LRB-2016/1
MES:lmk&jld:jf
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
February 28, 2005 - Introduced by Senators Leibham, Reynolds and Breske,
cosponsored by Representatives Gunderson, Pettis, McCormick, Albers, Vos,
Ainsworth, Gronemus, Hahn, Kerkman, Kestell, Krawczyk, LeMahieu,
Musser, Nischke, Suder, Towns, Townsend, Van Roy
and Wood. Referred to
Committee on Housing and Financial Institutions.
SB89,1,4 1An Act to amend 59.69 (10) (a), 60.61 (5) (a) and 62.23 (7) (h); and to create
259.69 (10) (e), 60.61 (5) (e) and 62.23 (7) (hg) of the statutes; relating to: a
3municipality's and county's ability to eliminate certain nonconforming
4buildings or premises.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, cities, villages, or certain towns (municipalities) or counties
are authorized to enact zoning ordinances that regulate and restrict the height,
number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot
that may be occupied, the size of yards and other open spaces, the density of
population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for various
purposes.
Also under current law, a zoning ordinance adopted by a municipality or county
may not prohibit the continued lawful use of any building or premises for any trade
or industry for which the building or premises is used when the ordinance takes
effect, although in certain towns such an ordinance may prohibit the alteration of,
or addition to, any existing building or structure that is used to carry on an otherwise
prohibited trade or industry within the area that is subject to the ordinance (district).
In cities, villages, towns exercising village powers, and counties, the alteration of,
addition to, or repair in excess of 50 percent of the assessed value of any existing
building or structure to carry on any prohibited trade or industry within the district
may be prohibited. Generally, if such a nonconforming use of a building or premises

is discontinued for 12 months, any future use of the building or premises must
conform to the municipality's or county's zoning ordinance.
This bill extends current law to also apply to structures and fixtures, and
explicitly specifies that no municipality or county may require the removal of a
nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture, which may be lawfully used
under current law, by an amortization ordinance. The bill defines "amortization
ordinance" as an ordinance that allows the continuance of the lawful use of a
nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture that may be lawfully used,
but only for a specified period of time, after which such lawful nonconforming use
must be discontinued without the payment of just compensation.
For further information see the 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:
SB89, s. 1 1Section 1. 59.69 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB89,2,122 59.69 (10) (a) An ordinance enacted under this section may not prohibit the
3continuance of the lawful use of any building or, premises, structure, or fixture for
4any trade or industry for which such building or, premises, structure, or fixture is
5used at the time that the ordinances take effect, but the alteration of, or addition to,
6or repair in excess of 50% 50 percent of its assessed value of any existing building or,
7premises,
structure, or fixture for the purpose of carrying on any prohibited trade or
8new industry within the district where such buildings or , premises, structures, or
9fixtures
are located, may be prohibited. The continuance of the nonconforming use
10of a temporary structure may be prohibited. If the nonconforming use is
11discontinued for a period of 12 months, any future use of the building and, premises,
12structure, or fixture
shall conform to the ordinance.
SB89, s. 2 13Section 2. 59.69 (10) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB89,3,414 59.69 (10) (e) 1. In this paragraph, "amortization ordinance" means an
15ordinance that allows the continuance of the lawful use of a nonconforming building,

1premises, structure, or fixture that may be lawfully used as described under par. (a),
2but only for a specified period of time, after which the lawful use of such building,
3premises, structure, or fixture must be discontinued without the payment of just
4compensation.
SB89,3,75 2. Subject to par. (a), an ordinance enacted under this section may not require
6the removal of a nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture by an
7amortization ordinance.
SB89, s. 3 8Section 3. 60.61 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB89,3,179 60.61 (5) (a) An ordinance adopted under this section may not prohibit the
10continued use of any building or, premises , structure, or fixture for any trade or
11industry for which the building or, premises, structure, or fixture is used when the
12ordinance takes effect. An ordinance adopted under this section may prohibit the
13alteration of, or addition to, any existing building or , premises, structure, or fixture
14used to carry on an otherwise prohibited trade or industry within the district. If a
15use that does not conform to an ordinance adopted under this section is discontinued
16for a period of 12 months, any future use of the land, building or, premises, structure,
17or fixture
shall conform to the ordinance.
SB89, s. 4 18Section 4. 60.61 (5) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB89,3,2419 60.61 (5) (e) 1. In this paragraph, "amortization ordinance" means an
20ordinance that allows the continuance of the lawful use of a nonconforming building,
21premises, structure, or fixture that may be lawfully used as described under par. (a),
22but only for a specified period of time, after which the lawful use of such building,
23premises, structure, or fixture must be discontinued without the payment of just
24compensation.
SB89,4,3
12. Subject to par. (a), an ordinance enacted under this section may not require
2the removal of a nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture by an
3amortization ordinance.
SB89, s. 5 4Section 5. 62.23 (7) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB89,4,145 62.23 (7) (h) Nonconforming uses. The continued lawful use of a building or ,
6premises, structure, or fixture existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of
7a zoning ordinance may not be continued prohibited although such the use does not
8conform with the provisions of the ordinance. Such The nonconforming use may not
9be extended. The total structural repairs or alterations in such a nonconforming
10building, premises, structure, or fixture shall not during its life exceed 50 per cent
11percent of the assessed value of the building, premises, structure, or fixture unless
12permanently changed to a conforming use. If such the nonconforming use is
13discontinued for a period of 12 months, any future use of the building and, premises,
14structure, or fixture
shall conform to the ordinance.
SB89, s. 6 15Section 6. 62.23 (7) (hg) of the statutes is created to read:
SB89,4,2116 62.23 (7) (hg) Amortization prohibited. 1. In this paragraph, "amortization
17ordinance" means an ordinance that allows the continuance of the lawful use of a
18nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture that may be lawfully used
19as described under par. (h), but only for a specified period of time, after which the
20lawful use of such building, premises, structure, or fixture must be discontinued
21without the payment of just compensation.
SB89,4,2422 2. Subject to par. (h), an ordinance enacted under this subsection may not
23require the removal of a nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture by
24an amortization ordinance.
SB89,4,2525 (End)
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