Madison's Zoning Code, Chapter 28 of the General Ordinances, establishes base districts and overlays, while adopted neighborhood and corridor plans guide rezonings, conditional uses, and development along the Lake Mendota and Lake Monona isthmus.
Adopted in 2013 and amended often, Madison Zoning Code Ch. 28 organizes the city into residential, mixed-use, employment, downtown, and special districts, with overlays for historic, lakefront, and airport areas. The Plan Commission reviews rezonings and conditional uses, applying neighborhood and corridor plans adopted by the Common Council. State law under Wis. Stat. ch. 62 and ch. 66 sets the framework for municipal zoning, vested rights, and protest petitions. Major plans include the Comprehensive Plan, Imagine Madison, and corridor plans tied to Bus Rapid Transit. Applicants must demonstrate consistency with adopted plans, public services, and lakefront protections.
Construction or use that conflicts with Ch. 28 or an adopted plan may trigger stop-work orders, daily forfeitures of $100-$2,500, and required removal of nonconforming structures at the owner's expense.
Madison, WI
Madison Zoning Code Ch. 28 offers density bonuses, height bonuses, and parking reductions to projects committing affordable units, supporting the Imagine Mad...
Madison, WI
Madison's Bus Rapid Transit lines, launched in 2024, anchor station-area planning that allows higher density, reduced parking, and mixed-use development with...
See how Madison's specific plans overview rules stack up against other locations.
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