66.0403(1)(k)
(k) "Solar energy" means direct radiant energy received from the sun.
66.0403(1)(L)
(L) "Standard time" means the solar time of the ninetieth meridian west of Greenwich.
66.0403(1)(m)
(m) "Wind energy system" means equipment that converts and then stores or transfers energy from the wind into usable forms of energy.
66.0403(2)
(2) Permit procedure. The governing body of every municipality may provide for granting a permit. A permit may not affect any land except land which, at the time the permit is granted, is within the territorial limits of the municipality or is subject to an extraterritorial zoning ordinance adopted under
s. 62.23 (7a), except that a permit issued by a city or village may not affect extraterritorial land subject to a zoning ordinance adopted by a county or a town. The governing body may appoint itself as the agency to process applications or may create or designate another agency to grant permits. The governing body may provide by ordinance that a fee be charged to cover the costs of processing applications. The governing body may adopt an ordinance with any provision it deems necessary for granting a permit under this section, including but not limited to:
66.0403(2)(b)
(b) Defining an impermissible interference to include vegetation planted before the date the last notice is mailed or delivered under
sub. (3) (b), provided that the permit holder shall be responsible for the cost of trimming such vegetation.
66.0403(3)(a)(a) In a municipality which provides for granting a permit under this section, an owner who has installed or intends to install a solar collector or wind energy system may apply to an agency for a permit.
66.0403(3)(b)
(b) An agency shall determine if an application is satisfactorily completed and shall notify the applicant of its determination. If an applicant receives notice that an application has been satisfactorily completed, the applicant shall deliver by certified mail or by hand a notice to the owner of any property which the applicant proposes to be restricted by the permit under
sub. (7). The applicant shall submit to the agency a copy of a signed receipt for every notice delivered under this paragraph. The agency shall supply the notice form. The information on the form may include, without limitation because of enumeration:
66.0403(3)(b)1.
1. The name and address of the applicant, and the address of the land upon which the solar collector or wind energy system is or will be located.
66.0403(3)(b)3.
3. That the permit, if granted, may affect the rights of the notified owner to develop his or her property and to plant vegetation.
66.0403(3)(b)4.
4. The telephone number, address and office hours of the agency.
66.0403(3)(b)5.
5. That any person may request a hearing under
sub. (4) within 30 days after receipt of the notice, and the address and procedure for filing the request.
66.0403(4)
(4) Hearing. Within 30 days after receipt of the notice under
sub. (3) (b), any person who has received a notice may file a request for a hearing on the granting of a permit or the agency may determine that a hearing is necessary even if no such request is filed. If a request is filed or if the agency determines that a hearing is necessary, the agency shall conduct a hearing on the application within 90 days after the last notice is delivered. At least 30 days prior to the hearing date, the agency shall notify the applicant, all owners notified under
sub. (3) (b) and any other person filing a request of the time and place of the hearing.
66.0403(5)(a)(a) The agency shall grant a permit if the agency determines that:
66.0403(5)(a)1.
1. The granting of a permit will not unreasonably interfere with the orderly land use and development plans of the municipality;
66.0403(5)(a)2.
2. No person has demonstrated that she or he has present plans to build a structure that would create an impermissible interference by showing that she or he has applied for a building permit prior to receipt of a notice under
sub. (3) (b), has expended at least $500 on planning or designing such a structure or by submitting any other credible evidence that she or he has made substantial progress toward planning or constructing a structure that would create an impermissible interference; and
66.0403(5)(a)3.
3. The benefits to the applicant and the public will exceed any burdens.
66.0403(5)(b)
(b) An agency may grant a permit subject to any condition or exemption the agency deems necessary to minimize the possibility that the future development of nearby property will create an impermissible interference or to minimize any other burden on any person affected by granting the permit. Such conditions or exemptions may include but are not limited to restrictions on the location of the solar collector or wind energy system and requirements for the compensation of persons affected by the granting of the permit.
66.0403(6)
(6) Record of permit. If an agency grants a permit:
66.0403(6)(a)
(a) The agency shall specify the property restricted by the permit under
sub. (7) and shall prepare notice of the granting of the permit. The notice shall include the identification required under
s. 706.05 (2) (c) for the owner and the property upon which the solar collector or wind energy system is or will be located and for any owner and property restricted by the permit under
sub. (7), and shall indicate that the property may not be developed and vegetation may not be planted on the property so as to create an impermissible interference with the solar collector or wind energy system which is the subject of the permit unless the permit affecting the property is terminated under
sub. (9) or unless an agreement affecting the property is filed under
sub. (10).
66.0403(6)(b)
(b) The applicant shall record with the register of deeds of the county in which the property is located the notice under
par. (a) for each property specified under
par. (a) and for the property upon which the solar collector or wind energy system is or will be located.
66.0403(7)
(7) Remedies for impermissible interference. 66.0403(7)(a)(a) Any person who uses property which he or she owns or permits any other person to use the property in a way which creates an impermissible interference under a permit which has been granted or which is the subject of an application shall be liable to the permit holder or applicant for damages, except as provided under
par. (b), for any loss due to the impermissible interference, court costs and reasonable attorney fees unless:
66.0403(7)(a)1.
1. The building permit was applied for prior to receipt of a notice under
sub. (3) (b) or the agency determines not to grant a permit after a hearing under
sub. (4).
66.0403(7)(b)
(b) A permit holder is entitled to an injunction to require the trimming of any vegetation which creates or would create an impermissible interference as defined under
sub. (1) (f). If the court finds on behalf of the permit holder, the permit holder shall be entitled to a permanent injunction, damages, court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
66.0403(8)
(8) Appeals. Any person aggrieved by a determination by a municipality under this section may appeal the determination to the circuit court for a review.
66.0403(9)
(9) Termination of solar or wind access rights. 66.0403(9)(a)(a) Any right protected by a permit under this section shall terminate if the agency determines that the solar collector or wind energy system which is the subject of the permit is:
66.0403(9)(a)1.
1. Permanently removed or is not used for 2 consecutive years, excluding time spent on repairs or improvements.
66.0403(9)(a)2.
2. Not installed and functioning within 2 years after the date of issuance of the permit.
66.0403(9)(b)
(b) The agency shall give the permit holder written notice and an opportunity for a hearing on a proposed termination under
par. (a).
66.0403(9)(c)
(c) If the agency terminates a permit, the agency may charge the permit holder for the cost of recording and record a notice of termination with the register of deeds, who shall record the notice with the notice recorded under
sub. (6) (b) or indicate on any notice recorded under
sub. (6) (b) that the permit has been terminated.
66.0403(10)
(10) Waiver. A permit holder by written agreement may waive all or part of any right protected by a permit. A copy of such agreement shall be recorded with the register of deeds, who shall record such copy with the notice recorded under
sub. (6) (b).
66.0403(11)
(11) Preservation of rights. The transfer of title to any property shall not change the rights and duties under this section or under an ordinance adopted under
sub. (2).
66.0403(12)(a)(a) This section may not be construed to require that an owner obtain a permit prior to installing a solar collector or wind energy system.
66.0403(12)(b)
(b) This section may not be construed to mean that acquisition of a renewable energy resource easement under
s. 700.35 is in any way contingent upon the granting of a permit under this section.
66.0403 Annotation
The owner of an energy system does not need a permit under this section. Barring enforceable municipal restrictions, an owner may construct a system without prior municipal approval. This section benefits and protects the owner of the system by restricting the use of nearby property to prevent an interference with the system. State ex rel. Numrich v. City of Mequon Board of Zoning Appeals, 2001 WI App 88,
242 Wis. 2d 677,
626 N.W.2d 366,
00-1643.
66.0403 Annotation
Wisconsin recognizes the power of the sun: Prah v. Maretti and the solar access act. 1983 WLR 1263.
66.0405
66.0405
Removal of rubbish. Cities, villages and towns may remove ashes, garbage, and rubbish from such classes of places in the city, village or town as the board or council directs. The removal may be from all of the places or from those whose owners or occupants desire the service. Districts may be created and removal provided for certain districts only, and different regulations may be applied to each removal district or class of property. The cost of removal may be funded by special assessment against the property served, by general tax upon the property of the respective districts, or by general tax upon the property of the city, village or town. If a city, village or town contracts for ash, garbage or rubbish removal service, it may contract with one or more service providers.
66.0405 History
History: 1993 a. 246;
1999 a. 150 s.
119; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0405.
66.0407(1)(a)
(a) "Destroy" means the complete killing of weeds or the killing of weed plants above the surface of the ground by the use of chemicals, cutting, tillage, cropping system, pasturing livestock, or any or all of these in effective combination, at a time and in a manner as will effectually prevent the weed plants from maturing to the bloom or flower stage.
66.0407(1)(b)
(b) "Noxious weed" means Canada thistle, leafy spurge and field bindweed (creeping Jenny) and any other weed the governing body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries.
66.0407(3)
(3) A person owning, occupying or controlling land shall destroy all noxious weeds on the land. The person having immediate charge of any public lands shall destroy all noxious weeds on the lands. The highway patrolman on all federal, state or county trunk highways shall destroy all noxious weeds on that portion of the highway which that highway patrolman patrols. The town board is responsible for the destruction of all noxious weeds on the town highways.
66.0407(4)
(4) The chairperson of each town, the president of each village and the mayor or manager of each city may annually on or before May 15 publish a class 2 notice, under
ch. 985, that every person is required by law to destroy all noxious weeds, as defined in this section, on lands in the municipality which the person owns, occupies or controls. A town, village or city which has designated as its official newspaper or which uses for its official notices the same newspaper as any other town, village or city may publish the notice under this subsection in combination with the other town, village or city.
66.0407(5)
(5) This section does not apply to Canada thistle or annual noxious weeds that are located on land that the department of natural resources owns, occupies or controls and that is maintained in whole or in part as habitat for wild birds by the department of natural resources.
66.0407 History
History: 1975 c. 394 s.
12;
1975 c. 421; Stats. 1975 s. 66.96;
1983 a. 112,
189;
1989 a. 56 s.
258;
1991 a. 39,
316;
1997 a. 287;
1999 a. 150 ss.
617 to
619; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0407.
66.0409
66.0409
Local regulation of firearms. 66.0409(1)(b)
(b) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town or county.
66.0409(1)(c)
(c) "Sport shooting range" means an area designed and operated for the practice of weapons used in hunting, skeet shooting and similar sport shooting.
66.0409(2)
(2) Except as provided in
subs. (3) and
(4), no political subdivision may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that regulates the sale, purchase, purchase delay, transfer, ownership, use, keeping, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration or taxation of any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, unless the ordinance or resolution is the same as or similar to, and no more stringent than, a state statute.
66.0409(3)(a)(a) Nothing in this section prohibits a county from imposing a sales tax or use tax under
subch. V of ch. 77 on any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, sold in the county.
66.0409(3)(b)
(b) Nothing in this section prohibits a city, village or town that is authorized to exercise village powers under
s. 60.22 (3) from enacting an ordinance or adopting a resolution that restricts the discharge of a firearm.
66.0409(4)(a)(a) Nothing in this section prohibits a political subdivision from continuing to enforce an ordinance or resolution that is in effect on November 18, 1995, and that regulates the sale, purchase, transfer, ownership, use, keeping, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration or taxation of any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, if the ordinance or resolution is the same as or similar to, and no more stringent than, a state statute.
66.0409(4)(am)
(am) Nothing in this section prohibits a political subdivision from continuing to enforce until November 30, 1998, an ordinance or resolution that is in effect on November 18, 1995, and that requires a waiting period of not more than 7 days for the purchase of a handgun.
66.0409(4)(b)
(b) If a political subdivision has in effect on November 17, 1995, an ordinance or resolution that regulates the sale, purchase, transfer, ownership, use, keeping, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration or taxation of any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, and the ordinance or resolution is not the same as or similar to a state statute, the ordinance or resolution shall have no legal effect and the political subdivision may not enforce the ordinance or resolution on or after November 18, 1995.
66.0409(4)(c)
(c) Nothing in this section prohibits a political subdivision from enacting and enforcing a zoning ordinance that regulates the new construction of a sport shooting range or when the expansion of an existing sport shooting range would impact public health and safety.
66.0409(5)
(5) A county ordinance that is enacted or a county resolution that is adopted by a county under
sub. (2) or a county ordinance or resolution that remains in effect under
sub. (4) (a) or
(am) applies only in those towns in the county that have not enacted an ordinance or adopted a resolution under
sub. (2) or that continue to enforce an ordinance or resolution under
sub. (4) (a) or
(am), except that this subsection does not apply to a sales or use tax that is imposed under
subch. V of ch. 77.
66.0409 History
History: 1995 a. 72;
1999 a. 150 s.
260; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0409.
66.0409 Annotation
This section does not prohibit municipalities from enacting and enforcing zoning ordinances that apply to sport shooting ranges. Town of Avon v. Oliver, 2002 WI App 97,
253 Wis. 2d 647,
644 N.W.2d 260,
01-1851.
66.0410
66.0410
Local regulation of ticket reselling. 66.0410(1)(a)
(a) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.
66.0410(1)(b)
(b) "Ticket" means a ticket that is sold to an entertainment or sporting event.
66.0410(2)(a)(a) A political subdivision may not enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System may not promulgate a rule or adopt a resolution prohibiting the resale of any ticket for an amount that is equal to or less than the ticket's face value.
66.0410(2)(b)
(b) If a political subdivision or the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System has in effect on April 22, 2004 an ordinance, rule, or resolution that is inconsistent with
par. (a), the ordinance, rule, or resolution does not apply and may not be enforced.
66.0410 History
History: 2003 a. 191.
66.0411
66.0411
Sound-producing devices; impoundment; seizure and forfeiture. 66.0411(1)
(1) In this section, "sound-producing device" does not include a piece of equipment or machinery that is designed for agricultural purposes and that is being used in the conduct of agricultural operations.
66.0411(1m)(a)(a) Any city, village, town or county may, by ordinance, authorize a law enforcement officer, at the time of issuing a citation for a violation of
s. 346.94 (16) or a local ordinance in strict conformity with
s. 346.94 (16) or any other local ordinance prohibiting excessive noise, to impound any radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device used in the commission of the violation if the person charged with such violation is the owner of the radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device and has 2 or more prior convictions within a 3-year period of
s. 346.94 (16) or a local ordinance in strict conformity with
s. 346.94 (16) or any other local ordinance prohibiting excessive noise. The ordinance may provide for impoundment of a vehicle for not more than 5 working days to permit the city, village, town or county or its authorized agent to remove the radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device if the vehicle is owned by the person charged with the violation and the sound-producing device may not be easily removed from the vehicle. Upon removal of the sound-producing device, an impounded vehicle shall be returned to its rightful owner.
66.0411(1m)(b)
(b) The ordinance under
par. (a) may provide for recovery by the city, village, town or county of the cost of impounding the sound-producing device and, if a vehicle is impounded, the cost of impounding the vehicle and removing the sound-producing device. The ordinance under
par. (a) shall provide that, upon disposition of the forfeiture action for the violation of
s. 346.94 (16) or a local ordinance in strict conformity with
s. 346.94 (16) or any other local ordinance prohibiting excessive noise and payment of any forfeiture imposed, the sound-producing device shall be returned to its rightful owner.
66.0411(1m)(c)
(c) The city, village, town or county may dispose of any impounded sound-producing device or, following the procedure for an abandoned vehicle under
s. 342.40, any impounded vehicle which has remained unclaimed for a period of 90 days after disposition of the forfeiture action.
66.0411(1m)(d)
(d) This subsection does not apply to a radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device on a motorcycle.
