PENALTIES AND REMEDIES
236.30
236.30
Forfeiture for improper recording. Any person causing his or her final plat to be recorded without submitting such plat for approval as herein required, or who shall fail to present the same for record within the time prescribed after approval, shall forfeit not less than $100, nor more than $1,000 to each municipality, town or county wherein such final plat should have been submitted.
236.30 History
History: 1979 c. 248 s.
25 (5).
236.31
236.31
Penalties and remedies for transfer of lots without recorded plat. 236.31(1)(1) Any subdivider or the subdivider's agent who offers or contracts to convey, or conveys, any subdivision as defined in
s. 236.02 (12) or lot or parcel which lies in a subdivision as defined in
s. 236.02 (12) knowing that the final plat thereof has not been recorded may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both; except where the preliminary or final plat of the subdivision has been filed for approval with the town or municipality in which the subdivision lies, an offer or contract to convey may be made if that offer or contract states on its face that it is contingent upon approval of the final plat and shall be void if such plat is not approved.
236.31(2)
(2) Any municipality, town, county or state agency with subdivision review authority may institute injunction or other appropriate action or proceeding to enjoin a violation of any provision of this chapter, ordinance or rule adopted pursuant to this chapter. Any such municipality, town or county may impose a forfeiture for violation of any such ordinance, and order an assessor's plat to be made under
s. 70.27 at the expense of the subdivider or the subdivider's agent when a subdivision is created under
s. 236.02 (12) (b) by successive divisions.
236.31(3)
(3) Any conveyance or contract to convey made by the subdivider or the subdivider's agent contrary to this section or involving a plat which was not entitled to be recorded under
s. 236.25 (2) shall be voidable at the option of the purchaser or person contracting to purchase, his or her heirs, personal representative or trustee in insolvency or bankruptcy within one year after the execution of the document or contract; but such document or contract shall be binding on the vendor, the subdivider's assignee, heir or devisee.
236.31 Annotation
Sub. (3) does not allow a purchaser to force a seller to violate sub. (1) and become subject to criminal penalties by doing so. Gordie Boucher Lincoln-Mercury v. J & H Landfill,
172 Wis. 2d 333,
493 N.W.2d 375 (Ct. App. 1992).
236.31 Annotation
Certified survey maps under s. 236.34 cannot substitute for subdivision surveys under s. 236.02 (8) [now sub. (12)]. Penalties under this section apply to improper use of certified surveys. 67 Atty. Gen. 294.
236.32
236.32
Penalty for disturbing or not placing monuments. Any of the following may be fined not more than $250 or imprisoned not more than one year in county jail:
236.32(1)
(1) Any owner, surveyor or subdivider who fails to place monuments as prescribed in this chapter when subdividing land.
236.32(2)
(2) Any person who knowingly removes or disturbs any such monument without the permission of the governing body of the municipality or county in which the subdivision is located or fails to report such disturbance or removal to it.
236.32(3)
(3) Fails to replace properly any monuments which have been removed or disturbed when ordered to do so by the governing body of the municipality or county in which the subdivision is located.
236.33
236.33
Division of land into small parcels in cities of the first class prohibited; penalty. It shall be unlawful to divide or subdivide and convey by deed or otherwise any lot in any recorded plat or any parcel or tract of unplatted land in any city of the first class so as to create a lot or parcel of land which does not have street or public highway frontage of at least 4 feet or an easement to a street or public highway of a minimum width of 4 feet but this section shall not apply to conveyances by tax deed or through the exercise of eminent domain or to such reductions in size or area as are caused by the taking of property for public purposes. This section shall not prohibit the dividing or subdividing of any lot or parcel of land in any such city where the divided or subdivided parts thereof which become joined in ownership with any other lot or parcel of land comply with the requirements of this section, if the remaining portion of such lot or parcel so divided or subdivided complies. Any person who shall make such conveyance or procure such a sale or act as agent in procuring such sale or conveyance shall be fined not less than $100 or more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
236.335
236.335
Prohibited subdividing; forfeit. No lot or parcel in a recorded plat may be divided, or used if so divided, for purposes of sale or building development if the resulting lots or parcels do not conform to this chapter, to any applicable ordinance of the approving authority or to the rules of the department of commerce under
s. 236.13. Any person making or causing such a division to be made shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $500 to the approving authority, or to the state if there is a violation of this chapter or the rules of the department of commerce.
236.335 Annotation
The circumstances under which lots in a recorded subdivision may be legally divided without replatting are discussed. 64 Atty. Gen. 80.
236.34
236.34
Recording of certified survey map; use in changing boundaries; use in conveyancing. 236.34(1)
(1)
Preparation. A certified survey map of not more than 4 parcels of land consisting of lots or outlots may be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the land is situated. A certified survey map may be used to change the boundaries of lots and outlots within a recorded plat, recorded assessor's plat under
s. 70.27 or recorded, certified survey map if the reconfiguration does not result in a subdivision or violate a local subdivision regulation. A certified survey map may not alter areas previously dedicated to the public or a restriction placed on the platted land by covenant, by grant of an easement, or by any other manner. A certified survey map that crosses the exterior boundary of a recorded plat or assessor's plat shall apply to the reconfiguration of fewer than 5 parcels by a single owner, or if no additional parcels are created. Such a certified survey map must be approved in the same manner as a final plat of a subdivision must be approved under
s. 236.10, must be monumented in accordance with
s. 236.15 (1), and shall contain owners' and mortgagees' certificates that are in substantially the same form as required under
s. 236.21 (2) (a). A certified survey must meet the following requirements:
236.34(1)(a)
(a) The survey shall be performed and the map prepared by a land surveyor registered in this state. The error in the latitude and departure closure of the survey may not exceed the ratio of one in 3,000.
236.34(1)(c)
(c) The map shall be prepared in accordance with
s. 236.20 (2) (a),
(b),
(c),
(e),
(f),
(g),
(h),
(i),
(j),
(k), and
(L) and
(3) (b),
(d), and
(e) at a graphic scale of not more than 500 feet to an inch, which shall be shown on each sheet showing layout features. The map shall be prepared with a binding margin 1.5 inches wide and a 0.5 inch margin on all other sides on durable white media that is 8 1/2 inches wide by 14 inches long with a permanent nonfading black image. When more than one sheet is used for any map, each sheet shall be numbered consecutively and shall contain a notation giving the total number of sheets in the map and showing the relationship of that sheet to the other sheets. "CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP" shall be printed on the map in prominent letters with the location of the land by government lot, recorded private claim, quarter-quarter section, section, township, range and county noted. Seals or signatures reproduced on images complying with this paragraph shall be given the force and effect of original signatures and seals.
236.34(1)(d)
(d) The map shall include a certificate of the surveyor who surveyed, divided and mapped the land which has the same force and effect as an affidavit and which gives all of the following information:
236.34(1)(d)1.
1. By whose direction the surveyor made the survey, division and map of the land described on the certified survey map.
236.34(1)(d)2.
2. A clear and concise description of the land surveyed, divided, and mapped by government lot, recorded private claim, quarter-quarter section, section, township, range and county; and by metes and bounds commencing with a monument at a section or quarter section corner of the quarter section that is not the center of a section, or commencing with a monument at the end of a boundary line of a recorded private claim or federal reservation in which the land is located; or if the land is located in a recorded subdivision or recorded addition to a recorded subdivision, then by the number or other description of the lot, block or subdivision, which has previously been tied to a corner marked and established by the U.S. public land survey.
236.34(1)(d)3.
3. A statement that the map is a correct representation of all of the exterior boundaries of the land surveyed and the division of that land.
236.34(1)(d)4.
4. A statement that the surveyor has fully complied with the provisions of this section in surveying, dividing and mapping the land.
236.34(1)(e)
(e) A certified survey map may be used for dedication of streets and other public areas when owners' certificates and mortgagees' certificates which are in substantially the same form as required by
s. 236.21 (2) (a) have been executed and the city council or village or town board involved have approved such dedication. Approval and recording of such certified surveys shall have the force and effect provided by
s. 236.29.
236.34(1)(f)
(f) Within 90 days of submitting a certified survey map for approval, the approving authority, or its agent authorized to approve certified survey maps, shall take action to approve, approve conditionally, or reject the certified survey map and shall state in writing any conditions of approval or reasons for rejection, unless the time is extended by agreement with the subdivider. Failure of the approving authority or its agent to act within the 90 days, or any extension of that period, constitutes an approval of the certified survey map and, upon demand, a certificate to that effect shall be made on the face of the map by the clerk of the authority that has failed to act.
236.34(2)(a)(a) Certified survey maps prepared in accordance with
sub. (1) shall be numbered consecutively by the register of deeds and shall be recorded in a bound volume to be kept in the register of deeds' office, known as the "Certified Survey Maps of .... County".
236.34(2)(b)
(b) If the certified survey map is approved by a local unit of government, the register of deeds may not accept the certified survey map for record unless all of the following apply:
236.34(2)(b)1.
1. The certified survey map is offered for record within 6 months after the date of the last approval of the map and within 24 months after the first approval of the map.
236.34(2)(b)2.
2. The certified survey map shows on its face all of the certificates and affidavits required under
sub. (1).
236.34(3)
(3) Use in conveyancing. When a certified survey map has been recorded in accordance with this section, the parcels of land in the map shall be, for all purposes, including assessment, taxation, devise, descent and conveyance, as defined in
s. 706.01 (4), described by reference to the number of the survey, lot or outlot number, the volume and page where recorded, and the name of the county.
236.34 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
Trans 233, Wis. adm. code.
236.34 Annotation
Sub. (2) requires that certified survey maps be numbered consecutively without dependent reference to ownership, developer or surveyor. 61 Atty. Gen. 34.
236.34 Annotation
Certified survey maps are corrected by recording corrected survey maps. 66 Atty. Gen. 90.
236.34 Annotation
Certified survey maps under this section cannot substitute for subdivision surveys under s. 236.02 (8) [now sub. (12)]. Penalties under s. 236.31 apply to improper use of certified surveys. 67 Atty. Gen. 294.
SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS
236.35
236.35
Sale of lands abutting on private way outside corporate limits of municipality. 236.35(1)
(1) No person shall sell any parcel of land of one acre or less in size, located outside the corporate limits of a municipality, if it abuts on a road which has not been accepted as a public road unless the seller informs the purchaser in writing of the fact that the road is not a public road and is not required to be maintained by the town or county.
236.35(2)
(2) Any person violating this section may be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both.
VACATING AND ALTERING PLATS
236.36
236.36
Replats. Except as provided in
s. 70.27 (1), replat of all or any part of a recorded subdivision, if it alters areas dedicated to the public, may not be made or recorded except after proper court action, in the county in which the subdivision is located, has been taken to vacate the original plat or the specific part thereof.
236.36 Annotation
A recorded subdivision may be replatted under this section without undertaking the court proceedings set forth in ss. 236.40, 236.41, and 236.42 if the replat complies with the requirements of ch. 236 applicable to original plats and does not alter areas dedicated to the public. 58 Atty. Gen. 145.
236.36 Annotation
A replat of a recorded subdivision must comply with the formal platting requirements of ch. 236 relating to new subdivision plats, including those relating to the survey, approval, and recording. 63 Atty. Gen. 193.
236.36 Annotation
This section permits the replat of a part of a previously recorded subdivision plat, without circuit court action, if the only areas dedicated to the public in that portion of the original subdivision being replatted were discontinued streets fully and properly vacated under s. 66.296 [now s. 66.1003]. 63 Atty. Gen. 210.
236.36 Annotation
The circumstances under which lots in a recorded subdivision may be legally divided without replatting are discussed. 64 Atty. Gen. 80.
236.36 Annotation
Chapter 236 does not require a replat when the division of a lot or redivision of more than one lot does not meet the definition of a "subdivision" under this section. 67 Atty. Gen. 121.
236.40
236.40
Who may apply for vacation of plat. Any of the following may apply to the circuit court for the county in which a subdivision is located for the vacation or alteration of all or part of the recorded plat of that subdivision:
236.40(1)
(1) The owner of the subdivision or of any lot in the subdivision.
236.40(2)
(2) The county board if the county has acquired an interest in the subdivision or in any lot in the subdivision by tax deed.
236.41
236.41
How notice given. Notice of the application for the vacation or alteration of the plat shall be given at least 3 weeks before the application:
236.41(1)
(1) By posting a written notice thereof in at least 2 of the most public places in the county; and
236.41(2)
(2) By publication of a copy of the notice as a class 3 notice, under
ch. 985; and
236.41(3)
(3) By service of the notice in the manner required for service of a summons in the circuit court on the municipality or town in which the subdivision is located, and if it is located in a county having a population of 500,000 or over, on the county; and
236.41(4)
(4) By mailing a copy of the notice to the owners of record of all the lots in the subdivision or the part of the subdivision proposed to be vacated or altered at their last-known address.
236.41 Annotation
The provisions of s. 236.41 relating to vacation of streets are inapplicable to assessors plats under s. 70.27. Once properly filed and recorded an assessor's plat becomes the operative document of record, and only sections specified in s. 236.03 (2) apply to assessor's plats. Schaetz v. Town of Scott,
222 Wis. 2d 90,
585 N.W.2d 889 (Ct. App. 1998),
98-0841.
236.42
236.42
Hearing and order. 236.42(1)(1) After requiring proof that the notices required by
s. 236.41 have been given and after hearing all interested parties, the court may in its discretion grant an order vacating or altering the plat or any part thereof except:
236.42(1)(a)
(a) The court shall not vacate any alleys immediately in the rear of lots fronting on county trunk highways without the prior approval of the county board or on state trunk highways without the prior approval of the department of transportation.
236.42(1)(b)
(b) The court shall not vacate any parts of the plat which have been dedicated to and accepted by the public for public use except as provided in
s. 236.43.
236.42(2)
(2) The vacation or alteration of a plat shall not affect:
236.42(2)(a)
(a) Any restriction under
s. 236.293, unless the public body having the right to enforce the restriction has in writing released or waived such restriction.
236.42(2)(b)
(b) Any restrictive covenant applying to any of the platted land.
236.42 History
History: 1977 c. 29 s.
1654 (8) (c).
236.43
236.43
Vacation or alteration of areas dedicated to the public. Parts of a plat dedicated to and accepted by the public for public use may be vacated or altered as follows:
236.43(1)
(1) The court may vacate streets, roads or other public ways on a plat if:
236.43(1)(a)
(a) The plat was recorded more than 40 years previous to the filing of the application for vacation or alteration; and
236.43(1)(b)
(b) During all that period the areas dedicated for streets, roads or other public ways were not improved as streets, roads or other public ways; and
236.43(1)(c)
(c) Those areas are not necessary to reach other platted property; and
236.43(1)(d)
(d) All the owners of all the land in the plat or part thereof sought to be vacated and the governing body of the city, village or town in which the street, road or other public way is located have joined in the application for vacation.
236.43(2)
(2) The court may vacate land platted as a public square upon the application of the municipality or town in which the dedicated land is located if:
236.43(2)(a)
(a) The plat was recorded more than 40 years previous to the filing of the application for vacation or alteration; and
236.43(2)(b)
(b) The land was never in fact developed or utilized by the municipality or town as a public square.
236.43(3)
(3) The court may vacate land, in a city, county, village or town, platted as a public park or playground upon the application of the local legislative body of such city, county, village or town where the land has never been developed by said city, county, village or town as a public park or playground.
236.43(4)
(4) When the plat is being vacated or altered in any 2nd, 3rd or 4th class city or in any village or town which includes a street, road, alley or public walkway, said street, road, alley or public walkway may be vacated or altered by the circuit court proceeding under
ss. 236.41 and
236.42 upon the following conditions:
236.43(4)(a)
(a) A resolution is passed by the governing body requesting such vacation or alteration.
236.43(4)(b)
(b) The owners of all frontage of the lots and lands abutting on the portion sought to be vacated or altered request in writing that such action be taken.
236.43 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
66.1003 for other provisions for vacating streets.
236.43 Annotation
Although dedicated as a street, an improvement of land as another public way may meet the requirements of sub. (1) (b). A walkway cleared and improved to be conducive to pedestrian traffic is a public way improved in accordance with sub. (1) (b). Application of K.G.R. Partnership,
187 Wis. 2d 375,
523 N.W.2d 120 (Ct. App. 1994).
