner provided for service of a summons in the circuit court.
17If the owner and the owner's agent cannot be found, or if the owner is deceased and
18an estate has not been opened, the order may be served by posting it on the main
19entrance of the building and by publishing it as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, before
20the time limited in the order commences to run. The time limited in the order
21commences to run from the date of service upon the owner or the agent in the manner
22of a summons or, if the owner and agent cannot be found, from the date that the order
23was posted on the building. The order shall also be served on the holder of any

1encumbrance of record by 1st class mail at the last-known address and by
2publication as a class 1 notice under ch. 985.
Note: This amendment deletes "old" as one of the conditions that may lead to a
municipal decision to order the razing of a building. The age of a building does not
determine the condition of the building. Municipal decisions to order the razing of a
building are appropriately based on the other conditions addressed in the statute, such
as "dilapidated" and "out of repair".
SB371, s. 9 3Section 9. 66.05 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,11,24 66.05 (3) Anyone affected by any such order shall within the time provided by
5s. 893.76 apply to the circuit court for an order restraining the inspector of buildings
6or other designated officer from razing and removing the building or part thereof and
7restoring the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition or forever be barred. The
8hearing shall be held within 20 days and shall be given preference. The court shall
9determine whether the order of the inspector of buildings is reasonable, and if found
10reasonable the court shall dissolve the restraining order, and if found not reasonable
11the court shall continue the restraining order or modify it as the circumstances
12require. Costs shall be in the discretion of the court. If the court finds that the order
13of the inspector of buildings is unreasonable, the inspector of buildings or other
14designated officer shall issue no other order under this section in regard to the same
15building or part thereof until its condition is substantially changed. The remedies
16provided in this subsection are exclusive remedies and anyone affected by such an
17order of the inspector shall not be entitled to recover any damages for the razing and
18removal of any such building and the restoration of the site to a dust-free and
19erosion-free condition. For the purposes of this subsection, if the order requires the
20razing of a historic building, as defined in sub. (9) (a) 1m., persons affected by the
21order include representatives of a local historical society and the owner of a historic

1building, as defined in sub. (9) (a) 1m., that is located within 200 yards of the historic
2building that is subject to the order.
Note: Section 66.05, stats., relates to local orders to repair or raze dilapidated
buildings. The current statute includes provisions related to historic buildings that
require a delay in implementation of the order and a different presumption regarding the
reasonableness of the cost of repairs.
Any order under s. 66.05, stats., may be appealed to circuit court by an "affected
person". The issue in the appeal is the reasonableness of the order. The current statute
does not define who may be an affected person. This is a matter for the court to decide,
and there have not been any appellate court decisions on this issue. It is possible that a
court would allow a person with a demonstrated interest in historic preservation to
appeal a local order requiring demolition of a historic building, although there is no
assurance of this under the current statute.
The bill does not define "affected person", but rather provides that the term
"affected person" includes representatives of a local historical society and owners of
historic buildings located within 200 yards of the historic building that is subject to the
order.
The definition of "historic building" that is cross-referenced in this provision is
"any building or object listed on, or any building or object within and contributing to a
historic district listed on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin, the state
register of historic places or a list of historic places maintained by a municipality".
SB371, s. 10 3Section 10. 66.05 (9) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,11,154 66.05 (9) (c) If an order is issued under this section to raze and remove a historic
5building and restore the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition, an application
6is made for a permit to raze and remove a historic building and restore the site to a
7dust-free and erosion-free condition or a municipality intends to raze and remove
8a municipally owned historic building and restore the site to a dust-free and
9erosion-free condition, the municipality in which the historic building is located
10shall notify the state historical society of the order, application or intent
. No historic
11building may be razed and removed nor the site restored to a dust-free and
12erosion-free condition for 30 days after the notice is given. During the 30-day period,
13the state historical society shall have access to the historic building to create or
14preserve a historic record
or a building that is more than 50 years old, s. 66.038
15applies
.

Note: The material deleted from s. 66.05 (9) (c) is recreated and expanded in s.
66.038 as created by this bill.
SB371, s. 11 1Section 11. 66.05 (10) (a) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered
266.05 (10) and amended to read:
SB371,12,83 66.05 (10) First class cities may adopt by ordinance alternate or additional
4provisions governing the placarding, closing, razing and removal of a building and
5the restoration of the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition. (b) This
6subsection shall be liberally construed to provide 1st class cities with the largest
7possible power and leeway of action, except that any alternate or additional provision
8adopted shall be no less stringent than the corresponding provision in s. 66.038
.
Note: Under the current statute, a 1st class city (the city of Milwaukee) may adopt
alternate or additional provisions regarding orders to demolish buildings. This provision
creates an exception to that broad authority by requiring a 1st class city to comply with
the requirements in the cross-referenced statute, as affected by this bill.
SB371, s. 12 9Section 12 . 71.07 (9m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB371,12,1410 71.07 (9m) (c) No person may claim the credit under this subsection unless the
11claimant includes with the claimant's return evidence that the rehabilitation was
12approved recommended by the state historic preservation officer for approval by the
13secretary of the interior under 36 CFR 67.6 before the physical work of construction,
14or destruction in preparation for construction, began.
Note: Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, the owner of an income producing
historic building is eligible for a federal income tax credit equal to 20% of certain specified
costs of rehabilitating the historic building. The building must be listed on the national
register of historic places or eligible for listing or located in certain national, state or local
historic districts. The rehabilitation work must comply with standards that have been
established by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
Wisconsin provides a supplement to the federal income tax credit equal to 5% of the
eligible costs of rehabilitation. This Section amends s. 71.07 (9m) (c), stats., which
provides the supplemental state income tax credit for historic rehabilitation.
Under the current statutes, the state income tax credit is only available if the state
tax return includes evidence that the rehabilitation was approved by the secretary of the
interior before the physical work of rehabilitation was commenced. As the federal
program has been implemented by the secretary of the interior, the state historic
preservation officer must first recommend approval of the project before the application
is considered by the secretary of interior. This bill makes the state supplement available
upon recommendation of the state historic preservation officer, rather than final approval

by the secretary of the interior, which will allow owners to commence projects sooner. If,
for any reason, the owner is determined not to be eligible for the federal tax credit, the
owner will still be eligible for the 5% state supplement based on the approval by the state
historic preservation officer.
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