Marathon County, WI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage formula
- Structure sq ft ÷ lot area
- U-R/L-D-R cap
- 30 percent
- R-R/R-E cap
- 15 percent
- G-A/F-P cap
- None set
- Applies
- Only in towns that adopt zoning
Summary
Marathon County's Table 2 caps building footprint at 15 to 30 percent of lot area depending on zoning district, calculated as total structure square footage divided by lot area, and only where a town has adopted county zoning.
17.202.03.Footnotes to the schedule of regulations.A.Shoreland-Wetland, and Floodplain Regulations and Provisions. Refer to Section 22.101 for shoreland wetland, and floodplain regulations and provisions.B.Setbacks from Septic/Private Onsite Waste Treatment System.1.POWTS in ground dispersal area (Drainfield).a.Building: Ten feet.b.Swimming Pool: Fifteen feet.2.Treatment Tank or Holding Tanks.a.Building: Five feet.C.Maximum Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage allowable in each zoning district as identified in Table 2 is calculated by dividing the total square footage of all the existing and/or proposed structures (excluding stairs, patios, walkways, and driveways) on a parcel.by the total area of the lot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
Marathon County's Schedule of Regulations (Sec. 17.202.03(C)) defines maximum lot coverage as the total square footage of all existing and proposed structures, excluding stairs, patios, walkways, and driveways, divided by the total lot area. Table 2 sets that cap at 30 percent for Urban and Low Density Residential districts (with sewer service) and 15 percent for Rural Residential (R-R) and Rural Estate (R-E); General Agriculture (G-A) and Farmland Preservation (F-P) carry no lot-coverage cap. Because county zoning takes effect town-by-town under Wis. Stat. § 59.69, these limits apply only where a town adopted the Zoning Code, never inside Wausau, Mosinee, or Rothschild, which set their own standards.
Violations & Fines
Building beyond the district's lot-coverage cap without a variance from the Board of Adjustment is a zoning violation, enforceable by the Zoning Administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the maximum lot coverage in Marathon County's zoning code?
How is lot coverage calculated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
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