ADU rules in Greenfield, WI — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Greenfield's Zoning Code (Chapter 21 of the Municipal Code) does not include a dedicated accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance. The code's residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-2a, R-3, R-3a, R-4a, R-4b, MFR-1, MFR-2, MFR-3) regulate one-family, two-family, and multifamily dwellings, and the term 'accessory dwelling unit' does not appear as a permitted use in the Part 4 district regulations. Construction of a separate, self-contained second residence on a single-family lot generally requires either two-family district zoning (R-2/R-2a) or a rezoning/variance through the Plan Commission and Common Council. The City's zoning authority comes from Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23.
Chapter 21 (Zoning Code) of the Greenfield Municipal Code is divided into a Definitions part and a Districts/Use Regulations part (Division 21.04.0100 and following). Greenfield's residential districts are R-1, R-2, R-2a, R-3, R-3a, R-4a, R-4b, MFR-1, MFR-2, and MFR-3, plus the PUD Planned Unit Development district. The Permitted Uses pages on the City website organize uses by district through Table 21.04.0603 (with NAICS codes), which references one-family detached, two-family, and multifamily dwelling uses but does not list 'accessory dwelling unit,' 'in-law apartment,' or 'junior accessory dwelling unit' as separate permitted uses. Wisconsin's general zoning enabling statute, Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23, lets cities regulate the location and use of buildings and structures, including the number of dwelling units. Because Greenfield has not adopted a stand-alone ADU ordinance like some other Wisconsin cities (e.g., Appleton, Madison, Sun Prairie), property owners wanting to add a true second self-contained dwelling unit typically need: (a) a lot in a district that already allows two-family or multifamily dwellings (R-2, R-2a, MFR-1, MFR-2, MFR-3); (b) a rezoning to such a district; or (c) a Planned Unit Development. The Department of Neighborhood Services / Building Inspection issues building permits, and the Community Development Department (414-329-5325) administers zoning. Greenfield does not currently exempt small accessory units from these standard residential dwelling-unit rules, so an additional kitchen and separate entrance in an accessory structure (such as a detached garage or carriage house) are not by-right uses in single-family districts. Property owners should verify the current Chapter 21 text and current zoning of their lot with Greenfield Community Development before designing any second-unit project.
Adding a second self-contained dwelling unit (separate kitchen, entrance, and sleeping/bath facilities) on a lot zoned for a single-family dwelling without a rezoning, conditional use approval, or PUD constitutes a zoning violation under Chapter 21 of the Greenfield Municipal Code. Enforcement is handled by the Building Inspector / zoning administrator and may include stop-work orders, denial of occupancy, citations and forfeitures under the City's general penalty provisions, and orders to remove the unauthorized unit. Operating a second unit also requires building permits under Chapter 15 (Building Code) - work without permits is independently citable.
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