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, rebuilding, and maintenance of certain nonconforming structures. 60.61(5e)(a)1.
1. “Development regulations" means the part of a zoning ordinance 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 may not prohibit, limit based on cost, or require a variance for the repair, maintenance, renovation, rebuilding, or remodeling of a nonconforming structure or any part 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;
2015 a. 41,
55,
391;
2017 a. 67.
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) 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)(a)(a) 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. This paragraph applies only in counties with a population of less than 485,000, and does not apply to a town that has withdrawn from county zoning.
60.62(3)(b)
(b) With regard to a town to which all of the following apply, the town may not adopt or amend a zoning ordinance under this section without county board approval:
60.62(3)(b)1.
1. The town is located in a county that has a population exceeding 380,000.
60.62(3)(b)2.
2. The county in which the town is located is adjacent to a county that has a population exceeding 800,000.
60.62(3)(b)3.
3. The county in which the town is located has a zoning ordinance in effect on January 1, 2013.
60.62(3)(c)
(c) As part of its approval process for granting a conditional use permit under this section or s.
61.35, a town may not impose on a permit applicant a requirement that is expressly preempted by federal or state law.
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(4e)(a)1.
1. “Conditional use” means a use allowed under a conditional use permit, special exception, or other special zoning permission issued by a town, but does not include a variance.
60.62(4e)(a)2.
2. “Substantial evidence” means facts and information, other than merely personal preferences or speculation, directly pertaining to the requirements and conditions an applicant must meet to obtain a conditional use permit and that reasonable persons would accept in support of a conclusion.
60.62(4e)(b)1.1. If an applicant for a conditional use permit meets or agrees to meet all of the requirements and conditions specified in the town ordinance or those imposed by the town zoning board, the town shall grant the conditional use permit. Any condition imposed must be related to the purpose of the ordinance and be based on substantial evidence.
60.62(4e)(b)2.
2. The requirements and conditions described under subd.
1. must be reasonable and, to the extent practicable, measurable and may include conditions such as the permit's duration, transfer, or renewal. The applicant must demonstrate that the application and all requirements and conditions established by the town relating to the conditional use are or shall be satisfied, both of which must be supported by substantial evidence. The town's decision to approve or deny the permit must be supported by substantial evidence.
60.62(4e)(c)
(c) Upon receipt of a conditional use permit application, and following publication in the town of a class 2 notice under ch.
985, the town shall hold a public hearing on the application.
60.62(4e)(d)
(d) Once granted, a conditional use permit shall remain in effect as long as the conditions upon which the permit was issued are followed, but the town may impose conditions such as the permit's duration, transfer, or renewal, in addition to any other conditions specified in the zoning ordinance or by the town zoning board.
60.62(4e)(e)
(e) If a town denies a person's conditional use permit application, the person may appeal the decision to the circuit court under the procedures described in s.
61.35.
60.62(5)(b)
(b) A town may enact a zoning ordinance under this section that applies in shorelands, except as provided in par.
(c).
60.62(5)(c)
(c) A town zoning ordinance enacted under this section may not impose restrictions or requirements in shorelands with respect to matters regulated by a county shoreland zoning ordinance enacted under s.
59.692 affecting the same shorelands, regardless of whether the county shoreland zoning ordinance was enacted separately from, or together with, an ordinance enacted under s.
59.69, except as provided in s.
59.692 (2) (b).
60.62(6)(a)(a) Not later than 60 days before a town board that wishes to withdraw from county zoning and the county development plan may enact an ordinance under s.
60.23 (34), the town board shall enact a zoning ordinance under this section, an official map under s.
62.23 (6), and a comprehensive plan under s.
66.1001.
60.62(6)(b)
(b) If a town receives notification under s.
59.69 (5m) that the county board has repealed its zoning ordinances, the town board shall enact a zoning ordinance under this section, an official map under s.
62.23 (6), and a comprehensive plan under s.
66.1001, all of which take effect on the effective date of the county's repeal of its zoning ordinance.
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
Permitting general town regulation of shorelands under village powers conflicts with the statutory scheme of ss. 59.692 and 281.31, which, by their plain language, appear to deliberately exclude towns from having shoreland zoning authority, except in the circumstance identified in s. 59.692 (2) (b). Hegwood v. Town of Eagle Zoning Board of Appeals,
2013 WI App 118,
351 Wis. 2d 196,
839 N.W.2d 111,
12-2058.
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 website address that gives the recipient of the notice direct contact with that website.
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.
60.627
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 described in s.
281.33 (3) (a) 1. a. and
b. and for storm water management. This ordinance may be enacted separately from ordinances enacted under s.
60.62. An ordinance enacted under this paragraph is subject to the strict conformity requirements under s.
281.33 (3m).
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 described in s.
281.33 (3) (a) 1. a. and
b. 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 described in s.
281.33 (3) (a) 1. a. and
b. 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.
