60.61(4)(c)2.b.
b. The protest is signed and acknowledged by the abutting owners of at least 50% of the total perimeter of the area proposed to be altered that is included within 300 feet of the parcel or parcels to be rezoned.
60.61(4)(c)3.
3. A proposed amendment, supplement or change to the town zoning ordinance must be adopted by not less than a two-thirds vote of the town board if the proposed amendment, supplement or change would make any change in an airport affected area, as defined under
s. 62.23 (6) (am) 1. b. and if a protest against the proposed revision is presented to the town board prior to or at the public hearing under
subd. 1. by the owner or operator of the airport bordered by the airport affected area.
60.61(4)(d)1.1. In this paragraph, "comprehensively revise" means to incorporate numerous and substantial changes in the zoning ordinance.
60.61(4)(d)2.
2. The town board may, by a single ordinance, comprehensively revise an existing town zoning ordinance. The ordinance shall be adopted under
par. (b).
60.61(4)(e)
(e) Neither the town board nor the town zoning committee may condition or withhold approval of a permit under this section based upon the property owner entering into a contract, or discontinuing, modifying, extending, or renewing any contract, with a 3rd party under which the 3rd party is engaging in a lawful use of the property.
60.61(4)(f)
(f) The town board shall maintain a list of persons who submit a written request to receive notice of any proposed ordinance or amendment that affects the allowable use of the property owned by the person. If the town zoning committee completes a final report on a proposed zoning ordinance and the town board is prepared to vote on the proposed ordinance under
par. (b) or if the town board is prepared to vote on a proposed amendment under
par. (c) 1., the town board shall send a notice, which contains a copy of the proposed ordinance or amendment, to each person on the list whose property, the allowable use of which, may be affected by the proposed ordinance or amendment. The notice shall be by mail or in any reasonable form that is agreed to by the person and the town board. The town board may charge each person on the list who receives a notice a fee that does not exceed the approximate cost of providing the notice to the person. An ordinance or amendment that is subject to this paragraph may take effect even if the town board fails to send the notice that is required by this paragraph.
60.61(5)(ab)(ab) In this subsection "nonconforming use" means a use of land, a dwelling, or a building that existed lawfully before the current zoning ordinance was enacted or amended, but that does not conform with the use restrictions in the current ordinance.
60.61(5)(am)
(am) An ordinance adopted under this section may not prohibit the continued use of any building, premises, structure, or fixture for any trade or industry for which the building, premises, structure, or fixture is used when the ordinance takes effect. An ordinance adopted under this section may prohibit the alteration of, or addition to, any existing building, premises, structure, or fixture used to carry on an otherwise prohibited trade or industry within the district. If a use that does not conform to an ordinance adopted under this section is discontinued for a period of 12 months, any future use of the land, building, premises, structure, or fixture shall conform to the ordinance.
60.61(5)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (d), immediately after the publication of a town zoning ordinance, the town board shall provide for the compilation of a record of the present use of all buildings and premises used for purposes not in conformity with the zoning ordinance. The record shall contain the names and addresses of the owner of the nonconforming use and any occupant other than the owner, the legal description of the land, and the nature and extent of the use of the land. The record shall be published in the town as a class 1 notice under
ch. 985. Within 60 days after final publication, upon presentation of proof to the town board, errors or omissions in the record may be corrected. At the expiration of the 60-day period, the record shall be filed in the office of the town clerk after the record is first recorded in the office of the register of deeds. The record is prima facie evidence of the extent and number of nonconforming uses existing at the time the ordinance takes effect. Errors or omissions in the record shall be corrected by the town board upon petition of any citizen or by the board on its own motion. The decision of the board concerning errors or omissions is final.
60.61(5)(c)
(c) Immediately after the record of nonconforming uses is filed with the town clerk, the clerk shall furnish the town assessor the record of nonconforming uses within the town. After the assessment for the following year and each succeeding assessment, the town assessor shall file a written report, certified by the board of review, with the town clerk listing all nonconforming uses which have been discontinued since the prior assessment. The town clerk shall record discontinued nonconforming uses as soon as reported by the assessor. In this paragraph, "town assessor" includes the county assessor assessing the town under
s. 70.99.
60.61(5)(d)
(d) Paragraphs (b) and
(c) do not apply to towns issuing building permits as a means of enforcing the zoning ordinance or of identifying nonconforming uses or to towns which have established other procedures for this purpose.
60.61(5)(e)1.1. In this paragraph, "amortization ordinance" means an ordinance that allows the continuance of the lawful use of a nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture that may be lawfully used as described under
par. (am), but only for a specified period of time, after which the lawful use of such building, premises, structure, or fixture must be discontinued without the payment of just compensation.
60.61(5)(e)2.
2. Subject to
par. (am), an ordinance enacted under this section may not require the removal of a nonconforming building, premises, structure, or fixture by an amortization ordinance.
60.61(5e)
(5e) Repair and maintenance of certain nonconforming structures. 60.61(5e)(a)1.
1. "Development regulations" means the part of a zoning ordinance enacted under this section that applies to elements including setback, height, lot coverage, and side yard.
60.61(5e)(a)2.
2. "Nonconforming structure" means a dwelling or other building that existed lawfully before the current zoning ordinance was enacted or amended, but that does not conform with one or more of the development regulations in the current zoning ordinance.
60.61(5e)(b)
(b) An ordinance enacted under this section may not prohibit, or limit based on cost, the repair, maintenance, renovation, or remodeling of a nonconforming structure.
60.61(5m)
(5m) Restoration of certain nonconforming structures. 60.61(5m)(a)(a) Restrictions that are applicable to damaged or destroyed nonconforming structures and that are contained in an ordinance adopted under this section may not prohibit the restoration of a nonconforming structure if the structure will be restored to the size, subject to
par. (b), location, and use that it had immediately before the damage or destruction occurred, or impose any limits on the costs of the repair, reconstruction, or improvement if all of the following apply:
60.61(5m)(a)1.
1. The nonconforming structure was damaged or destroyed on or after March 2, 2006.
60.61(5m)(a)2.
2. The damage or destruction was caused by violent wind, vandalism, fire, flood, ice, snow, mold, or infestation.
60.61(5m)(b)
(b) An ordinance adopted under this section to which
par. (a) applies shall allow for the size of a structure to be larger than the size it was immediately before the damage or destruction if necessary for the structure to comply with applicable state or federal requirements.
60.61(6)
(6) Enforcement. The town board may by ordinance provide for the enforcement of all ordinances adopted under this section. The board may impose forfeitures and other penalties for violation of ordinances adopted under this section. To enforce compliance with ordinances adopted under this section, the town or the owner of real estate within a district affected by the ordinance may seek a court order.
60.61 History
History: 1983 a. 532,
538;
1985 a. 136,
316;
1991 a. 255;
1993 a. 246,
301,
400,
414,
491;
1995 a. 27 s.
9130 (4);
1995 a. 201;
1997 a. 3.;
2001 a. 50;
2005 a. 26,
79,
81,
112,
171,
208;
2007 a. 97;
2009 a. 351;
2011 a. 170.
60.62
60.62
Zoning authority if exercising village powers. 60.62(1)(1) Except as provided in
s. 60.23 (33) and subject to
subs. (2),
(3) and
(4), if a town board has been granted authority to exercise village powers under
s. 60.10 (2) (c), the board may adopt zoning ordinances under
s. 61.35.
60.62(2)
(2) If the county in which the town is located has enacted a zoning ordinance under
s. 59.69, the exercise of the authority under
sub. (1) is subject to approval by the town meeting or by a referendum vote of the electors of the town held at the time of any regular or special election. The question for the referendum vote shall be filed as provided in
s. 8.37.
60.62(3)
(3) In counties having a county zoning ordinance, no zoning ordinance or amendment of a zoning ordinance may be adopted under this section unless approved by the county board.
60.62(4)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
ss. 61.35 and
62.23 (1) (a), a town with a population of less than 2,500 that acts under this section may create a "Town Plan Commission" under
s. 62.23 (1) (a) that has 5 members, all of whom shall be appointed by the town board chairperson, subject to confirmation by the town board. The town chairperson shall also select the presiding officer. The town board chairperson may appoint town board members to the commission and may appoint other town elected or appointed officials to the commission, except that the commission shall always have at least one citizen member who is not a town official. Appointees to the town plan commission may be removed only by a majority vote of the town board. All other provisions of
ss. 61.35 and
62.23 shall apply to a town plan commission that has 5 members.
60.62(4)(b)
(b) If a town plan commission consists of 7 members and the town board enacts an ordinance or adopts a resolution reducing the size of the commission to 5 members, the commission shall continue to operate with 6 or 7 members until the expiration of the terms of the 2 citizen members, who were appointed under
s. 62.23 (1) (a), whose terms expire soonest after the effective date of the ordinance or resolution that reduces the size of the commission.
60.62(4)(c)
(c) If a town plan commission consists of 5 members and the town board enacts an ordinance or adopts a resolution increasing the size of the commission to 7 members, the town board chairperson shall appoint the 2 new members under
s. 62.23 (1) (a).
60.62(4)(d)
(d) Notwithstanding
ss. 61.35 and
62.23 (1) (a), if a town with a population of at least 2,500 acts under this section and creates a "Town Plan Commission" under
s. 62.23 (1) (a), all members of the commission shall be appointed by the town board chairperson, subject to confirmation by the town board. The town chairperson shall also select the presiding officer. The town board chairperson may appoint town board members to the commission and may appoint other town elected or appointed officials to the commission, except that the commission shall always have at least 3 citizen members who are not town officials. Appointments shall be made by the town board chairperson during the month of April for terms that expire in April or at any other time if a vacancy occurs during the middle of a term except that the appointees to the town plan commission may be removed before the expiration of the appointee's term by a majority vote of the town board. All other provisions of
ss. 61.35 and
62.23 shall apply to a town plan commission to which this paragraph applies.
60.62 Annotation
An amended PUD ordinance that allowed the placement of a PUD in any district, subject only to the approval of the town board as a conditional use, was invalid as it allowed the town to rezone without county board approval. City of Waukesha v. Town of Waukesha,
198 Wis. 2d 592,
543 N.W.2d 515 (Ct. App. 1995),
94-0812.
60.62 Annotation
Judicial review of a county board's legislative decision concerning approval or disapproval of town zoning ordinances submitted under sub. (3) is limited to cases of abuse of discretion, excess of power, or error of law.
79 Atty. Gen. 117.
60.625
60.625
Required notice on certain approvals. 60.625(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), a town that issues a building permit or other approval for construction activity, shall give the applicant a written notice as specified in
subs. (3) and
(4) at the time the building permit is issued.
60.625(2)(b)1.1. A town is not required to give the notice under
par. (a) at the time that it issues a building permit if the town issues the building permit on a standard building permit form prescribed by the department of safety and professional services.
60.625(2)(b)2.
2. A town is not required to give the notice under
par. (a) at the time that it issues a building permit or other approval if the building permit or other approval is for construction activity that does not involve any land disturbing activity including removing protective ground cover or vegetation, or excavating, filling, covering, or grading land.
60.625(3)
(3) Each notice shall contain the following language: "YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION NEAR OR ON WETLANDS, LAKES, AND STREAMS. WETLANDS THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH OPEN WATER CAN BE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL OR MODIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION THAT VIOLATES THE LAW OR OTHER PENALTIES OR COSTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WETLANDS IDENTIFICATION WEB PAGE OR CONTACT A DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SERVICE CENTER."
60.625(4)
(4) The notice required in
sub. (2) (a) shall contain the electronic Web site address that gives the recipient of the notice direct contact with that Web site.
60.625(5)
(5) A town in issuing a notice under this section shall require that the applicant for the building permit sign a statement acknowledging that the person has received the notice.
60.625 History
History: 2009 a. 373;
2011 a. 32.
60.627
60.627
Town construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning. 60.627(1)
(1)
Definition. In this section, "department" means the department of natural resources.
60.627(2)(a)(a) To effect the purposes of
s. 281.33 and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, if a town board may enact zoning ordinances under
s. 60.62, the town board may enact a zoning ordinance, that is applicable to all of its area, for construction site erosion control at sites where the construction activities do not include the construction of a building and for storm water management. This ordinance may be enacted separately from ordinances enacted under
s. 60.62.
60.627(2)(b)
(b) A county ordinance enacted under
s. 59.693 does not apply and has no effect in a town in which an ordinance enacted under this section is in effect.
60.627(4)
(4) Applicability of village zoning provisions. 60.627(4)(a)(a) Except as otherwise specified in this section, the provisions of
s. 61.35, as they apply to villages, apply to any ordinance or amendment to an ordinance enacted under this section.
60.627(4)(b)
(b) Variances and appeals regarding a construction site erosion control and storm water management ordinance under this section are to be determined by the board of appeals or similar agency for the town. To the extent specified under
s. 61.35, procedures under
s. 62.23 (7) (e) apply to these determinations.
60.627(4)(c)
(c) An ordinance enacted under this section supersedes all provisions of an ordinance enacted under
s. 60.62 that relate to construction site erosion control at sites where the construction activities do not include the construction of a building or to storm water management regulation.
60.627(5)
(5) Applicability of comprehensive zoning plan or general zoning ordinance. An ordinance enacted under this section shall accord and be consistent with any comprehensive zoning plan or general zoning ordinance applicable to the enacting town, so far as practicable.
60.627(6)
(6) Applicability of local subdivision regulation. All powers granted to a town under
s. 236.45 may be exercised by it with respect to construction site erosion control at sites where the construction activities do not include the construction of a building or with respect to storm water management regulation, if the town has or provides a planning commission or agency.
60.627(7)
(7) Applicability to local governments and agencies. An ordinance enacted under this section is applicable to activities conducted by a unit of local government and an agency of that unit of government. An ordinance enacted under this section is not applicable to activities conducted by an agency, as defined under
s. 227.01 (1) but also including the office of district attorney, which is subject to the state plan promulgated or a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 281.33 (2).
60.627(8)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (c),
s. 66.0301 applies to this section, but for the purposes of this section any agreement under
s. 66.0301 shall be effected by ordinance.
60.627(8)(b)
(b) If a town is served by a regional planning commission under
s. 66.0309 and if the commission consents, the town may empower the commission by ordinance to administer the ordinance enacted under this section throughout the town, whether or not the area otherwise served by the commission includes all of that town.
60.627(8)(c)
(c) If a town is served by the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission, and if the commission consents, the town may empower the commission by ordinance to administer the ordinance enacted under this section throughout the town, whether or not the area otherwise served by the commission includes all of that town.
Section 66.0301 does not apply to this paragraph.
60.627(9)
(9) Validity upon annexation. An ordinance enacted under this section by a town continues in effect in any area annexed by a city or village after the effective date of that ordinance unless the city or village enacts, maintains and enforces a city or village ordinance which complies with minimum standards established by the department and which is at least as restrictive as the town ordinance enacted under this section. If, after providing notice and conducting a hearing on the matter, the department determines that an ordinance enacted by a city or village which is applicable to an area annexed after the effective date of the town ordinance does not meet these standards or is not as restrictive as the town ordinance, the department shall issue an order declaring the city or village ordinance void and reinstating the applicability of the town ordinance to the annexed area.
60.63
60.63
Community and other living arrangements. For purposes of
s. 60.61, the location of a community living arrangement for adults, as defined in
s. 46.03 (22), a community living arrangement for children, as defined in
s. 48.743 (1), a foster home, as defined in
s. 48.02 (6), or an adult family home, as defined in
s. 50.01 (1), in any town shall be subject to the following criteria:
60.63(1)
(1) No community living arrangement may be established after March 28, 1978 within 2,500 feet, or any lesser distance established by an ordinance of the town, of any other such facility. Agents of a facility may apply for an exception to this requirement, and such exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the local town. Two community living arrangements may be adjacent if the town authorizes that arrangement and if both facilities comprise essential components of a single program.
60.63(2)
(2) Community living arrangements shall be permitted in each town without restriction as to the number of facilities, so long as the total capacity of the community living arrangements does not exceed 25 or one percent of the town's population, whichever is greater. If the capacity of the community living arrangements in the town reaches such total, the town may prohibit additional community living arrangements from locating in the township. Agents of a facility may apply for an exception to this requirement, and such exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the town.
60.63(3)
(3) A foster home that is the primary domicile of a foster parent and that is licensed under
s. 48.62 or an adult family home certified under
s. 50.032 (1m) (b) shall be a permitted use in all residential areas and is not subject to
subs. (1) and
(2) except that foster homes operated by corporations, child welfare agencies, churches, associations, or public agencies shall be subject to
subs. (1) and
(2).
60.63(3m)(a)(a) No adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) may be established within 2,500 feet, or any lesser distance established by an ordinance of the town, of any other adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) or any community living arrangement. An agent of an adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) may apply for an exception to this requirement, and the exception may be granted at the discretion of the town.
60.63(3m)(b)
(b) An adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) that meets the criteria specified in
par. (a) and that is licensed under
s. 50.033 (1m) (b) is permitted in the town without restriction as to the number of adult family homes and may locate in any residential zone, without being required to obtain special zoning permission except as provided in
sub. (10).
60.63(4)
(4) If the community living arrangement has capacity for 8 or fewer persons being served by the program, meets the criteria listed in
subs. (1) and
(2), and is licensed, operated, or permitted under the authority of the department of health services or the department of children and families, the community living arrangement is entitled to locate in any residential zone, without being required to obtain special zoning permission except as provided under
sub. (10).
60.63(5)
(5) In all cases where the community living arrangement has capacity for 9 to 15 persons being served by the program, meets the criteria listed in
subs. (1) and
(2), and is licensed, operated, or permitted under the authority of the department of health services or the department of children and families, that facility is entitled to locate in any residential area except areas zoned exclusively for single-family or 2-family residences except as provided in
sub. (10), but is entitled to apply for special zoning permission to locate in those areas. The town may grant such special zoning permission at its discretion and shall make a procedure available to enable such facilities to request such permission.
60.63(6)
(6) In all cases where the community living arrangement has capacity for serving 16 or more persons, meets the criteria listed in
subs. (1) and
(2), and is licensed, operated, or permitted under the authority of the department of health services or the department of children and families, that facility is entitled to apply for special zoning permission to locate in areas zoned for residential use. The town may grant such special zoning permission at its discretion and shall make a procedure available to enable such facilities to request such permission.
60.63(7)
(7) The department of health services shall designate a single subunit within that department to maintain appropriate records indicating the location and the capacity of each community living arrangement for adults, and such information shall be available to the public. The department of children and families shall designate a single subunit within that department to maintain appropriate records indicating the location and the capacity of each community living arrangement for children, and such information shall be available to the public.
60.63(8)
(8) In this section, "special zoning permission" includes but is not limited to the following: special exception, special permit, conditional use, zoning variance, conditional permit and words of similar intent.
60.63(9)
(9) The attorney general shall take all necessary action, upon the request of the department of health services or the department of children and families, to enforce compliance with this section.
60.63(10)
(10) Not less than 11 months nor more than 13 months after the first licensure of an adult family home under
s. 50.033 or of a community living arrangement and every year thereafter, the town board of a town in which a licensed adult family home or a community living arrangement is located may make a determination as to the effect of the adult family home or community living arrangement on the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town. The determination shall be made according to the procedures provided under
sub. (11). If the town board determines that the existence in the town of a licensed adult family home or a community living arrangement poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town, the town board may order the adult family home or community living arrangement to cease operation unless special zoning permission is obtained. The order is subject to judicial review under
s. 68.13, except that a free copy of the transcript may not be provided to the licensed adult family home or community living arrangement. The licensed adult family home or community living arrangement must cease operation within 90 days after the date of the order, or the date of final judicial review of the order, or the date of the denial of special zoning permission, whichever is later.
60.63(10m)
(10m) The fact that an individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or a positive HIV test, as defined in
s. 252.01 (2m), resides in a community living arrangement with a capacity for 8 or fewer persons may not be used under
sub. (10) to assert or prove that the existence of the community living arrangement in the town poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town.
60.63(11)
(11) A determination made under
sub. (10) shall be made after a hearing before the town board. The town shall provide at least 30 days' notice to the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement that such a hearing will be held. At the hearing, the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement may be represented by counsel and may present evidence and call and examine witnesses and cross-examine other witnesses called. The town board may call witnesses and may issue subpoenas. All witnesses shall be sworn by the town board. The town board shall take notes of the testimony and shall mark and preserve all exhibits. The town board may, and upon request of the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement shall, cause the proceedings to be taken by a stenographer or by a recording device, the expense thereof to be paid by the town. Within 20 days after the hearing, the town board shall deliver to the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement its written determination stating the reasons therefor. The determination shall be a final determination.
60.64
60.64
Historic preservation. The town board, in the exercise of its zoning and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the community and of the state, may regulate any place, structure or object with a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other significant value for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. The town board may create a landmarks commission to designate historic landmarks and establish historic districts. The board may regulate all historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the historic landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district.
60.64 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
60.65
60.65
Board of adjustment.
