Chapter 703

703.02(17) (17) “Unit owner” means a person, combination of persons, partnership or corporation who holds legal title to a condominium unit or has equitable ownership as a land contract vendee.

703.02 History History: 1977 c. 407; 1985 a. 188; 1997 a. 333; 1999 a. 85; 2003 a. 283; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 358; 2021 a. 166, 168.

703.02 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

703.02 Annotation The definition of “unit” under sub. (15) encompasses a property on which there is no constructed unit. Aluminium Industries v. Camelot Trails, 194 Wis. 2d 575, 535 N.W.2d 74 (Ct. App. 1995).

703.02 Annotation Small lock boxes were not “intended for any type of independent use” within the meaning of “unit” under sub. (15). Because there are no valid units, there could be no valid condominium units, and the conveyance of riparian rights to docks attempted to be transferred as common elements were not valid. ABKA Limited Partnership v. DNR, 2002 WI 106, 255 Wis. 2d 486, 648 N.W.2d 854, 99-2306.

703.02 Annotation Each unit identified in the condominium declaration is a unit for purposes of separate taxation under s. 703.21, regardless of whether the unit has been constructed. For purposes of identifying the “unit,” as defined in sub. (15), a unit may exist without a building. Saddle Ridge Corp. v. Board of Review, 2010 WI 47, 325 Wis. 2d 29, 784 N.W.2d 527, 07-2886.

703.02 Annotation Although the statutory definition of a “unit” under sub. (15) controls, it may be altered by other statutory provisions that look specifically to the declaration to define the substantive rights and obligations of unit owners. Section 703.15 (4) (d) 1. explicitly allows the declaration to determine the number of votes appurtenant to each platted unit. Northernaire Resort & Spa, LLC v. Northernaire Condominium Ass’n, 2013 WI App 116, 351 Wis. 2d 156, 839 N.W.2d 116, 12-1707.

703.03 703.03 Application of chapter. This chapter applies only to property, a sole owner or all of the owners of which submit the property to the provisions of this chapter by duly executing and recording a declaration as provided in this chapter.

703.03 Annotation Master-planned communities are not part of the purpose behind this chapter’s promulgation. Master-planned communities are an entirely different type and level of development than condominiums. A condominium is a multiple-unit complex, the units of which are individually owned, each owner receiving a recordable deed to the individual unit purchased and sharing in joint ownership of any common grounds or passageways. A master-planned community is a private quasi-town that may include different types of homes, including condominiums, commercial property, private streets and parks, and other recreational facilities. Just because a master-planned community has condominiums as part of the plan, a covenant governing the community is not subject to this chapter. Solowicz v. Forward Geneva National, 2010 WI 20, 323 Wis. 2d 556, 780 N.W.2d 111, 08-0010.

703.03 History History: 1977 c. 407.

703.04 703.04 Status of the units. A unit, together with its undivided interest in the common elements, for all purposes constitutes real property.

703.04 History History: 1977 c. 407.

703.05 703.05 Ownership of units. A unit owner is entitled to the exclusive ownership and possession of his or her unit.

703.05 History History: 1977 c. 407.

703.06 703.06 Alterations prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no unit owner may make any alteration that would jeopardize the soundness or safety of the property, reduce the value thereof, impair any easement or hereditament, or change the exterior appearance of a unit or any other portion of the condominium not part of the unit.

703.06 History History: 1977 c. 407; 2003 a. 283.

703.06 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

703.065 703.065 Recording requirements; general. Every instrument offered for record related to a condominium other than a plat or addendum shall satisfy all of the following criteria:

703.065(1) (1) The instrument shall include the name of the condominium as it appears in the declaration.

703.065(2) (2) The instrument shall be prepared in the standard format for recorded documents under s. 59.43 (2m) and (5) (a).

703.065(3) (3) The instrument shall comply with s. 706.05 (2) (a) and (b).

703.065(4) (4) If the instrument is a condominium instrument or an instrument that modifies a condominium instrument and the county in which the instrument is to be recorded has adopted an ordinance under s. 703.115, the instrument is accompanied by the certified written approval of the person who performed the review under the ordinance.

703.065 History History: 2021 a. 168.

703.07 703.07 Establishment of condominium.

703.07(1) (1) A condominium may only be created by recording condominium instruments with the register of deeds of the county where the property is located. A condominium declaration and plat shall be presented together to the register of deeds for recording.

703.07(2) (2) A condominium instrument, and all amendments, addenda and certifications of a condominium instrument, shall be recorded in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located, and shall be indexed in each county in the name of the grantor and grantee and the description of the condominium property that is located in that county. Subsequent instruments affecting the title to a unit which is physically located entirely within a single county shall be recorded only in that county, notwithstanding the fact that the common elements are not physically located entirely within that county. Subsequent amendments and addenda shall be indexed under the name of the condominium.

703.07(3) (3) All instruments affecting title to units shall be recorded and taxed as in other real property transactions.

703.07 History History: 1977 c. 407; 1997 a. 333; 2021 a. 168.

703.08 703.08 Notice prior to conversion of residential property to condominium.

703.08(1) (1) Residential real property may not be converted to a condominium unless the owner of the residential real property gives prior written notice of the conversion to each of the tenants of the building or buildings scheduled for conversion. During the 60-day period immediately following the date of delivery of the notice a tenant has the first right to purchase the unit, if the unit is offered for sale at any time during that period, for any of the following:

703.08(1)(a) (a) The price at which the unit is being offered on the market.

703.08(1)(b) (b) The price contained in any accepted offer to purchase the unit.

703.08(1)(c) (c) The price otherwise agreed to by the tenant and the seller.

703.08(2) (2) A tenant may not be required to vacate the property during the 120-day period immediately following the date of delivery of the notice required under sub. (1) unless the tenant violates a covenant in the lease or fails to pay rent.

703.08(3) (3) A tenant may waive in writing his or her first right of purchase under sub. (1), his or her right to remain on the property under sub. (2), or both.

703.08 History History: 1977 c. 407; 2003 a. 283; 2021 a. 168.

703.08 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

703.08 Annotation Condominium conversion and tenant rights — Wisconsin statutes section 703.08: What kind of protection does it really provide. Wynn. 63 MLR 73 (1979).

703.09 703.09 Declaration.

703.09(1) (1) Requirements. A condominium declaration shall contain:

703.09(1)(a) (a) The name and address of the condominium and the name shall include the word “condominium” or be followed by the words “a condominium”.

703.09(1)(b) (b) A description of the land on which the condominium is, or is to be, located, together with a statement of the owner’s intent to subject the property to the condominium declaration established under this chapter.

703.09(1)(c) (c) A description of each unit, including its perimeters, location, and any other data sufficient to identify the unit with reasonable certainty.

703.09(1)(d) (d) A general description of the common elements together with a designation of those portions of the common elements that are limited common elements and the unit to which the use of each is restricted. Fixtures designed to serve a single unit, located contiguous to the unit’s boundaries, are deemed limited common elements appertaining to that unit exclusively and need not be shown or designated as limited common elements in the condominium instruments.

703.09(1)(e) (e) The percentage interests appurtenant to each unit.

703.09(1)(f) (f) The number of votes at meetings of the association of unit owners appurtenant to each unit.

703.09(1)(g) (g) Statement of the purposes for which the building and each of the units are intended and restricted as to use.

703.09(1)(h) (h) The name and address of the resident agent under s. 703.23.

703.09(1)(i) (i) Provision as to the percentage of votes by the unit owners which shall be determinative of whether to rebuild, repair, restore or sell the property in the event of damage or destruction of all or part of the property.

703.09(1)(j) (j) Any further details in connection with the property which the person executing the declaration deems desirable to set forth consistent with this chapter, except those provisions which are required to be included in the bylaws.

703.09(1c) (1c) Consent of property owners and mortgagees; declaration. A condominium declaration shall be signed by the owners of the property and any first mortgagee of the property or the holder of an equivalent security interest in the property in the same manner as required in conveyances of real property.

703.09(2) (2) Amendment. Except as provided in sub. (4) and ss. 703.093, 703.13 (6) (c), (cm), and (d), (7) (b) and (bm), and (8) (b), (bm), and (bp), and 703.26, a condominium declaration may be amended with the written consent of at least two-thirds of the aggregate of the votes established under sub. (1) (f) or a greater percentage if provided in the declaration. An amendment becomes effective when it is recorded. The document submitting the amendment for recording shall state that the required consents and approvals for the amendment were received. Except as provided in sub. (2m), a unit owner’s written consent is not effective unless it is approved in writing by the first mortgagee of the unit, or the holder of an equivalent security interest, if any. Approval from the first mortgage lender or equivalent security interest holder, or the person servicing the first mortgage loan or its equivalent on a unit, constitutes approval of the first mortgagee or equivalent security interest holder under this subsection.

703.09(2m) (2m) Consent of unit owners and mortgagees; amendments.

703.09(2m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “first mortgagee” means the first mortgagee of a unit or the holder of an equivalent security interest, the first mortgage lender on a unit or the equivalent security interest holder, or the person servicing the first mortgage loan or its equivalent on a unit.

703.09(2m)(b) (b) A unit owner, or the association on behalf of a unit owner, may obtain the approval required under sub. (2) by providing written notice of the amendment to the first mortgagee that includes all of the following:

703.09(2m)(b)1. 1. A copy of the amendment.

703.09(2m)(b)2. 2. A request for approval or disapproval of the amendment.

703.09(2m)(b)3. 3. A form upon which the first mortgagee may indicate its approval or disapproval of the amendment.

703.09(2m)(b)4. 4. A statement that, if the first mortgagee fails to complete and return the form described under subd. 3. or otherwise disapprove the amendment in writing within 60 days from the date of mailing of the notice, the first mortgagee is considered to have given its approval of the amendment.

703.09(2m)(c) (c) The unit owner or association shall deliver the notice under par. (b) by certified mail to the last-known address of the first mortgagee. If no other address is known to the unit owner or association, the unit owner or association may deliver the notice to the address of the first mortgagee as the address appears on the mortgage or equivalent security instrument and to the address to which the unit owner sends any periodic payments on the first mortgage loan or its equivalent.

703.09(2m)(d) (d) If the first mortgagee fails to complete and return the form described under par. (b) 3. or otherwise disapprove the amendment in writing within 60 days after the unit owner or association mails the notice under par. (c), the first mortgagee is considered to have given its approval of the amendment as required under sub. (2).

703.09(3) (3) Compensation for reduction in value; amendments.

703.09(3)(a) (a) If an amendment to a condominium declaration has the effect of reducing the value of any unit owner’s interest in any common element, including any limited common element, and increases the value of the declarant’s or any other unit owner’s interest in the common element or limited common element, then the declarant or other unit owner shall compensate the unit owner the value of whose interest is reduced in the amount of the reduction in value, either in cash or by other consideration acceptable to the unit owner.

703.09(3)(b) (b) A unit owner may waive the right to obtain compensation under par. (a) in writing.

703.09(3)(c) (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an expanding condominium under s. 703.26.

703.09(4) (4) Assignment of declarant’s interest. A declarant may assign his or her rights and obligations as a declarant under this chapter by recording an amendment that includes the assignment and an acceptance of the assignment that is signed by the assignee and acknowledged. A declarant may not assign under this subsection less than all of his or her rights and obligations as a declarant under this chapter.

703.09 History History: 1977 c. 407; 1985 a. 188, 332; 2003 a. 283; 2017 a. 333; 2021 a. 168.

703.09 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

703.09 Annotation An amendment of a condominium declaration that changed a common area to a limited common area but did not change the owners’ percentage interests in the common areas did not require unanimous approval of all owners and was valid. Any reduction in value due to the change from common area was recoverable under sub. (3) (a) by the owners whose condominium value decreased due to the change. Newport Condominium Ass’n v. Concord-Wisconsin, 205 Wis. 2d 577, 556 N.W.2d 775 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-0869.

703.09 Annotation A condominium complex may prohibit the rental of condominium units through an amendment to the bylaws. Nothing in sub. (1) (g) or in any other section of this chapter requires that all restrictions on use must be identified in the declaration. Section 703.10 (3) expressly authorizes the placement of additional use restrictions in condominium bylaws and does not contain limitations on the types of restrictions that can be implemented through bylaw amendments. As long as use restrictions do not conflict with the declaration or with state or federal law, they are valid and enforceable. Apple Valley Gardens Ass’n v. MacHutta, 2009 WI 28, 316 Wis. 2d 85, 763 N.W.2d 126, 07-0191.

703.093 703.093 Alternative procedure for amending declaration.

703.093(1) (1) As an alternative to s. 703.09 (2), a condominium declaration may be amended under this section if at least two-thirds of the aggregate of the votes established under s. 703.09 (1) (f), or a greater percentage if provided in the declaration, consent to the amendment in writing and those consents are approved by the mortgagees or holders of equivalent security interests in the units. An amendment becomes effective when it is recorded.

703.093(2) (2) The association has 180 days to secure the required consents and approvals under this section, commencing with the recording of an affidavit with the register of deeds of the county in which the condominium is located. The affidavit shall do all of the following:

703.093(2)(a) (a) Set forth the text of the proposed amendment.

703.093(2)(b) (b) Provide the name and address of the senior executive officer of the association to whom inquiries should be directed with regard to the proposed amendment.

703.093(2)(c) (c) State that a notice was sent to each owner of record and each lender of record for each unit of the association on the date the affidavit is recorded.

703.093(2)(d) (d) Be signed by the senior executive officer of the association.

703.093(3) (3) Notice of a proposed amendment to a declaration under this section shall be mailed on the date the affidavit is recorded under sub. (2) to the owner of each condominium unit and to any mortgagee of, or holder of an equivalent security interest in, each unit, as identified in a title report prepared on the date the notice is sent.

703.093(4) (4) The notice mailed under sub. (3) shall do all of the following:

703.093(4)(a) (a) Contain a copy of the text of the proposed amendment and a current copy of this section.

703.093(4)(b) (b) Include a written ballot to be signed by the unit owner, identifying the unit casting the ballot and identifying each owner of record of that unit as of the date the affidavit is recorded under sub. (2). The ballot shall include a place for any mortgagee or equivalent security interest holder to whom notice is sent under sub. (3) to indicate its approval or objection under sub. (5) (b).

703.093(4)(c) (c) State that, if more than one person is an owner of the unit and the owners cannot agree how to cast the ballot, the unit’s vote shall be treated as a vote in opposition to the proposed amendment.

703.093(4)(d) (d) State that a ballot signed by only one owner shall count as the ballot of that unit, unless more than one ballot is received by the association for that unit, in which case all ballots received for that unit must concur in the vote cast or the ballots, collectively, shall be treated as a vote in opposition to the proposed amendment by that unit.

703.093(4)(e) (e) State that the proposed amendment must be voted on as written and that no changes to the proposed amendment may be accomplished by this vote.

703.093(4)(f) (f) Include the address to which the completed ballot should be mailed or delivered.

703.093(5) (5) 

703.093(5)(a) (a) The owner of each unit shall vote on the proposed amendment by signing the ballot before a notary public and by mailing the signed and notarized ballot or by personally delivering it to the association of unit owners at the applicable address specified under sub. (4) (f).

703.093(5)(b) (b) Each mortgagee or equivalent security interest holder receiving the notice under sub. (3) shall signify its approval or objection to the amendment by having an authorized person sign the ballot before a notary public and by returning the signed, notarized ballot to the association.

703.093(6) (6) The association may rely on the list of owners of record set forth in a title report obtained as of the date the affidavit is recorded under sub. (2), unless the association receives a written notice, signed and notarized by both the previous owner and the new owner, advising the association that ownership of the unit has changed. The association shall send a copy of the notice under sub. (3) to the new owner of a unit and any mortgagee or equivalent security interest holder promptly after receiving notice of the transfer of ownership. It is the responsibility of the new unit owner to comply with this section. If the previous owner had voted prior to the change in ownership, the new owner may execute the ballot included in the notice under sub. (3), which ballot, when returned by the new owner, shall supersede and replace any ballot cast by the previous owner if the required approval of any mortgagee or equivalent security interest holder is also timely received. The 180-day period applicable to receipt of the ballot for the unit shall be extended to a date 14 days after the ballot is mailed by the association if the ballot is mailed within 14 days before the end of the 180-day period.