ADU rules in Middleton, WI — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
The City of Middleton allows accessory dwelling units under Chapter 10 (Zoning Ordinance) of the Middleton Municipal Code, adopted under city zoning authority granted by Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. ADUs are permitted accessory to single-family dwellings on residential lots. The unit is capped at the smaller of 900 square feet or 50% of the primary home's floor area. Owner-occupancy of the property is required (the principal dwelling or the ADU itself), though the ADU may be rented. Two-story ADUs are not allowed and the maximum height is 22 feet. A conditional use permit is not required, but a zoning permit and building permit must be issued by the City of Middleton before construction.
Chapter 10 of the Middleton Municipal Code is the city Zoning Ordinance, recodified in 2024 and administered under the zoning authority granted by Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Accessory dwelling units are permitted as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling on residential lots within the city. ADUs may be either attached to the principal dwelling or detached as a standalone accessory structure. The unit's floor area is capped at the smaller of 900 square feet or 50 percent of the principal dwelling's floor area. Two-story ADUs are not permitted and overall height is limited to 22 feet. Required side and rear yard setbacks are 3 feet, and a detached ADU must be at least 5 feet from the principal residence. Owner-occupancy is required: the property owner must reside on the property in either the principal dwelling or the ADU, though the non-occupied unit may be rented. A conditional use permit is not required; the standard process is a zoning permit and a building permit issued by the City of Middleton Planning & Community Development Department and Building Inspection. Note: properties in the surrounding Town of Middleton (unincorporated) fall under Dane County zoning, not the City of Middleton ordinance. Always confirm current dimensional standards directly in Chapter 10 of the Middleton Municipal Code on Municode before designing.
Constructing or occupying an ADU without zoning approval and a building permit violates Chapter 10 of the Middleton Municipal Code. Enforcement can include stop-work orders, citations, daily forfeitures under the city's general penalty provisions, and orders to remove or modify non-conforming structures. Renting an ADU on a property where the owner does not reside (violating the owner-occupancy requirement) is independently enforceable as a zoning violation.
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