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Waukesha City Zoning Code

22.30 RM-1

Multi-Family Residential District

  1. PURPOSE. To provide for multiple-family residential development at densities not to exceed 17.4 dwelling units per net acre for efficiency units; 14.5 dwelling units per net acre for one-bedroom units; 12.4 dwelling units per net acre for two-bedroom units; 10.9 dwelling units per acre for three bedroom or larger units; 9.7 dwelling units per net acre for two-family units; and 5.5 dwelling units per net acre for single-family dwellings.
  2. PERMITTED PRINCIPAL USES.
    1. Single-family dwellings.
    2. Two-family dwellings.
    3. Multiple-family dwellings, not to exceed four (4) dwelling units per structure.
    4. Community living arrangements which have a capacity for fifteen (15) or fewer persons, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 62.23(7)(i) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
    5. Foster family homes.
    6. Family day care homes.
    7. Essential services.
    8. Zero lot line developments which meet the following conditions:
      1. Lots shall have a minimum area of four thousand five hundred (4,500) square feet and shall not be less than thirty (30) feet in width with one dwelling unit per lot.
      2. There shall be a minimum setback of twenty-five (25) feet from the right-of-way of all public streets or from private drives. There shall be a side yard requirement on one side of a building of not less than fifteen (15) feet. The dwelling unit shall be placed on one side of the property line with a zero (0) foot side yard. The minimum distance between buildings shall be fifteen (15) feet. There shall be a rear yard of not less than forty (40) feet for all lots.
      3. Buildings constructed shall be of the party-wall dwelling type and may be constructed as townhouse development; or shall be single-family detached dwelling units constructed on alternating lot lines.
      4. Each dwelling unit shall have separate utility connections.
  3. PERMITTED ACCESSORY USES.
    1. Detached private garages and carports.
    2. Gardening, tool, and storage sheds.
    3. Home occupations and professional home offices.
    4. Roof-mounted solar structures provided that a registered engineer or registered architect shall certify that the structure is adequate to support the load.
    5. Earth station dish antennas located on the roof of the principle structure or in the rear yard. Where the earth station dish is roof-mounted, a registered engineer or registered architect shall certify that the structure is adequate to support the load.
  4. CONDITIONAL USES.
    1. Bed and breakfast establishments as regulated in Section 22.24(4)(a).
    2. Churches and other places of worship and Sunday school buildings.
    3. Clubs, fraternities, and meeting places of a noncommercial nature provided that no structure shall be erected closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any lot line.
    4. Community living arrangements which have a capacity of sixteen (16) or more persons.
    5. Home Industries.
    6. Housing for the elderly projects not exceeding twenty-two (22) units per acre.
    7. Nursing homes provided that all principle structures are not closer than fifty (50) feet to a lot line, unless approved by the Plan Commission.
    8. Schools and colleges for academic instruction.
    9. (Am. #51-05) Utility substations, municipal wells, pumping stations, and towers.
    10. Wireless communications facilities provided that they comply with the provisions of Section 22.21.
  5. LOT AREA AND WIDTH.
    1. Lots shall be a minimum of eight thousand (8,000) square feet in area, and no dwelling unit shall have a lot area of less than the following:
      1. Single-family dwellings - eight thousand (8,000) square feet per dwelling unit.
      2. Two-family dwellings - four thousand five hundred (4,500) square feet per dwelling unit.
      3. Efficiency apartments - two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet per dwelling unit.
      4. One-bedroom apartments - three thousand (3,000) square feet per dwelling unit.
      5. Two-bedroom apartments - three thousand five hundred (3,500) square feet per dwelling unit.
      6. Three-bedroom or larger apartments - four thousand (4,000) square feet per dwelling unit.
    2. No lot shall be less than sixty-five (65) feet in width. Corner lots shall be not less than seventy-five (75) feet in width.
  6. BUILDING HEIGHT AND AREA.
    1. (Am. #11-16) No principal building or part of a principal building shall exceed forty (40) feet in height. Accessory buildings shall be less than twenty (20) feet tall and shall not exceed the height of the principal structure.
    2. The total minimum floor area of a principal single-family building shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet.
    3. The total minimum floor area of a principal two-family building shall be one thousand eight hundred (1,800) square feet per structure and nine hundred (900) square feet per dwelling unit.
    4. The total minimum floor area of a principal three or four-family building shall be as follows:
      1. Efficiency dwelling unit - three hundred (300) square feet per dwelling unit.
      2. One bedroom dwelling unit - five hundred (500) square feet per dwelling unit.
      3. Two-bedroom dwelling unit - seven hundred (700) square feet per dwelling unit.
      4. Three-bedroom apartment or larger -- add one hundred fifty (150) square feet of total floor area for each additional bedroom.
  7. SETBACK AND YARDS.
    1. There shall be a minimum street yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet from any street right-of-way.
    2. There shall be a side yard on each side of all buildings of not less than ten (10) feet in width.
    3. There shall be a rear yard of not less than forty-five (45) feet.
    4. There shall be a minimum shoreyard setback of seventy-five (75) feet from the ordinary highwater mark of a navigable body of water.
  8. EROSION CONTROL. The uses and structures in the RM-1 District are subject to Chapter 32 of the City of Waukesha Municipal Code, Chapter 21 of the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, and any other applicable State laws and administrative rules.
  9. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLAN COMMISSION. (Am. #38-02) To encourage a multi-family residential environment that is compatible with the residential character of the City, building permits for permitted uses in the RM-1 District, except single-family and two-family dwellings, shall not be issued nor shall any substantial changes be made to any site improvements without review and approval of the Plan Commission in accordance with Section 22.15. Plan Commission review shall include consideration of such factors as open space utilization, ingress, egress, parking, landscaping, building plans and the general layout in relationship to the surrounding area.
  10. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS. (Cr. #38-02) The restrictions on lot area, lot width, building height, setbacks, and yards may be reduced or increased if the property is part of a Planned Unit Development Overlay District in accordance with Section 22.52.

(Rep. & recr. #66-01) (Repealed & replaced #2020-14)