Accessory Structures in Wauwatosa, WI (2026)
3 verified accessory structures rules for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Wauwatosa allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot on properties with a detached, semi-detached, attached, or two-unit house under Wauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.10.075. A detached ADU cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or the principal home's floor area, whichever is smaller, and must stay under sixteen feet tall unless built above a garage. No extra parking is required.
Wauwatosa Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.10.075
Where Allowed. ... Accessory dwelling units are allowed only on lots occupied by a detached house, semi-detached house, attached house, or a two-unit house. Number. No more than one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot. ... Size. ... The floor area of an ADU may not exceed the gross floor area of the principal dwelling unit on the subject lot (excluding any attached garage), or 1,000 squa...
Shed & Carport Rules
Wauwatosa lets you skip a building permit for a storage shed, play structure or other accessory structure only if it stays at or under 100 square feet and 12 feet in height. Anything larger needs a permit from the building and safety division, and every shed must be kept in good repair.
Wauwatosa Shed and Accessory Structure Permits
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 15.02.120
Building permits are typically required for the following, although the following list is not exclusive, and is used only as an example: ... Garages, storage sheds and other accessory buildings. ... Work Exempt from Permit. Work that is exempt from permit must still be constructed in accordance with any applicable code. No permit shall be required for storage, play, recreational structures or o...
Tiny Homes
Wauwatosa has no ordinance called "tiny homes," but its Cottage Court standards, which the code itself labels a "dwelling-cottage/tiny home court," cap each dwelling building at 1,800 square feet and require 4 to 16 buildings arranged around a shared common court.
Wauwatosa Cottage Court Tiny Home Rules
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.09.020
Cottage Court. ... Number of Cottage Courts. A maximum of one cottage court shall be allowed per development site. ... A cottage court building utilized as a dwelling shall have a maximum floor area of 1,800 square feet. A cottage court building utilized as a common amenity space shall have a maximum floor area of 4,000 square feet. ... A maximum of one dwelling unit shall be allowed per buildi...
Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wauwatosa city rules.
Accessory Structures in Milwaukee County →