Adams County, WI Article X Standard Lots and Substandard Lots

[Amended 4-17-2019 by Ord. No. 8-2019]

§ 396-33 Minimum lot size.

Minimum lot sizes in the shoreland area are established to afford protection against danger to health, safety and welfare and protection against pollution of the adjacent body of water. In calculating the minimum area or width of a lot, the beds of navigable waters shall not be included.

A. Sewered lots; minimum area and width for each lot. The minimum lot area shall be 10,000 square feet and the minimum average lot width shall be 65 feet. The width shall be calculated by averaging the measurements at the following locations:

(1) The ordinary high-water mark.

(2) The building setback line.

(3) The rear lot line.

B. Unsewered lots; minimum area and width for each lot. The minimum lot area shall be 20,000 square feet and the minimum average lot width shall be 100 feet with at least 100 feet of frontage at the ordinary high-water mark. The width shall be calculated by averaging the measurements at the following locations:

(1) The ordinary high-water mark.

(2) The building setback line.

(3) The rear lot line.

§ 396-34 Substandard lot or parcel.

NOTE: Lots that were legally created that currently do not meet the minimum lot width and area requirements shall be considered a building site provided all other ordinance requirements can be met. Substandard lots that have been reconfigured by a certified survey map or consolidated into one legal description with the Register of Deeds which results in a larger (closer to conforming) lot shall be allowed to be utilized as a building site. Additionally, lots that have a legal description for each substandard lot on record with the Register of Deeds but have one tax parcel number assigned by the Real Property Lister or Assessor for taxing/assessing purposes shall be considered separate building sites and will not be considered consolidated. Lots that have had development over the lot lines shall be combined by a certified survey map or with a legal description and recorded with a new deed prior to new development occurring.

A. A legally created lot or parcel that met minimum area and minimum average width requirements when created, but does not meet current lot size requirements, may be used as a building site if all of the following apply:

(1) The substandard lot or parcel was never reconfigured or combined with another lot or parcel by plat, survey, or consolidation by the owner into one property tax parcel.

(2) The substandard lot or parcel has never been developed with one or more of its structures placed partly upon an adjacent lot or parcel.

(3) The substandard lot or parcel is developed to comply with all other ordinance requirements.

B. Other substandard lots. Except for lots which meet the requirements of Subsection A(1), a building permit for the improvement of a lot having lesser dimensions than those stated in § 396-33A and B shall be issued only if a variance is granted by the Board of Adjustment.