The purpose of this subchapter is to establish lot area, lot coverage, height, and density requirements.

All lots created shall meet minimum lot area requirements. Except as otherwise provided under Sauk County Code Chapters 8 and 23 and Subchapter IX, lot area, width, setbacks, and building height shall be in accordance with the following:

(10)

Buildings used in whole, or in part, for residential purposes shall have a floor area of not less than 500 square feet per dwelling, calculated pursuant to the definition of floor area in this chapter, unless otherwise specified by this chapter. Mobile homes located within a mobile home park are exempt from this requirement.

(11)

Dwellings may be increased in height by not more than ten feet when all yards and other required open spaces are increased by one foot for each foot by which such building exceeds the height limit of the district in which it is located.

(12)

Churches, schools, hospitals, sanitariums and other public and quasi-public buildings may be erected to a height not exceeding 75 feet, provided the front, side and rear yards required in the district in which the building is to be located are each increased at least one foot for each foot of additional height over the limit otherwise established for the district in which the building is to be located.

(13)

Structures for agricultural uses may be erected to a height exceeding 75 feet provided the front, side, and rear yards in the district in which the structure is to be located are increased at least one and one-half feet from the minimum setback requirement for each additional one foot of height greater than 75 feet in height of any agriculture structure that exceeds 75 feet in height.

(14)

For purposes of Subchapter VII, if a lot was originally created by certified survey map or subdivision plat, lot lines may only be dissolved by a new certified survey map or subdivision plat.

(15)

Unless otherwise provided in this ordinance, only one dwelling shall be permitted per parcel.

Multiple family dwellings shall meet lot area and floor area in accordance with the following:

(1)

Sewered. Buildings served by public sewer:

(2)

Unsewered. Buildings served by a private on-site wastewater treatment system:

The minimum setback for any principal building and accessory structure shall be ten feet from any side yard and ten feet from any rear yard. Side and rear yards shall be increased in depth by one and one-half feet from the minimum setback requirement for each additional one foot of height greater than 35 feet in height of any structure that exceeds 35 feet in height.

Livestock facilities, livestock structures, manure storage structures, and any additions to such structures, shall maintain the following setbacks pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 51.12. For purposes of measuring this setback, property line is defined as the outermost boundary of a property under common ownership as described on a deed recorded with the Sauk County Register of Deeds. Setbacks for property lines less than those specified may be permitted provided consent is granted, in writing, by owners of affected neighboring properties.

(1)

Livestock structure setbacks.

(a)

Livestock structures with fewer than 1,000 animal units shall be 100 feet from any property line or road right-of-way.

(b)

Livestock structures 1,000 animal units or more shall be 150 feet from any public road right-of-way or 200 feet from any property line.

(c)

Livestock structures located within the setback area may be expanded provided the area to be expanded meets required setbacks.

(2)

Manure storage setbacks.

(a)

Manure storage structures shall be setback 350 feet from any property line or road right-of-way. The setback from the road right-of-way may be reduced to 100 feet provided there is not a structure utilized for human habitation located within 350 feet from the manure storage structure.

(b)

Manure storage structures located within the setback area may be expanded provided the area to be expanded meets required setbacks.

Roads are divided into the following categories for the purpose of determining the distance buildings and other structures shall be set back from roads.

(1)

State and federal highways. The setback line for state and federal highways shall be 50 feet from the right-of-way line. The right-of-way shall be as shown on the highway plans.

(2)

County roads. The setback line for County roads shall be 42 feet from the right-of-way line. The right-of-way shall be as shown on the highway plans.

(3)

Town roads. The setback line for town roads shall be 30 feet from the right-of-way line. The right-of-way shall be as shown on the highway plans.

(4)

Exceptions to required setbacks. A setback that is less than the setback required by this section shall be permitted where there are at least three legally existing buildings, under separate ownership, within 250 feet on the same side of the road as the proposed site, and all built to less than the required setback. In such cases, the setback shall be determined as follows:

(a)

Where two contiguous parcels are occupied, the setback shall be the average of the setbacks on each side provided:

1.

The buildings are legally existing structures and not temporary structures such as corncribs and feeder pens.

2.

A road setback for state and federal highways and County roads shall not be less than 30 feet from the right-of-way line.

(b)

Where only one contiguous lot is occupied by a building, the setback shall be determined by averaging the required setback with the setback of the adjacent building provided the conditions of paragraphs (a)1. and 2. are met.

(c)

Any structure or building utilized in connection with a farm, either historically or currently, and which was built prior to June 25, 1963, or any historic structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which does not meet road setbacks pursuant to this chapter, may be reconstructed provided that the road setback is not further encroached upon.

(5)

Vision clearance triangle. There shall be a vision clearance triangle in each quadrant of all intersections of highways or roads with other highways or roads. This section shall not be interpreted so as to prohibit the planting and harvesting of field crops, shrubbery, or trees, except that these plantings may not impede any sight lines within the area defined as a vision clearance triangle.

(6)

No structures shall be allowed in the road setbacks or road right-of-way.

No new building, other new structure, or part thereof, shall be placed between the setback lines and any road right-of-way. No building, sign, structure, or part thereof, existing in setback lines on the effective date of this chapter, February 18, 2014, shall be altered or enlarged in any way that increases or prolongs its permanency, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.

(1)

Projection into setback. Bay windows, balconies, chimneys, sills, belt courses, cornices, canopies, eaves or ornamental architectural features may project into a required yard setback line no more than three feet provided that no such feature projects over a road setback line or into a vision clearance triangle.

(2)

Platforms, walks and drives. Platforms, walks, and drives extending not more than six inches above the average ground level at their margins, and retaining walls when the top of such walls are not more than six inches above the average level of abutting ground on one side, may be located in any yard as long as they meet all other portions of this chapter.

(3)

Fences and walls. Solid fences and walls may be located as follows:

(a)

Solid fences and walls greater than 20 percent opacity and located in a vision clearance triangle shall not exceed 30 inches in height.

(b)

Solid fences and walls more than six feet in height shall be considered structures, subject to the requirements of this ordinance.

(c)

Solid fences and walls shall not exceed four feet in height when located in a front yard or in a street side yard of a corner lot.

(d)

Solid fences and walls shall not exceed two and one-half feet in height when located within a vision clearance triangle, except retaining walls used to hold ground at or below its natural level and fences designed and constructed so as not to constitute a substantial obstruction to the view of motorists and pedestrians across the vision clearance opening from one street to another.