Menasha, WI Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Title 13 of the Menasha Municipal Code is the city's Zoning Code, adopted under the zoning authority granted by Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Sections include 13-1.A Introduction, 13-1.B General Provisions, 13-1.C Zoning Districts, 13-1.G (Satellite Earth Stations, Antenna Towers, Wind Energy Systems, Accessory Uses, Home Occupations), 13-1.H Mobile Homes, and 13-1.M Definitions. The City of Menasha Community Development Department publishes a Garage, Shed & Accessory Structure Factsheet that summarizes the requirements drawn from Title 13. Attached garages must meet a 30 ft minimum rear yard, 6 ft minimum side yard with 16 ft aggregate side yard, and 25 ft minimum front yard or prevailing setback; size is capped at 1,200 sq ft (or 80 percent of the principal dwelling floor area, whichever is less) in R-1/R-1a, and 1,300 sq ft in R-2/R-2a under the same 80 percent rule. Detached garages and accessory buildings located 8 or more feet from the principal structure require a 3 ft minimum rear yard and 3 ft minimum side yard; if located less than 8 ft from the principal structure, the rear yard increases to 8 ft and the side yard to 6 ft. The 25 ft front yard (or prevailing) setback applies in either case. Detached garages are limited to 816 sq ft in R-1/R-1a districts and 624 sq ft per dwelling unit in R-2/R-2a districts; accessory buildings (such as sheds) are limited to 200 sq ft. Sidewalls may not exceed 12 ft and overall height may not exceed 18 ft. Detached garages and accessory buildings combined may not occupy more than 30 percent of any rear yard. Permits are administered by Menasha Community Development. The publicly available Title 13 chapter list does not include a stand-alone 'accessory dwelling unit' provision; ADUs as a separate category are not affirmatively established in the Title 13 outline, so any second dwelling unit must be evaluated under Title 13's residential district standards (13-1.C) and definitions (13-1.M).