Chapter NR 116

Register March 2011 No. 663

Chapter NR 116

WISCONSIN’S FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

NR 116.01   Purpose.

NR 116.02   Applicability.

NR 116.03   Definitions.

NR 116.05   Adoption and upgrading of floodplain zoning ordinances.

NR 116.06   Areas to be regulated.

NR 116.07   Standards for hydrologic and hydraulic studies.

NR 116.08   Uses downstream of dams.

NR 116.09   Data required to be shown on floodplain zoning maps.

NR 116.10   Conflicts between water surface profiles and floodplain zoning maps.

NR 116.11   Criteria for establishing and rezoning floodplain districts.

NR 116.12   Development standards in floodway areas.

NR 116.13   Development standards in floodfringe areas.

NR 116.14   Development standards in other floodplain areas.

NR 116.15   Nonconforming uses and nonconforming buildings.

NR 116.16   Floodproofing.

NR 116.17   Levees, floodwalls and channel improvements.

NR 116.18   Procedures for changing floodplain, floodway, floodfringe, shallow depth flooding, flood storage and coastal floodplain district limits.

NR 116.19   Appointment and duties of zoning administrator, zoning agency and board of adjustment or appeals.

NR 116.20   Municipal responsibilities.

NR 116.21   Permits, special exceptions, conditional uses, variances, appeals and amendments.

NR 116.22   Department duties.

Ch. NR 116 Note Note: Chapter NR 116 as it existed on February 28, 1986 was repealed and a new chapter NR 116 was created effective March 1, 1986.

NR 116.01 NR 116.01 Purpose.

NR 116.01(1) (1) The Wisconsin legislature in enacting chapter 614, laws of 1965, recognized that floodplain zoning is a necessary tool to protect human life, health and to minimize property damages and economic losses. Municipalities are required by s. 87.30 (1), Stats., to adopt reasonable and effective floodplain zoning ordinances within their respective jurisdictions to regulate all floodplains where serious flood damage may occur within one year after hydraulic and engineering data adequate to formulate the ordinance becomes available. If a municipality has a floodplain zoning ordinance already in effect, the provisions in s. NR 116.05 shall apply.

NR 116.01(2) (2) The purpose of these rules is to provide a uniform basis for the preparation and implementation of sound floodplain regulations for all Wisconsin municipalities, to:

NR 116.01(2)(a) (a) Protect life, health and property;

NR 116.01(2)(b) (b) Minimize expenditures of public monies for costly flood control projects;

NR 116.01(2)(c) (c) Minimize rescue and relief efforts, generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

NR 116.01(2)(d) (d) Minimize business interruptions;

NR 116.01(2)(e) (e) Minimize damage to public facilities such as water mains, sewer lines, streets and bridges;

NR 116.01(2)(f) (f) Minimize the occurrence of future flood blight areas;

NR 116.01(2)(g) (g) Discourage the victimization of unwary land and home buyers; and

NR 116.01(2)(h) (h) Prevent increases in the regional flood from occurring which will increase flood damage and may result in conflict and litigation between landowners.

NR 116.01 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1986, No. 362, eff. 3-1-86.

NR 116.02 NR 116.02 Applicability. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all municipalities.

NR 116.02 Note Note: Corps of engineers dredged material disposal activities which are authorized pursuant to s. 30.202 (2), Stats., are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.

NR 116.02 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1986, No. 362, eff. 3-1-86; CR 23-060: am. Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.

NR 116.03 NR 116.03 Definitions. In this chapter:

NR 116.03(1) (1) “Accessory structure or use” means any facility, structure, building or use which is accessory or incidental to the principal use of a property, structure or building.

NR 116.03(1e) (1e) “Campground” means any parcel of land which is designed, maintained, intended or used for the purpose of providing sites for nonpermanent overnight use by 4 or more camping units, or which is advertised or represented as a camping area.

NR 116.03(1s) (1s) “Camping unit” means any portable device, no more than 400 square feet in area, used as a temporary shelter, including but not limited to a camping trailer, motor home, bus, van, pick-up truck or tent.

NR 116.03(2) (2) “Certificate of compliance” means a document that is issued to a property owner by a municipality certifying that the use of land or a building is in conformance with provisions of the floodplain zoning ordinance.

NR 116.03(3) (3) “Channel” means a natural or artificial watercourse with definite bed and banks to confine and conduct the normal flow of water.

NR 116.03(4) (4) “Coastal floodplain” means an area along the coast of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior which is inundated by the regional flood and which is also subject to additional hazards due to wave runup.

NR 116.03(5) (5) “Conditional use” or “special exception” means a use which is not allowed unless certain conditions specified in the zoning ordinance are met and a permit is granted by the board of adjustment or appeals or, where appropriate, the zoning agency.

NR 116.03(6) (6) “Dam” as defined in s. NR 333.03 (2) means any artificial barrier, together with appurtenant works, built across a waterway and which has the primary purpose of impounding or diverting water.

NR 116.03(6m) (6m) “Deck” means an unenclosed exterior structure that has no roof or sides, but has a permeable floor which allows the infiltration of precipitation.

NR 116.03(7) (7) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of natural resources.

NR 116.03(8) (8) “Developed area” means an area within a floodplain designated by a municipality and approved by the department which contains a minimum of 20 potential residential lots or a minimum of 5 acres of land zoned commercial, industrial or institutional wherein existing structures constitute a minimum of 50% of the structures that could be accommodated by the respective zoning density. The limits of the developed area are defined by a line connecting the existing structures on the outer perimeter of the majority of the structures. Vacant lots within that boundary are treated the same as lots with existing structures.

NR 116.03(9) (9) “Development” means any artificial change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, the construction of buildings, structures or accessory structures; the construction of additions or substantial improvements to buildings, structures or accessory structures; the placement of buildings or structures; mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations; and the storage, deposition or extraction of materials.

NR 116.03(10) (10) “Dryland access” means a vehicular access route which is above the regional flood elevation and which connects land located in the floodplain to land outside the floodplain.

NR 116.03(11) (11) “Erosion” means a wearing away of land by the action of natural forces such as wind or water; on a coastal floodplain, the carrying away of soil by wave action.

NR 116.03(12) (12) “Flood” or “flooding” means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas caused by:

NR 116.03(12)(a) (a) The overflow or rise of inland waters;

NR 116.03(12)(b) (b) The rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source;