Except as herein provided, in any district, no building or land shall be used and hereafter no building shall be erected, structurally altered or relocated except for one or more of the uses hereinafter stated for that district.

Uses such as real estate sales field office or shelter for material and equipment being used in the construction of a permanent structure may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator.

Camping. In any district which allows camping, the following standards shall apply:

Utility service, including electric and telephone lines, shall be installed underground.

The Town of Rome finds that there is a distinction between short-term and long-term rental uses. Long-term (30 consecutive days or more) renters, like owner-occupants, by definition, tend to have a long-term interest in the property at issue and can be expected to engage in conduct and activities consistent with such an interest. Consequently, the Town of Rome finds that owner occupants and long-term renters are less likely to engage in conduct and activities that are contrary to the interest and purpose of residential districts. Therefore, single-family dwellings for long-term use are permitted uses in each residential district. Short-term use of property is similar to a commercial use, as demonstrated by the fact that hotels and motels are only permitted in the business district. In addition, the distinction between long-term and short-term rentals is provided for in the Wisconsin Statutes [§§ 77.52(2)(a)1 and 97.605]. The Town of Rome has determined that short-term rental of single-family dwellings may only occur upon issuance of a zoning permit with conditions imposed as are necessary to protect the residential character of the applicable neighborhood and ensure that the establishment, maintenance or operation of the proposed use will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety or general welfare of the occupants of surrounding lands. The Town of Rome has further determined that, given the unique concerns and characteristics of the areas comprising all residential districts, it is necessary and appropriate to prohibit short-term rentals of six consecutive days or less in duration in each residential district.

No land which is located in a Residential District shall be used for driveway, walkway or access purposes to any land which is located in a Business, or Special Purpose District or used for any purpose not permitted in a Residential District.

Cutting of trees on all lots abutting lakes or streams shall be limited to control erosion and reduce flow of effluents or nutrients from the shore land. Thus, in a strip 35 feet inland from the ordinary high-water mark, no more than a total of 30% of any 100 feet may be cut. From the inland edge of the 35-foot strip to the outer limits of the shore land, the cutting of trees and shrubbery shall be allowed pursuant to the Adams County Shoreland Protection Ordinance.

Common household pets are limited to five in aggregate per residence in all recorded and unrecorded subdivisions.

Domestic animals, other than common household pets, are prohibited outside of Agricultural and Conservancy Districts except as follows:

Any private driveway leading to a building or structure located 200 feet or more from the public right-of-way shall be at least 10 feet in surface width and provide 14 feet of clear-width: shall provide an unobstructed height throughout the entire length and width of the driveway of at least 14 feet, and shall provide a turnaround area located no more than 75 feet from the structure capable of turning around emergency vehicles. Driveway permits under this subsection shall require review and approval from the Fire Chief in order to verify that the installation standards will provide for the safe passage and turnaround of emergency vehicles accessing the structures served by the driveway. Greater dimensions may be required by the Director of Public Works, after consultation with the Fire Chief, if the proposed driveway would not be sufficient to accommodate specialized fire-fighting apparatus or equipment that may be required to service the property.

Accessory buildings, structures and uses shall be compatible with the principal uses and shall not be established prior to the principal use, except that sheds of 150 square feet or less with a maximum height of 10 feet and a maximum roof overhang of 16 inches, and unroofed decks not exceeding 400 square feet in size, are permitted in any district before the principal structure is present. Permitted sheds erected before the principal structure is present shall not be used as a place of human habitation. Mobile/manufactured homes, campers, truck bodies or trailers, buses and similar items are prohibited for use as accessory buildings. All accessory buildings and structures shall be maintained structurally and kept in good repair. Outside appearance shall be maintained so as not to become a nuisance to the neighborhood.

The following items and structures are not permitted in nonagricultural zoning districts prior to construction of a principal structure: gazebos exceeding 150 square feet in area, pergolas, satellite dishes larger than 36 inches in size, fuel tanks, except LP tanks not exceeding 60 pounds that are part of the affixed and secured equipment of a camping unit, air conditioners, antennas, towers, exterior heating systems or similar appurtenances or equipment.

Outdoor fuel burners, including wood stoves, used as an interior heating system are not allowed in the Lake District or in any residential subdivision in which the average parcel size is two acres or less.

Canopies.

Freestanding and detached carports are not permitted in any zoning district.

Existing use permitted. Pursuant to § 62.23(7)(h), Wis. Stats., the lawful nonconforming use of a building, structure or land that was in existence prior to the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance, or amendment thereto, may be continued although it does not conform to the provisions of this chapter. The property owner shall have the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the nonconforming use was in existence at the time the chapter provision became effective. Likewise, the property owner must prove that the use of the property prior to the effective date of the chapter provision was so active and actual that it can be said he has acquired a "vested interest" in its continuance. If the specific use was not so active and actual and was but casual and occasional, or if such use was merely accessory or incidental to the principal use, then it cannot be said that the property owner has acquired a "vested interest" in the continuance of such a use and the status of the nonconforming use will be denied. Any building, structure or use which existed lawfully at the time of the adoption of this chapter or amendment thereto shall be allowed to continue although such building or use does not conform with the provisions of this chapter. The size and shape of a lot shall not be altered so as to increase the degree of nonconformity of a building or use.

Permit required. No alteration of a nonconforming building, structure, premises, fixture or use is allowed unless a permit for the alteration has been issued by the Zoning Administrator.

Nonconforming limitations.

Pursuant to § 62.23(7)(hc), Wis. Stats., and notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a nonconforming structure damaged or destroyed by violent wind, vandalism, fire, flood, ice, snow, mold or infestation after March 2, 2006, may be restored to, or replaced at, the size, location, and use that it had immediately before the damage or destruction occurred, and no limits may be imposed on the costs of the repair, reconstruction, or improvement of said structure. The size of the structure may be larger than the size it was immediately before the damage or destruction if necessary for the structure to comply with applicable state or federal requirements.

After adoption of this chapter, no lot area shall be so reduced that the dimensional, area and yard requirements of this chapter cannot be met.

In the LD, R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Districts, a parcel in existence on January 1, 2009, shall not be considered nonconforming for the purpose of construction of a building that is permitted in the applicable district, if the sole basis for the nonconforming status is that the parcel does not meet the minimum lot and/or frontage size requirement for the applicable district; provided, however, that the parcel must be able to meet the requirements of SPS 383 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. This subsection shall be construed to apply only to lot size and frontage requirements. It shall not be construed to apply to other requirements including, but not limited to, setback requirements.

Abutting residential lots under single ownership may be combined only if a certified survey map is recorded in the office of the Adams County Register of Deeds which has the effect of permanently combining the lots into one legal parcel.

Open space.

Setbacks.

Nonconforming lots. A lot of record that, at the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance or amendment thereto, does not conform to the applicable minimum frontage requirement, lot area regulations, or lot width requirements for the zoning district in which it is located, may still be used as a building site, provided that requirements of all other applicable state and county codes as well as Town ordinances, including height, buffer, setback, and other dimensional requirements of the zoning district in which the lot of record is located are complied with, or a variance therefrom is obtained. The property owner shall have the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the nonconforming lot was in existence at the time the chapter provision became effective.

Maximum height. In any district, no buildings or structures shall be erected or structurally altered to a height in excess of that specified by the regulations for that district unless otherwise permitted as a conditional use.

The following shall be exempted from height regulation in all districts:

The following are subject to the approval of the Plan Commission:

Within those districts contained in this Code where mobile homes or manufactured homes are allowed as independent dwelling units, such mobile or manufactured home and the land upon which either is located shall be owned in common. This section does not apply to licensed manufactured home parks.

If any load, other than that originally constructed or approved by the manufacturer, is placed upon a mobile or manufactured home, an affidavit stating the structure will support the load is required from either the manufacturer or a licensed engineer. All additions and alterations must meet the requirements of the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.

Such units brought into the Town after adoption of this section shall meet the factory inspection standards of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which became effective June 15, 1976, and as amended thereafter.

Standards.

Permitted businesses.