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West Allis City Zoning Code

Subchapter IV

Structures

19.41 Building Size And Location

No building, except a residential accessory building, may exceed the minimum and maximum standards set forth in the table below. If any cell is blank, no limit is imposed.

Buildable Space (click link for diagram)
RA-1
RA-2
RA-3
RB
RC
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
I-1
I-2
P
SF
Height (maximum)
35'
35'
35'
40'
85'
65'
85'
85'
105'




Front Setback (maximum)


40'
30'
20'
0'
10'
20'





Front Setback (minimum)
30'
25'
20'
10'




10'
20'
30'


Rear Setback (minimum)
25'
25'
10'
10'




See (1)
10'
20'


Side Setback (minimum)
8'
5'
3'
3'




See (1)
See (1)
10'



Density
RA-1
RA-2
RA-3
RB
RC
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
I-1
I-2
P
SF
Floor Area Ratio (maximum)









1.5
1.5


Lot Coverage (maximum)
40%
40%
50%
60%










Lot Size
RA-1
RA-2
RA-3
RB
RC
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
I-1
I-2
P
SF
Lot Width (maximum)

150'
100'
80'









Lot Width (minimum)
75'
50'
40'
30'









  1. If the lot is adjacent to a 1- or 2-unit dwelling that conforms to the underlying zoning district, the minimum setback is 10 feet.
  2. (Reserved)
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. O-2022-0024 on 5/3/2022
Amended by Ord. O-2022-0142 on 10/18/2022

19.42 Residential Accessory Buildings

No residential accessory building may exceed the minimum and maximum standards set forth in the table below. If any cell is blank, no limit is imposed.


Accessory Dwelling Unit
Detached Garage
Other Accessory Building
Exterior Wall Height (maximum)
20'
10'
10'
Height (maximum)
Height of principal building, not to exceed 20'
Height of principal building, not to exceed 18'
15'
Building Coverage (maximum)
50% of principal building, not to exceed 800 sq. ft.
1,000 sq. ft.
300 sq. ft.
Setback from Principal Building (minimum)
10'
10'
10'
Front Setback (minimum)
60'
60'
60'
Rear Setback - abutting alley (minimum)
5'
5'
5'
Rear Setback - not abutting alley (minimum)
3'
3'
3'
Side Setback (minimum)
3'
3'
3'
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. O-2022-0024 on 5/3/2022
Amended by Ord. O-2022-0142 on 10/18/2022
Amended by Ord. O-2023-0031- on 6/6/2023
Amended by Ord. O-2025-0393 on 10/21/2025

19.43 Structures In Yards

No structure may be located in a front, side, or rear yard except as permitted (P) in the table below. If any cell is blank, the structure is prohibited.

Structure
Front Yard
Side Yard
Rear Yard
Accessory Building
P
P
P
Air Conditioning Equipment

See (1)
See (1)
Animal Enclosure


See (2)
Apiary

P
P
Basketball Hoop
P
P
P
Canopy
P
P
P
Cistern
P
P
P
Compost

P
P
Fence
See (5)
P
P
Landscaping
P
P
P
Parking Lot/Structure
P
P
P
Patio
P
P
P
Planter Box
P
P
P
Play Equipment

P
P
Porch
See (3)
See (3)
See (3)
Refuse Container Enclosure

P
P
Retaining Wall
P
P
P
Sign
P
P
P
Sporting Equipment (except Basketball Hoop)

P
P
Swimming Pool

See (4)
See (4)
Wireless Communication Structure

P
P
Decorations
P
P
P
  1. Air conditioning equipment is permitted up to 1' away from a lot line.
  2. Kennels are permitted up to 5' away from a lot line.
  3. Porches are permitted up to 10' away from a front lot line and 3' away from a side lot line, and only if the porch area does not exceed 15% of the total yard area.
  4. Swimming pools are permitted up to 3' away from a lot line.
  5. Fences are allowed in front yards of commercial and industrial districts in accordance with an approved site plan.



HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. O-2022-0024 on 5/3/2022
Amended by Ord. O-2022-0142 on 10/18/2022

19.44 Vehicle Parking

  1. Permit Required. No person may provide motor vehicle access between a vehicle parking area and a public way without first obtaining a driveway permit from the Board of Public Works.
  2. Motor Vehicle Parking Limits. No lot may contain more motor vehicle parking spaces than the amount allowed within the table below without special permission from the common council.

    Type of Use
    Maximum Parking Spaces
    Dwelling (3 or more units)
    2 per dwelling unit
    Hotel/Bed and Breakfast1.5 per guest room
    All Medical Uses
    5 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area (except storage rooms)
    Residential Care
    1 per bed
    All Retail Uses
    3 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area (except storage rooms)
    Restaurant
    1 per 150 sq. ft. of gross floor area (except storage rooms)
    All Service Uses (except Restaurant)
    3 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area (except storage rooms)
    Commercial Light Industrial Flex
    4 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area (except storage rooms)
    Automobile Parts Sales
    3 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area (except storage rooms)
    Any conditional use
    As stated on the conditional use permit

  3. Bicycle Parking Requirements. 
    1. Outdoor Spaces.
      1. Minimum Spaces. Each principal use below shall have the minimum number of outdoor bicycle parking spaces for that principal use:

        Service Uses

        Principal Use Bicycle Parking Spaces
        Dwelling (5 or more units)
        1 per 30 dwelling units
        All Retail Uses
        1 per 3,000 sq. ft. gross floor area,
        not to exceed 10 spaces
        All Service Uses1 per 3,000 sq. ft. gross floor area,
        not to exceed 10 spaces
        School
        1 per classroom
        All Civic & Institutional Uses (except school)
        1 per 10,000 sq. ft. gross floor area,
        not to exceed 20 spaces
        All Medical Uses
        1 per 10,000 sq. ft. gross floor area,
        not to exceed 20 spaces
        Automobile Parts Sales
        1 per 3,000 sq. ft. gross floor area,
        not to exceed 10 spaces
        Any conditional use
        As stated on the conditional use permit

      2. Spaces Counted. The minimum number for outdoor bicycle parking spaces shall be computed by totaling all outdoor parking spaces located:
        1. On the lot within 50 feet of the main entrance of the principal building
        2. On the public right-of-way within 50 feet of the main entrance of the principal building.
        3. Adjacent to other outdoor bicycle parking spaces if at least one of those adjacent spaces is located within 50 feet of the main entrance of the principal building.
    2. Indoor Spaces. All dwellings of 5 or more units shall have at least 1 indoor bicycle parking space for every 5 units. Only indoor bicycle parking spaces that are accessible without using stairs shall count toward this minimum number. At least 1 indoor bicycle parking space shall have an electrical outlet within 2 feet.

  4. Parking Lot/Structure Design. Any parking lot or parking structure shall be constructed in the following manner:
    1. The parking lot or parking structure shall comply with Wis. Stat. 346.503.
    2. Curbing or other approved method shall be installed so that no part of any vehicle shall extend beyond the lot line. Poured curbing, fencing, landscaping, or other method shall be required where a parking lot and/or loading facility abuts a street, public right-of-way or building, or as deemed appropriate by the Plan Commission.
    3. Grading and drainage shall provide for the collection of storm water on site with proper discharge to available public storm sewer or retention area and to prevent runoff onto adjacent lots and right-of-way. Paved areas and other site areas may be sheet drained to public right-of-way if approved by the City Engineer.
    4. A visual buffer, enclosure, or screening shall surround any parking lot or parking structure to the extent required by the plan commission.
    5. Landscaping shall be included within any parking lot to the extent required by the plan commission.
    6. Lighting used for illumination shall be so arranged to not reflect, direct, or splay lighting beyond the lot that is the source of the light.
    7. Parking surfaces shall be constructed of macadam, concrete, sealcoat, paver blocks, permeable asphalt or concrete (subject to approval of the City Engineer), or similar suitable surface to eliminate dust, dirt, and mud.
  5. 1- and 2-Unit Dwelling Parking  
    1. Private Roads and Driveways. A private road or driveway serving a 1- or 2-unit dwelling shall be:
      1. Graded and drained to prevent run off onto adjacent properties.
      2. Constructed of macadam, concrete, sealcoat, paver blocks, permeable asphalt or concrete (subject to approval of the City Engineer), or similar suitable surface to eliminate dust, dirt, and mud.
      3. Located outside the front yard, unless any of the following applies:
        1. The private road or driveway is located in that part of a front yard between the front lot line and a garage or side yard (diagram).
        2. The private road or driveway is located in a front yard only to the extent necessary to provide vehicle ingress and egress tointo a garage.
    2. Garages 
      1. No lot may contain more than 1 garage.
      2. No attached garage may exceed 1,000 square feet.






HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. O-2022-0024 on 5/3/2022
Amended by Ord. O-2022-0142 on 10/18/2022
Amended by Ord. O-2023-0031- on 6/6/2023

O-2022-0024

O-2022-0142

O-2023-0031-

O-2025-0393