Historic Preservation in Wisconsin (2026)
11 rules on the books across Wisconsin, 11 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Historic-Cultural Monuments
How buildings, sites, and trees are nominated and designated as Historic-Cultural Monuments, the protections that follow, and the demolition-stay process.
Appleton
Significant RestrictionsAppleton's Historic Preservation Commission can recommend a local historic structure, site or district designation only…
Read full rule →Burlington
Significant RestrictionsBurlington can designate a historic structure, site, or HPO Historic Preservation Overlay District under City Code…
Read full rule →Fitchburg
Significant RestrictionsFitchburg's Landmarks Preservation Commission can designate a structure or site as historic based on cultural…
Read full rule →Janesville
Significant RestrictionsJanesville has no separate cultural monument designation. Sites of architectural, cultural or political significance…
Read full rule →Kenosha County
Significant RestrictionsKenosha County designates landmarks and historic areas as a Historical Overlay District under County Code § 12.37.020…
Read full rule →Madison
Significant RestrictionsMadison's Common Council may designate a building, structure, site, or improvement as a protected landmark when it…
Read full rule →Waukesha
Significant RestrictionsWaukesha's 7-member Landmarks Commission can designate a property a Landmark, Landmark Site, or Historic District if it…
Read full rule →Wausau
Significant RestrictionsWausau's Historic Preservation Commission designates buildings and sites as local historic landmarks under Municipal…
Read full rule →Wauwatosa
Significant RestrictionsWauwatosa designates historic structures, sites and districts through the /HIS Historic Overlay under Zoning Code…
Read full rule →Milwaukee
Some RestrictionsWhen a city-designated or nationally listed historic building sits abandoned or condemnable, Milwaukee's building…
Read full rule →Sauk County
Light RestrictionsSauk County Code § 38.05 lets the Board of Supervisors add historically or culturally significant sites and districts…
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