Building Setbacks & Zoning in Wauwatosa, WI (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Wauwatosa's zoning code sets minimum yard setbacks by residential district under Municipal Code Section 24.02.030. Front setbacks run 30 feet in Garden and Suburban Residential, 25 feet in Neighborhood Residential, and 20 feet in Mixed Residential and the two multi-unit districts. Side and rear setbacks are also district-specific, with the side-street setback capped at 15 feet and the rear setback bounded between 15 and 25 feet.
Wauwatosa Residential Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.02.030
DISTRICTS GR SR NR MR LDM MDM ... Minimum ... Setbacks Front (feet) 30[1] 30[1] 25[1] 20[1] 20[1] 20[1] ... Side, Street (% of lot width) 20[2] 20[2] 20[2] 20[2] 20[2] 20[2] ... Side, Interior one side/both sides combined (feet) 5/10 5/10 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 Rear (% of lot depth) 20[3] 20[3] 20[3] 20[3] 20[3] 20[3] ... [1] Setback "averaging" is allowed in some cases, See Section 24.18.030E.1.e. [2...
Structure Height Limits
Wauwatosa caps principal-building height at 35 feet in every residential zoning district under Municipal Code Section 24.02.030. Accessory buildings such as garages and sheds top out at 16 feet, though the zoning administrator can approve up to 20 feet for a matching roof pitch. Public buildings, religious assembly and schools may rise to 60 feet if extra setback is added for each foot over 35.
Wauwatosa Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.02.030
DISTRICTS GR SR NR MR LDM MDM ... Maximum Height (feet) Principal buildings 35[5] 35[5] 35[5] 35[5] 35[5] 35[5] ... Accessory buildings[6] 16 16 16 16 16 16 ... [5] Public and civic buildings, religious assembly, and schools may be up to 60 feet in height. One additional foot for front, side and rear setback is required for each foot of building height above 35 feet. [6] Accessory building heig...
Lot Coverage Limits
Wauwatosa limits how much of a residential lot buildings may cover under Municipal Code Section 24.02.030. Combined principal and accessory coverage on a corner lot ranges from 35% in Garden Residential up to 70% in Medium-Density Multi-unit, and interior-lot caps run lower, from 35% to 60%. Accessory buildings alone are capped at 12% of lot area, but accessory dwelling units are excluded from that cap.
Wauwatosa Maximum Lot Coverage by Zone
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.02.030
Max. Building Coverage (% of lot area) All principal and accessory buildings combined Corner lot 35 42 42 42 60 70 Interior lot 35 37 37 37 40 60 Accessory buildings[4] 12 12 12 12 12 12 Accessory dwelling units [4] n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a ... [4] Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are not included in accessory building lot coverage limits. Size and dimensional standards for ADUs are provided in S...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wauwatosa city rules.
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