Sauk County, WI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Sauk County's Cultural and Historic Resources Designation Ordinance, Sauk County Code Chapter 38, was adopted under Wis. Stats. §§ 59.56 and 59.69(4m) and applies to resources 'throughout the County in incorporated and unincorporated areas' under Sec. 38.01, so a landmark designation can reach property inside Baraboo, Reedsburg, or any other municipality, not just the unincorporated area. The county's UW Extension, Arts & Culture Committee sits as the Sauk County Landmarks Commission under Sec. 38.03, acting in an advisory role to the Board of Supervisors. Under Sec.

38.05, a designation can be initiated by the Board of Supervisors itself or by application of the property owner or their representative, filed with the UW-Extension with the parcel number, a description of the resource, and a statement of its architectural or historic significance. Sec. 38.06 sets the review criteria: eligibility for the National or State Register of Historic Places, historic or cultural significance such as connection to a renowned person or event, or architectural and engineering significance such as a rare building type or outstanding craftsmanship.

Sec. 38.07 gives the Landmarks Commission 60 days to determine whether an application is complete, up to three rounds of requests for missing information before the application is deemed withdrawn, and 90 days after completeness to prepare a resolution and report for the Board of Supervisors. Under Sec. 38.08, a resource can be removed from the register either at the Commission's own initiative, after 30 days' notice and a hearing opportunity for the owner, or on the owner's own application, with the Board of Supervisors making the final delisting decision at a regular meeting.