Chapter 66

66.1015(1) (1) No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit.

66.1015(2) (2) This section does not prohibit a city, village, town, county, or housing authority or the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority from doing any of the following:

66.1015(2)(a) (a) Entering into a rental agreement which regulates rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit it owns or operates.

66.1015(2)(b) (b) Entering into an agreement with a private person who regulates rent or fees charged for a residential rental dwelling unit.

66.1015(3) (3) 

66.1015(3)(a) (a) In this subsection:

66.1015(3)(a)1. 1. “Inclusionary zoning” means a zoning ordinance, as defined in s. 66.10015 (1) (e), regulation, or policy that prescribes that a certain number or percentage of new or existing residential dwelling units in a land development be made available for rent or sale to an individual or family with a family income at or below a certain percentage of the median income.

66.1015(3)(a)2. 2. “Median income” has the meaning given in s. 234.49 (1) (g).

66.1015(3)(b) (b) No city, village, town, or county may enact, impose, or enforce an inclusionary zoning requirement.

66.1015 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1999 a. 150 s. 377; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1015; 2001 a. 104; 2017 a. 243; 2021 a. 238, 239.

66.1015 Annotation This section preempted an ordinance that required a development with ten or more rental dwelling units to provide no less than 15 percent of its total number of dwelling units as inclusionary dwelling units when the development required a zoning map amendment, subdivision, or land division, defining “inclusionary dwelling unit” as a dwelling unit for rent to a family with an annual median income at or below 60 percent of the area median income. Sub. (2) (b) plainly applies only to agreements with private persons who, on their own, choose to regulate rent and makes clear that a municipality is not imposing rent control if it contracts with those persons for some other purpose or somehow assists them. The ordinance was not an agreement to regulate rent between the city and persons who apply for zoning map amendments, subdivision, or land division. Apartment Ass’n of South Central Wisconsin v. City of Madison, 2006 WI App 192, 296 Wis. 2d 173, 722 N.W.2d 614, 05-3140.

66.1017 66.1017 Family child care homes.

66.1017(1) (1) In this section:

66.1017(1)(a) (a) “Family child care home” means a dwelling licensed as a child care center by the department of children and families under s. 48.65 where care is provided for not more than 8 children.

66.1017(1)(b) (b) “Municipality” means a county, city, village or town.

66.1017(2) (2) No municipality may prevent a family child care home from being located in a zoned district in which a single-family residence is a permitted use. No municipality may establish standards or requirements for family child care homes that are different from the licensing standards established under s. 48.65. This subsection does not prevent a municipality from applying to a family child care home the zoning regulations applicable to other dwellings in the zoning district in which it is located.

66.1017 History History: 1983 a. 193; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1999 a. 150 s. 361; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1017; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 185.

66.1019 66.1019 Housing codes to conform to state law.

66.1019(1) (1) One- and 2-family dwelling code. Ordinances enacted by any county, city, village or town relating to the construction and inspection of one- and 2-family dwellings shall conform to subch. II of ch. 101.

66.1019(2) (2) Modular home code. Ordinances enacted by any county, city, village or town relating to the on-site inspection of the installation of modular homes shall conform to subch. III of ch. 101.

66.1019(2m) (2m) Manufactured homes.

66.1019(2m)(a) (a) Ordinances enacted, or resolutions adopted, on or after January 1, 2007, by any county, city, village, or town relating to manufactured home installation shall conform to s. 101.96.

66.1019(2m)(b) (b) If a city, village, town, or county has in effect on or after January 1, 2007, an ordinance or resolution relating to manufactured home installation that does not conform to s. 101.96, the ordinance or resolution does not apply and may not be enforced.

66.1019 History History: 1999 a. 150 ss. 266, 358 to 360; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1019; 2005 a. 45; 2007 a. 11; 2015 a. 176; 2017 a. 331.

66.1021 66.1021 City, village and town transit commissions.

66.1021(1) (1) A city, village or town may enact an ordinance for the establishment, maintenance and operation of a comprehensive unified local transportation system, the major portion of which is located within, or the major portion of the service of which is supplied to the inhabitants of, the city, village or town, and which system is used for the transportation of persons or freight.

66.1021(2) (2) The transit commission shall be designated “Transit Commission” preceded by the name of the enacting city, village or town.

66.1021(3) (3) In this section:

66.1021(3)(a) (a) “Comprehensive unified local transportation system” means a transportation system comprised of motor bus lines and any other local public transportation facilities or freight transportation facilities, the major portions of which are within the city, village or town.

66.1021(3)(b) (b) “Transit commission” or “commission” means the local transit commission created under this section.

66.1021(4) (4) The transit commission shall consist of not less than 3 members to be appointed by the mayor or village board or town board chairperson and approved by the common council or village or town board, one of whom shall be designated as chairperson.

66.1021(5) (5) 

66.1021(5)(a) (a) The first members of the transit commission shall be appointed for staggered 3-year terms. The term of office of each member appointed after the first members of the transit commission shall be 3 years.

66.1021(5)(c) (c) No person holding stocks or bonds in any corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the transit commission, or who is in any other manner pecuniarily interested in any such corporation, may be a member of nor be employed by the transit commission.

66.1021(6) (6) The transit commission may appoint a secretary and employ accountants, engineers, experts, inspectors, clerks and other employees and fix their compensation, and purchase furniture, stationery and other supplies and materials, that are reasonably necessary to enable it to perform its duties and exercise its powers.

66.1021(7) (7) 

66.1021(7)(a) (a) The transit commission may conduct hearings and may adopt rules relative to the calling, holding and conduct of its meetings, the transaction of its business, the regulation and control of its agents and employees, the filing of complaints and petitions and the service of notices.

66.1021(7)(b) (b) For the purpose of receiving, considering and acting upon any complaints or applications that may be presented to it or for the purpose of conducting investigations or hearings on its own motion the transit commission shall hold regular meetings at least once a week except in the months of July and August and special meetings on the call of the chairperson or at the request of the common council or village or town board.

66.1021(7)(c) (c) The transit commission may adopt a seal, of which judicial notice shall be taken in all courts. Any process, writ, notice or other instrument that the commission may be authorized by law to issue shall be considered sufficient if signed by the secretary of the commission and authenticated by the commission’s seal. All acts, orders, decisions, rules and records of the commission, and all reports, schedules and documents filed with the commission may be proved in any court by a copy of the documents that is certified by the secretary under the seal of the commission.

66.1021(8) (8) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the jurisdiction, powers and duties of the transit commission shall extend to the comprehensive unified local transportation system for which the commission is established including any portion of the system extending into adjacent or suburban territory that is outside of the city, village or town not more than 30 miles from the nearest point marking the corporate limits of the city, village or town. The jurisdiction, powers and duties of a transit commission providing rail service shall extend to the comprehensive unified local rail transportation system for which the commission is established including any portion of the system that extends into adjacent or suburban territory that is outside of the city, village or town and in an adjoining state whose laws permit, subject to the laws of that state but subject to the laws of this state in all matters relating to rail service.

66.1021(9) (9) The initial acquisition of the properties for the establishment of, and to comprise, the comprehensive unified local transportation system is subject to s. 66.0803 or ch. 197.

66.1021(10) (10) 

66.1021(10)(a) (a) Any city, village, town or federally recognized Indian tribe or band may by contract under s. 66.0301 establish a joint municipal transit commission with the powers and duties of city, village or town transit commissions under this section. Membership on the joint transit commission shall be as provided in the contract established under s. 66.0301.

66.1021(10)(b) (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no joint municipal transit commission under par. (a) may provide service outside the corporate limits of the parties to the contract under s. 66.0301 which establish the joint municipal transit commission unless the joint municipal transit commission receives financial support for the service under a contract with a public or private organization for the service. This paragraph does not apply to service provided by a joint municipal transit commission outside the corporate limits of the parties to the contract under s. 66.0301 which establish the joint municipal transit commission if the joint municipal transit commission is providing the service on April 28, 1994, without receiving financial support from a public or private organization for the service, and elects to continue the service.

66.1021(11) (11) 

66.1021(11)(a) (a) In lieu of providing transportation services, a city, village or town may contract with a private organization for the services.

66.1021(11)(b) (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no municipality may contract with a private organization to provide service outside the corporate limits of the municipality unless the municipality receives financial support for the service under a contract with a public or other private organization for the service. This paragraph does not apply to service provided under par. (a) outside the corporate limits of a municipality if a private organization is providing the service on April 28, 1994, without receiving financial support from a public or private organization for the service, and the municipality elects to continue the service.

66.1021(12) (12) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no transit commission may provide service outside the corporate limits of the city which establishes the transit commission unless the transit commission receives financial support for the service under a contract with a public or private organization for the service. This subsection does not apply to service provided by a transit commission outside the corporate limits of the city which establishes the transit commission if the transit commission is providing the service on April 28, 1994, without receiving financial support from a public or private organization for the service, and elects to continue the service.

66.1021 History History: 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 247; 1983 a. 189, 266; 1993 a. 184, 246, 279, 491; 1999 a. 150 s. 606; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1021.

66.1021 Annotation Although the statutes relating to public utilities and transit commissions describe certain attributes the governing commissions must have, these statutes do not, by their own force, call the commission into existence or endow it with authority independent of what the statutes confer on the municipality. A commission has no authority but for what it receives from the municipality, and the municipality has no authority to legislate contrary to the boundaries established by the statutes. This section does not directly grant a transit commission any authority, but it does identify some of the authority the commission must be furnished by the municipality’s enacting ordinance. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. v. City of Madison, 2017 WI 19, 373 Wis. 2d 543, 892 N.W.2d 233, 15-0146.

66.1023 66.1023 Transit employees; Wisconsin retirement system.

66.1023(1) (1) 

66.1023(1)(a) (a) This subsection applies to all affected employees of a transportation system which is acquired, after June 29, 1975, but prior to January 1, 1982, by a city, a city transit commission or a metropolitan transit authority which is a participating employer in the Wisconsin retirement fund.

66.1023(1)(b) (b) Within 60 days after May 19, 1978, or within 60 days after a system is acquired by a city, a city transit commission or a metropolitan transit authority, whichever is later, an election shall be conducted by the department of employee trust funds under procedures adopted by the department of employee trust funds. If all of the affected employees of the transportation system who are members of a retirement system established by the previous employer vote to be included within the Wisconsin retirement fund, prior to January 1, 1982, or the Wisconsin retirement system, after that date, rather than their present retirement system, their eligibility for participation within the Wisconsin retirement system shall be computed from the date of acquisition.

66.1023(1)(c) (c) Notwithstanding any other law, no city, city transit commission or metropolitan transit authority may be required to contribute to more than one retirement fund for an affected employee.

66.1023(2) (2) 

66.1023(2)(a) (a) Notwithstanding any other law pension benefits, rights and obligations of persons who are employed by a transportation system on the date of its acquisition by a participating employer in the Wisconsin retirement system shall be determined under pars. (b) and (c) if the date of acquisition is on or after January 1, 1982.

66.1023(2)(b) (b) Participating employers who acquire a transportation system on or after January 1, 1982 may elect to permit the employees of the transportation system on the date of acquisition to elect to continue participation under a retirement plan which has been established for those employees prior to the acquisition, rather than to participate in the Wisconsin retirement system. An employee who elects to continue participation in the prior established retirement plan is included under the Wisconsin retirement system as a participating employee but no contributions shall be made to the Wisconsin retirement system, and the employee is not eligible for any benefits from the system for service as an employee of the transportation system. If an affected employee does not elect to continue participation in the previously established retirement plan the employee is a participant in the Wisconsin retirement system from the date of acquisition and employer and employee contributions are required commencing with that date. The government entity acquiring the transportation system is not required to contribute, directly or indirectly, to the Wisconsin retirement system and also to another retirement plan for the employee.

66.1023(2)(c) (c) An employee may elect to continue under a previously established retirement plan as provided by par. (b) only if the participating employer in the Wisconsin retirement system which acquired the transportation system files with the department of employee trust funds within 60 days after the date of acquisition notice of election to make the option available. An employee who does not elect under par. (b), according to the procedures established by the department of employee trust funds, to continue participation under a previously established retirement plan within 60 days after the employer’s notice is filed is a participant in the Wisconsin retirement system.

66.1023(3) (3) A person who commences employment on or after January 1, 1982 or the date of acquisition, whichever is later, with a transportation system which has been acquired by a participating employer in the Wisconsin retirement system is, if otherwise eligible under the Wisconsin retirement system, a participating employee under that system.

66.1023 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 96; 1999 a. 150 s. 607; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1023.

66.1024 66.1024 Effect of reservation or exception in conveyance. Whenever an executed and recorded deed, land contract, or mortgage of lands abutting on an existing public street, highway, or alley or a projected extension thereof contains language reserving or excepting certain lands for street, highway, or alley purposes, the reservation or exception shall constitute a dedication for such purpose to the public body having jurisdiction over the highway, street, alley, or projected extension thereof, unless the language of the reservation or exception plainly indicates an intent to create a private way. Any reservation or exception shall not be effective until it is accepted by a resolution of the governing body having jurisdiction over such street, highway, alley, or projected extension thereof.

66.1024 History History: 2003 a. 214 s. 27.

66.1024 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 214, which created this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

66.1025 66.1025 Relief from conditions of gifts and dedications.

66.1025(1) (1) If the governing body of a county, city, town or village accepts a gift or dedication of land made on condition that the land be devoted to a special purpose, and the condition subsequently becomes impossible or impracticable, the governing body may by resolution or ordinance enacted by a two-thirds vote of its members-elect either to grant the land back to the donor or dedicator or the heirs of the donor or dedicator, or accept from the donor or dedicator or the heirs of the donor or dedicator, a grant relieving the county, city, town or village of the condition, pursuant to article XI, section 3a, of the constitution.

66.1025(2) (2) 

66.1025(2)(a) (a) If the donor or dedicator of land to a county, city, town or village or the heirs of the donor or dedicator are unknown or cannot be found, the resolution or ordinance described under sub. (1) may provide for the commencement of an action under this section for the purpose of relieving the county, city, town or village of the condition of the gift or dedication.

66.1025(2)(b) (b) Any action under this subsection shall be brought in a court of record in the manner provided in ch. 801. A lis pendens shall be filed or recorded as provided in s. 840.10 upon the commencement of the action. Service upon persons whose whereabouts are unknown may be made in the manner prescribed in s. 801.12.

66.1025(2)(c) (c) The court may render judgment in an action under this subsection relieving the county, city, town or village of the condition of the gift or dedication.

66.1025 History History: 1973 c. 189 s. 20; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 774 (1975); 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 304; 1999 a. 150 s. 323; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1025.

66.1027 66.1027 Traditional neighborhood developments and conservation subdivisions.

66.1027(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

66.1027(1)(a) (a) “Conservation subdivision” means a housing development in a rural setting that is characterized by compact lots and common open space, and where the natural features of land are maintained to the greatest extent possible.

66.1027(1)(b) (b) “Extension” has the meaning given in s. 36.05 (7).

66.1027(1)(c) (c) “Traditional neighborhood development” means a compact, mixed-use neighborhood where residential, commercial and civic buildings are within close proximity to each other.

66.1027(2) (2) Model ordinances.

66.1027(2)(a) (a) Not later than January 1, 2001, the extension, in consultation with any other University of Wisconsin System institution or with a landscape architect, as that term is used in s. 443.02 (2), or with independent planners or any other consultant with expertise in traditional neighborhood planning and development, shall develop a model ordinance for a traditional neighborhood development and an ordinance for a conservation subdivision.

66.1027(2)(b) (b) The model ordinances developed under par. (a) shall be presented to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, and shall be referred immediately by the speaker of the assembly and the presiding officer of the senate to the appropriate standing committee in each house. The model ordinances shall be considered to have been approved by a standing committee if within 14 working days of the referral, the committee does not schedule a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the model ordinance. If the committee schedules a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the model ordinance, the ordinance may not be considered to have been approved unless the committee approves the model ordinance.

66.1027(3) (3) City and village requirements.

66.1027(3)(a) (a) Not later than January 1, 2002, every city and village with a population of at least 12,500 shall, and every city and village with a population of less than 12,500 is encouraged to, enact an ordinance that is similar to the model traditional neighborhood development ordinance that is developed under sub. (2) (a) if the ordinance is approved under sub. (2) (b), although the ordinance is not required to be mapped.

66.1027(3)(b) (b) A city or village whose population reaches at least 12,500, after January 1, 2002, shall enact an ordinance that is similar to the model traditional neighborhood development ordinance that is developed under sub. (2) (a) if the ordinance is approved under sub. (2) (b) not later than the first day of the 12th month beginning after the city’s or village’s population reaches at least 12,500, although the ordinance is not required to be mapped.

66.1027(3)(c) (c) Not later than January 1, 2011, every city and village with a population of at least 12,500 shall report to the department of administration whether it has enacted an ordinance under par. (a). A city or village whose population reaches at least 12,500, after January 1, 2011, shall report to the department of administration whether it has enacted an ordinance under par. (b) not later than the first day of the 18th month beginning after the city’s or village’s population reaches at least 12,500.

66.1027 History History: 1999 a. 9, 148; 1999 a. 150 s. 85; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1027; 2009 a. 123, 351.

66.1031 66.1031 Widening of highways; establishment of excess widths.

66.1031(1) (1) With the approval of the governing body of a city, village, or town in which a street or highway or part of a street or highway is located, the county board, to promote the general welfare, may establish street and highway widths in excess of the widths in use and adopt plans showing the location and width proposed for any future street or highway, which shall not be subject to s. 82.19 (2). Streets or highways or plans for streets or highways established or adopted under this section shall be shown on a map showing present and proposed street or highway lines and, except in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, property lines and owners. The map shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds, subject to s. 59.43 (2m) and, if applicable, the requirements under s. 84.095. Notice of the recording shall be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, in any city, village, or town in which the affected streets or highways are located. The notice shall briefly set forth the action of the county board.

66.1031(2) (2) The excess width for streets or highways in use for the right-of-way required for those planned may be acquired at any time either in whole or in part by the state, county, city, village, or town in which located; but no part shall be acquired in less than the full extent, in width, of the excess width to be made up of land on the same side of the street or highway, nor for less than the full length of such excess width lying within contiguous land owned by the same owner. Any land so acquired, whether the excess width is acquired for the full length of the street or highway or not, shall at once become available for highway purposes. The power to acquire such right-of-way or additional width in portions as provided in this section may be exercised to acquire the land on advantageous terms.

66.1031(3) (3) In counties containing a population of 750,000 or more if, subsequent to the establishment of widths on streets or highways under sub. (2), in conformity with this section or s. 59.69, any area embracing a street or highway upon which a width has been established under this section is annexed to a city or village or becomes a city or village by incorporation, the city or village shall adhere to the established width, and shall not, subsequent to any annexation or incorporation, except with the approval of the county board, do any of the following:

66.1031(3)(a) (a) Alter or void the established width.