Marshfield Wood County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
Bulk and Density Regulations
§ 18-70 Purpose.
[Ord. No. 1240, 11-13-2012]
This Article regulates the location and bulk of buildings and other structures in order to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare and to enhance the desired community character of the City of Marshfield.
§ 18-71 Bulk and density standards.
[Ord. No. 1240, 11-13-2012]
(1)
All developments shall comply with the standards listed for each zoning district in Article II, except as noted in this chapter.
(2)
The conversion of any accessory building into a dwelling so as to accommodate an increased number of dwelling units or families shall be permitted only within a district in which a new building for similar occupancy would be permitted under this chapter.
(3)
Additions or conversions of any accessory building into a dwelling shall comply with the requirements governing new construction in such district, including minimum lot size, lot area per dwelling unit, building of lot coverage, dimensions of yards and other open spaces, and off-street parking.
§ 18-72 Yard setback adjustments.
[Ord. No. 1240, 11-13-2012; amended Ord. No. 1310, 8-11-2015; Ord. No. 1448, 1-26-2021; Ord. No. 1456, 4-13-2021; 10-14-2025 by Ord. No. 1535]
(1)
Lot size and minimum yard dimensions. No lot, yard, court, parking area, or other space shall be reduced in area or dimension so as to make the area or dimension less than the minimum required by this chapter. If an existing yard is less than the minimum required, it shall not be reduced further, except where exempted by the provisions of this Section.
(2)
Front Yard or street side setback adjustments.
(a)
A front yard and street side yard setback may be reduced to the mean of the setbacks of the immediately adjoining lots that are on either or both sides of the subject lot. The following rules apply in calculating the mean setback (see Figure 18-72):
1.
Only the setbacks on 5 or fewer adjoining lots, are contiguous to each other in either direction of the subject lot, and are on the same side of the street as each other may be used. Properties separated by a cross street may be used in the average calculation.
2.
Where a lot is vacant, the minimum setback of the zoning district will be applied to the vacant lot and factored into the averaging calculation.
3.
Outliers shall be excluded in calculating the mean setback as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
4.
In residential districts, the depth of the minimum front yard and side street side yard on any lot shall be at least 15 feet and the minimum setback for an attached or detached garage facing the front yard, or the street side yard, shall be at least 20 feet except where the provisions of Section 18-65(8)(g) are met.
(3)
Side and rear yard adjustments for bufferyards. In instances where the required bufferyard width (per Article VIII) exceeds the minimum required setback width, the minimum required bufferyard width shall prevail.
(4)
Major street setback adjustments.
(a)
For existing streets, the setback shall be measured from the right-of-way line. For proposed streets, the setback shall be added to one-half the proposed right-of-way width and measured from the anticipated street centerline.
(b)
A front yard and street side yard setback may be reduced to the mean of the setbacks of principal structures on the immediately adjoining lots that are on either or both sides of the subject lot. The following rules apply in calculating the mean setback (see Figure 18-72):
1.
Only the setbacks on five or fewer adjoining lots are contiguous to each other in either direction of the subject lot, and are on the same side of the street as each other may be used. Properties separated by a cross street may be used in the average calculation.
2.
Where a lot is vacant, the minimum setback of the zoning district will be applied to the vacant lot and factored into the averaging calculation.
3.
Outliers shall be excluded in calculating the mean setback as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
4.
In residential districts, the depth of the minimum front yard and side street side yard on any lot shall be at least 15 feet and the minimum setback for an attached or detached garage facing the front yard, or the street side yard, shall be at least 20 feet except where the provisions of Section 18-65(8)(g) are met.
§ 18-73 Intrusions into required yards.
[Ord. No. 1240, 11-13-2012; Ord. No. 1448, 1-26-2021; Ord. No. 1456, 6-8-2021]
The minimum setback requirements of each zoning district shall establish the minimum required yards for all uses, except those exempted by the provisions of this Section.
(1)
All street side or front yard setback areas. With the exception of fences and Subsection (2) below, no residential and nonresidential accessory buildings shall be permitted within any portion of a street side yard or front yard, except where there is a shore yard. In instances where there is a shore yard, shore yards shall be treated as front yards and street yards as rear yards, whereby accessory buildings may be located between a principal building and a street frontage on the same lot.
(2)
Permitted Intrusions Into Required Front, Street Side, Side, Rear, and Corner Yards.
(a)
Chimneys, flues, sills, pilasters, lintels, ornamental features, cornices, eaves, bay windows, overhangs, and gutters, provided they do not extend more than 2 ½ feet into the required yard.
(b)
Entry platforms, provided they do not extend more than 5 feet by 5 feet, provided that such landings shall not extend above the entrance floor of the building and canopies provided they don’t extend beyond 5 feet. Existing porches, decks, entry platforms, and landings used for required building exit may be replaced at the existing footprint when the size is not enlarged.
(c)
Steps and stairs provided that such stairs and landings shall not extend above the entrance floor of the building and there is adequate onsite landing space for the base of the stairs.
(d)
Handicapped accessible ramps. Handicap ramps or other devices required to make reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act are to be permitted in the required front, side, or rear yard setbacks provided that the maximum encroachment into a required setback is the minimum dimension required by the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code for accessible ramps and that no other location is feasible outside the required setbacks.
(e)
Yard lights, ornamental lights, and nameplate signs for residential lots, provided that they comply with the illumination requirements of Section 18-104 and provided they do not encroach on the right of way.
(f)
Uncovered porches, decks, or similar appurtenances to residential buildings which do not extend above the floor level of the building entrance, provided they do not extend 8 feet beyond the existing façade of the home, but shall not be nearer than 5 feet from any lot line. Such structures may not encroach into the vision triangle unless approved by the City Engineer.
(g)
Attached terraces, uncovered porches, decks, or similar appurtenances to residential buildings that do not extend more than 18 inches above grade, provided they do not locate closer than 8 feet to the rear lot line, 3 feet from the side lot line, or 5 feet from the front or street side lot line. Detached decks that do not exceed 18 inches above grade shall meet the required setbacks for a detached accessory structure.
(h)
Additions (including vertical additions, additional floors, and architectural features), balconies, terraces, covered porches, decks, or similar appurtenances not extending beyond the setback of the existing façade, may be located in the provided or required yard setback, whichever more permissive. If the addition is a garage or garage addition, the minimum setback when facing the front yard, or the street side yard, shall be at least 20 feet except where the provisions of Section 18-65 (8)(g) are met. In no instance shall any new encroachment be within 5 feet of an adjacent structure or 3 feet of a property line unless approved by the Building Inspector to have adequate fire protection. See Figure 18-73.
(j)
Fire escapes required by the Building Inspector which do not extend more than 4 feet into the required yard.
(k)
Accessory buildings and structures meeting the requirements of Section 18-65(8)(g) or 18-65(9)(e).
(l)
Any other provisions identified elsewhere in this Chapter (landscape features, tents, and other features where specific setbacks are established).
(m)
Skywalks and similar enclosed structures (including any necessary support structures) that provide pedestrian travel between buildings separated by property lines, yards, alleys, or streets are not subject to setback requirements. Such structures encroaching on and over the right-of-way shall be reviewed by the Board of Public Works and approved by the Common Council prior to installation.
Figure 18-73  |
§ 18-74 Exceptions to maximum height regulations.
The maximum height regulations listed for residential and nonresidential uses and accessory buildings in each zoning district in Article II are the maximum permitted heights for all buildings and structures, except those exempted by this Section except as prohibited by the Height Limitation Zoning Map, Marshfield Municipal Airport, Marshfield, Wisconsin.
(1)
The following are permitted to exceed the maximum height regulations within any district where permitted: spires, belfries, cupolas, penthouses and domes, not used for human occupancy; public monuments, water towers, fire and hose towers, flag poles, chimneys, ventilators, skylights, similar features, and necessary mechanical appurtenances usually carried above roof level.
(2)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to prevent the erection above the building height limit of a parapet wall or cornice for ornament (and without windows) extending above such height limit not more than 5 feet. Such features, however, shall be erected only to such height as is necessary to accomplish the purpose they are to serve and subject to the Wisconsin state building code.
(3)
Height extensions for certain public buildings and institutions. Public and semi-public hospitals, institutions, schools, or public utility and service buildings, when permitted in a residential district, may be erected to a height not exceeding 75 feet, provided such specified buildings shall be set back from the front, rear and side lot lines on the ratio of 2 feet for every one foot of building height greater than 40 feet. Such specified requirements, however, shall apply in addition to the other requirements for building line setbacks and for rear and side yards specifically set forth in this chapter.
(4)
The Plan Commission may grant exceptions to the height limitations for any building or structure not otherwise accounted for in this section or may set the maximum height of a structure on an individual lot as a conditional use and may set special requirements as part of the approval under the terms and conditions of this chapter. Such features, however, shall be erected only to such height as is necessary to accomplish the purpose they are to serve and subject to the Wisconsin state building code.