February 20, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives Freese, Richards, Vos, Hahn,
Mursau, Berceau, Albers, Hines
and Molepske, cosponsored by Senator
Risser. Referred to Committee on Tourism.
AB1045,1,11 1An Act to renumber 66.0413 (3) (a) 1. and 101.121 (4) (a); to consolidate,
2renumber and amend
66.0413 (4) (a) and (b); to amend 59.69 (4m), 60.64,
362.23 (7) (em), 66.0413 (1) (b) 1., 66.0413 (1) (d), 66.0413 (1) (h), 66.0413 (1) (k),
4101.121 (4) (b), 101.122 (4) (b) 1., 101.132 (2) (b) 1., 101.132 (2) (b) 2., 101.132
5(2) (b) 3., 254.61 (1) (f) 2. and 823.21; to repeal and recreate 66.0413 (3) (c);
6and to create 66.0413 (3) (a) 1c., 66.0413 (3) (a) 1r., 66.0413 (3) (a) 3., 66.0413
7(3) (e), 66.0413 (3) (f), 101.121 (3) (c), 101.121 (4) (a) 2., 101.121 (6), 101.132 (2)
8(b) 3m., 101.132 (2) (e) 3. and 101.975 (4) of the statutes; relating to: the
9regulation of historic buildings, the State Historic Building Code, and requiring
10local regulations applicable to historic buildings and structures to facilitate
11their preservation and restoration.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes numerous changes relating to historic buildings. Significant
provisions include all of the following:

Razing of historic buildings
Under this bill, if a local governmental unit (city, village, town, county, housing
authority, redevelopment authority, or housing and community development
authority) issues a raze order, issues written notification of nuisance, or intends to
authorize the razing of a historic building or a building that is at least 50 years old,
the local governmental unit must first publish a class 1 notice that describes its
action or intended action, and must notify any landmarks commission or local
historical society in the municipality in which the historic building is located. If the
building in question is a historic building, the local governmental unit must also hold
a public hearing on its action or intended action. If the building is at least 50 years
old, the local governmental unit must hold a public hearing on its action or intended
action if requested to do so by the local landmarks commission or historical society
or by at least 25, or 1 percent, of the electors of the municipality. Upon request of a
local governmental unit, the bill authorizes the State Historical Society to waive
these notice and hearing requirements to avoid an emergency condition that
threatens public health or safety.
Current law authorizes a municipality to order the owner of any old,
dilapidated, or unsafe building to raze the building. Any person affected by such an
order may appeal the order to circuit court, where the issue is the reasonableness of
the order.
This bill eliminates the age of the building from the criteria that may lead to
an order to raze the building. The bill also provides that, if the order relates to a
historic building, representatives of a local historical society or landmarks
commission, an elector of the city, village, or town in which the building is located,
and the owner of a historic building located within 200 yards of the historic building
that is subject to the order may appeal the order to circuit court.
State Historic Building Code
Current law authorizes the Department of Commerce (department) to regulate
the preservation and restoration of qualified historic buildings. A qualified historic
building is a building that is listed on the national or state register of historic places,
or a certified local register of historic property, or that is located in a district that is
listed on the national or state register of historic places and is of historical
significance to the district. Current law permits the department, in consultation
with the Historic Building Code Council, to promulgate a historic building code that
provides specific standards for the preservation or restoration of qualified historic
buildings, while still providing for the health, safety, and welfare of occupants of and
visitors to historic buildings. In addition, in order to permit the preservation or
restoration of qualified historic buildings, the department may grant a variance from
any rule promulgated under the chapters of the statutes relating to the regulation
of industry, buildings, and safety or the regulation of plumbing, fire protection
systems, and swimming pools.
With certain exceptions, the owner of a qualified historic building may elect to
be subject to the State Historic Building Code. With limited exceptions, an owner
who makes this election is exempt from any provision of any other building code,
including a local building code, that concerns a matter that is dealt with in the State

Historic Building Code. Although current law does not contain an administrative
procedure designed specifically to determine whether an owner is entitled to this
exemption, current law does contain a procedure that an owner may follow to resolve
any conflicts between a local order and any order of the department that relates to
the safety of places of employment or certain buildings that are open to the public
(public buildings).
This bill specifies that the department shall interpret the State Historic
Building Code to facilitate the preservation and restoration of qualified historic
buildings. The bill also creates a specific administrative procedure for determining
the extent to which a provision in a local building code applies to a qualified historic
building. The bill permits the owner of a qualified historic building who has elected
to be governed by the State Historic Building Code to request that the department
review any decision of a local governmental unit that requires the owner to comply
with a provision in a local ordinance. The department must review the decision in
order to determine whether the provision in the ordinance concerns a matter dealt
with in the State Historic Building Code, in which case the owner would be exempt
from the provision. The bill specifies that, in performing this review, the department
must follow the existing procedure for resolving conflicts between local orders and
orders of the department that relate to the safety of places of employment or public
buildings. In addition, the bill requires the department, in cooperation with the
State Historical Society, to develop and distribute information to increase public
awareness and use of the State Historic Building Code.
Historic buildings used as multifamily dwellings
Current law requires the department to promulgate a multifamily dwelling
code that provides uniform standards for the construction of multifamily dwellings
and their components. With certain exceptions, a multifamily dwelling is an
apartment building, row house, town house, condominium, or manufactured
building that does not exceed 60 feet in height or six stories and that consists of three
or more attached dwelling units. The Multifamily Dwelling Code currently applies
to any building or portion of a building that is converted to a multifamily dwelling
after April 1, 1995, unless the building is a qualified historic building and the owner
elects to be subject to the State Historic Building Code. Rules promulgated by the
department also permit a local governmental unit to exercise jurisdiction over the
construction and inspection of multifamily dwellings by adopting ordinances that
are consistent with the multifamily dwelling code. Currently, the multifamily
dwelling code contains specific requirements relating to the type, height, and design
of handrails and guardrails that are required to be used in multifamily dwellings.
This bill permits a local governmental unit to adopt an ordinance that requires
the local governmental unit to grant a variance from these handrail and guardrail
requirements, as they apply to a qualified historic building that is converted from a
single-family dwelling to a multifamily dwelling, if the owner of the qualified
historic building shows that the type, height, and design of the handrail or guardrail
proposed for installation is historically appropriate.
Current law requires certain multifamily dwellings to meet design and
construction standards that ensure accessibility for individuals with physical

disabilities. In certain circumstances, these requirements may apply to a qualified
historic building that is remodeled or added to for use as a multifamily dwelling. This
bill specifies that a qualified historic building that is remodeled is exempt from
accessibility requirements that are otherwise triggered by the remodeling of a
multifamily dwelling. The bill also provides that all rules promulgated by the
department relating to the accessibility of multifamily dwellings that are qualified
historic buildings must comply with, and may not exceed, the requirements of the
federal Fair Housing Act and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, and
regulations promulgated under those acts.
Historic preservation in local governmental units
This bill directs local governmental units to interpret their regulations that
apply to historic structures to facilitate the preservation and restoration of historic
buildings and structures.
Study of rural historic preservation
The bill requests the Joint Legislative Council to study methods of promoting
rural historic preservation.
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:
AB1045, s. 1 1Section 1. 59.69 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,5,22 59.69 (4m) Historic preservation. A county, as an exercise of its zoning and
3police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of
4the community and of the state, may regulate by ordinance any place, structure or
5object with a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other
6significant value, for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its
7significant characteristics. The county may create a landmarks commission to
8designate historic landmarks and establish historic districts. The county may
9regulate all historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to
10preserve the historic landmarks and property within the district and the character

1of the district, and shall interpret the county's regulations to facilitate the
2preservation and restoration of historic buildings and structures
.
AB1045, s. 2 3Section 2. 60.64 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,5,14 460.64 Historic preservation. The town board, in the exercise of its zoning
5and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare
6of the community and of the state, may regulate any place, structure or object with
7a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other significant value for
8the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant
9characteristics. The town board may create a landmarks commission to designate
10historic landmarks and establish historic districts. The board may regulate all
11historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the
12historic landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district,
13and shall interpret the board's regulations to facilitate the preservation and
14restoration of historic buildings and structures
.
AB1045, s. 3 15Section 3. 62.23 (7) (em) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,6,616 62.23 (7) (em) Historic preservation. A city, as an exercise of its zoning and
17police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of
18the community and of the state, may regulate by ordinance, or if a city contains any
19property that is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the
20state register of historic places shall, not later than 1995, enact an ordinance to
21regulate, any place, structure or object with a special character, historic,
22archaeological or aesthetic interest, or other significant value, for the purpose of
23preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. A city
24may create a landmarks commission to designate historic or archaeological
25landmarks 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 to facilitate the
6preservation and restoration of historic buildings and structures
.
AB1045, s. 4 7Section 4 . 66.0413 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,6,138 66.0413 (1) (b) 1. If a building is old, dilapidated or out of repair and
9consequently dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human
10habitation and unreasonable to repair, order the owner of the building to raze the
11building or, if the building can be made safe by reasonable repairs, order the owner
12to either make the building safe and sanitary or to raze the building, at the owner's
13option.
AB1045, s. 5 14Section 5. 66.0413 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,7,215 66.0413 (1) (d) Service of order. An Subject to sub. (3) (c) 3., an order under par.
16(b) shall be served on the owner of record of the building that is subject to the order
17or on the owner's agent if the agent is in charge of the building in the same manner
18as a summons is served in circuit court. An order under par. (b) shall be served on
19the holder of an encumbrance of record by 1st class mail at the holder's last-known
20address and by publication as a class 1 notice under ch. 985. If the owner and the
21owner's agent cannot be found or if the owner is deceased and an estate has not been
22opened, the order may be served by posting it on the main entrance of the building
23and by publishing it as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before the time limited in the
24order begins to run. The time limited in the order begins to run from the date of

1service on the owner or owner's agent or, if the owner and agent cannot be found, from
2the date that the order was posted on the building.
AB1045, s. 6 3Section 6. 66.0413 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,7,244 66.0413 (1) (h) Restraining order. A person affected by an order issued under
5par. (b) may within the time provided by s. 893.76 apply to the circuit court for an
6order restraining the building inspector or other designated officer from razing the
7building or forever be barred. The hearing shall be held within 20 days and shall be
8given preference. The court shall determine whether the raze order is reasonable.
9If the order is found reasonable the court shall dissolve the restraining order. If the
10order is found not reasonable the court shall continue the restraining order or modify
11it as the circumstances require. Costs are in the discretion of the court. If the court
12finds that the order is unreasonable, the building inspector or other designated
13officer shall issue no other order under this subsection in regard to the same building
14until its condition is substantially changed. The remedies provided in this
15paragraph are exclusive remedies and anyone affected by an order issued under par.
16(b) is not entitled to recover any damages for the razing of the building. For the
17purposes of this paragraph, if the order requires the razing of a historic building, as
18defined in sub. (3) (a) 1m., persons affected by the order include a representative of
19a landmarks commission created in the
political subdivision in which the historic
20building is located, a representative of a local historical society organized in the
21political subdivision
in which the historic building is located, an elector of the city,
22village, or town
in which the historic building is located, and the owner of a historic
23building, as defined in sub. (3) (a) 1m., that is located within 200 yards of the historic
24building that is subject to the order.
AB1045, s. 7 25Section 7. 66.0413 (1) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,8,4
166.0413 (1) (k) Public nuisance procedure. A building which is determined
2under par. (b) 1. to be old, dilapidated or out of repair and consequently dangerous,
3unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation and unreasonable to
4repair may be proceeded against as a public nuisance under ch. 823.
AB1045, s. 8 5Section 8. 66.0413 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 66.0413 (3) (a) 1f.
AB1045, s. 9 6Section 9. 66.0413 (3) (a) 1c. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,8,97 66.0413 (3) (a) 1c. "Authority" means a housing authority under subch. XII, a
8redevelopment authority under s. 66.1333, or a housing and community
9development authority under s. 66.1335.
AB1045, s. 10 10Section 10. 66.0413 (3) (a) 1r. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,8,1311 66.0413 (3) (a) 1r. "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, or
12county, and includes an authority acting on behalf of or at the direction of a city,
13village, or town.
AB1045, s. 11 14Section 11. 66.0413 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,8,1715 66.0413 (3) (a) 3. "Resident" means an elector of a municipality or, in the case
16of a local governmental unit that is an authority, means an elector of the city, village,
17or town on whose behalf or at whose direction the authority is acting.
AB1045, s. 12 18Section 12. 66.0413 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB1045,9,219 66.0413 (3) (c) 1. With regard to a historic building, if a local governmental unit
20issues a raze order under sub. (1) (b), issues a written notification of nuisance under
21sub. (2) (b), intends to issue a permit or other authorization to raze a historic
22building, or intends to raze a historic building owned by the local governmental unit,
23the local governmental unit shall publish a class 1 notice under ch. 985 that describes
24its action or intended action, shall notify any landmarks commission created, or local
25historical society organized, in the municipality in which the historic building is

1located of its action or intended action, and shall hold a public hearing on its action
2or intended action.
AB1045,9,153 2. With regard to a building that is at least 50 years old, if a local governmental
4unit issues a raze order under sub. (1) (b), issues a written notification of nuisance
5under sub. (2) (b), intends to issue a permit or other authorization to raze a building
6that is at least 50 years old, or intends to raze a building that is at least 50 years old
7and owned by the local governmental unit, the local governmental unit shall publish
8a class 1 notice under ch. 985 and give notice to any landmarks commission or local
9historical society in the municipality in which the historic building is located that
10describes its action or intended action and provides notice of the opportunity for a
11public hearing on its action or intended action. A local governmental unit shall
12conduct a public hearing if it is requested to do so by the landmarks commission or
13local historical society which received notice under this subdivision, or upon the
14request of at least 25 residents, or 1 percent of the residents, of the municipality,
15whichever is less.
AB1045,9,2016 3. The local governmental unit shall issue the class 1 notice required under
17subds. 1. and 2., and hold the hearing that is required under subd. 1. or that may be
18required under subd. 2., before serving the order or issuing the written notification,
19issuing the permit or other authorization, or razing the historic building or building
20owned by the local governmental unit.
AB1045,9,2521 4. At a hearing that is held under this paragraph, the local governmental unit
22shall accept testimony from any person on whether the order, written notification,
23other authorization, permit, or razing by the municipality is reasonable and whether
24there are other reasonable options available to repair the historic building or
25building rather than raze it.
AB1045,10,4
15. The State Historical Society may waive the requirements for notice and a
2hearing under this paragraph, upon the request of a local governmental unit, to
3prevent or mitigate an emergency condition that presents an imminent and
4substantial threat to public health or safety.
AB1045, s. 13 5Section 13. 66.0413 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,10,76 66.0413 (3) (e) This subsection does not apply to part of a building that is not
7a historic building if that part of the building is 50 years old or less.
AB1045, s. 14 8Section 14. 66.0413 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,10,159 66.0413 (3) (f) The owner of the building that is razed shall reuse the building
10materials or contract with a demolition contractor who will reuse the building
11materials, to the maximum extent feasible. The governing body, building inspector,
12or other designated officer of a local governmental unit may order the owner of a
13historic building, or building, that is razed to reuse the building materials or contract
14with a demolition contractor who will reuse the building materials to the maximum
15extent feasible.
AB1045, s. 15 16Section 15. 66.0413 (4) (a) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated,
17renumbered 66.0413 (4) and amended to read:
AB1045,10,2418 66.0413 (4) First class cities; other provisions. First class cities may adopt,
19by ordinance, alternate or additional provisions governing the placarding, closing,
20razing and removal of a building and the restoration of the site to a dust-free and
21erosion-free condition. (b) This subsection shall be liberally construed to provide 1st
22class cities with the largest possible power and leeway of action, except that any
23alternate or additional provision adopted shall be no less stringent than the
24corresponding provision in sub. (3)
.
AB1045, s. 16 25Section 16. 101.121 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,11,2
1101.121 (3) (c) The department shall interpret the Historic Building Code to
2facilitate the preservation and restoration of qualified historic buildings.
AB1045, s. 17 3Section 17. 101.121 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 101.121 (4) (a) 1.
AB1045, s. 18 4Section 18. 101.121 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,11,115 101.121 (4) (a) 2. Upon the request of the owner of a qualified historic building
6who elects under subd. 1. to be subject to the Historic Building Code, the department
7shall review any decision of a city, village, town, or county that requires the owner
8to comply with a provision of a county or municipal building code, or of any other local
9ordinance or regulation, to determine if the provision concerns a matter dealt with
10in the Historic Building Code. The procedures in s. 101.02 (7) apply to any review
11conducted by the department under this subdivision.
AB1045, s. 19 12Section 19. 101.121 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,11,1613 101.121 (4) (b) Paragraph (a) 1. does not apply to any owner of a nursing home,
14as defined in s. 50.01 (3), a hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2) (a) and (c), or an
15approved public or private treatment facility for alcoholics, as defined in s. 51.45 (2)
16(b) and (c).
AB1045, s. 20 17Section 20. 101.121 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,11,2418 101.121 (6) Information regarding the Historic Building Code. In
19cooperation with the state historical society, the department shall develop and
20distribute information that is designed to increase awareness and use of the Historic
21Building Code. The department, in cooperation with the state historical society, shall
22update the information as needed to reflect current statutes and rules related to the
23Historic Building Code and current interpretations of the Historic Building Code.
24The information shall include all of the following:
AB1045,11,2525 (a) A description of the Historic Building Code.
AB1045,12,2
1(b) A description of the types and qualities of buildings that are subject to the
2Historic Building Code.
AB1045,12,53 (c) An explanation of how the owner of a qualified historic building may elect
4to be subject to the Historic Building Code and a description of the consequences of
5that election.
AB1045,12,76 (d) Examples of the successful application of the Historic Building Code to
7various types and uses of buildings.
AB1045,12,98 (e) A description of the building codes that would apply if the owner of a historic
9building does not elect to use the Historic Building Code.
AB1045,12,1110 (f) A description of where a person may obtain further information regarding
11historic buildings and the Historic Building Code.
AB1045, s. 21 12Section 21. 101.122 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,12,1413 101.122 (4) (b) 1. Order Subject to s. 66.0413 (3), order demolition of the rental
14unit no sooner than 90 days after the order.
AB1045, s. 22 15Section 22. 101.132 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,12,1916 101.132 (2) (b) 1. If Except as provided in subd. 3m., if more than 50% 50
17percent
of the interior square footage of any housing with 3 or more dwelling units
18is to be remodeled, the entire housing shall conform to the standards in par. (a),
19regardless of when the housing was first intended for occupancy.
AB1045, s. 23 20Section 23. 101.132 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,12,2521 101.132 (2) (b) 2. If 25% to 50% Except as provided in subd. 3m., if 25 percent
22to 50 percent
of the interior square footage of any housing with 3 or more dwelling
23units is to be remodeled, that part of the housing that is to be remodeled shall conform
24to the standards in par. (a), regardless of when the housing was first intended for
25occupancy.
AB1045, s. 24
1Section 24. 101.132 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1045,13,72 101.132 (2) (b) 3. If Except as provided in subd. 3m., if less than 25% 25 percent
3of the interior square footage of any housing with 3 or more dwelling units is to be
4remodeled, the remodeling is not subject to the standards in par. (a) unless the
5alteration involves work on doors, entrances, exits or toilet rooms, in which case the
6doors, entrances, exits or toilet rooms shall conform to the standards in par. (a)
7regardless of when the housing was first intended for occupancy.
AB1045, s. 25 8Section 25 . 101.132 (2) (b) 3m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,13,109 101.132 (2) (b) 3m. The requirements under this paragraph do not apply to
10qualified historic buildings, as defined in s. 101.121 (2) (c).
AB1045, s. 26 11Section 26. 101.132 (2) (e) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,13,1612 101.132 (2) (e) 3. All rules promulgated by the department under this section
13relating to qualified historic buildings, as defined in s. 101.121 (2) (c), shall comply
14with and not exceed the requirements of the Fair Housing Act under 42 USC 3601
15to 3619 and the Americans with Disabilities Act under 42 USC 12181 to 12189 and
16regulations adopted under those acts.
AB1045, s. 27 17Section 27. 101.975 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1045,13,2018 101.975 (4) (a) A political subdivision may adopt an ordinance that permits the
19political subdivision to grant a variance to the uniform multifamily dwelling code if
20all of the following apply:
AB1045,13,2321 1. The ordinance permits only a variance that relates to handrails or guardrails
22of qualified historic buildings, as defined in s. 101.121 (2) (c), that are converted from
23single-family dwellings to multifamily dwellings.
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