The jurisdiction of this chapter shall include all lands and
waters within the Town of Lawrence.
Restrictions or requirements with respect to buildings or land,
or both, which appear in other ordinances of the Town of Lawrence
or are established by federal, state or county laws and which are
greater than those set forth herein shall take precedence over those
herein. Otherwise, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.
A.
Buildings hereafter erected, enlarged, converted, structurally altered,
rebuilt or moved and existing land shall be used only for purposes
as specified in this chapter. Furthermore, land and building uses
shall be in compliance with the regulations as established herein
for each district.[1]
B.
All principal structures shall be located on a lot, and only one
principal structure shall be located, erected or moved onto a lot.
D.
Accessory buildings which are not a part of the main building shall not occupy more than 30% of the required rear yard, shall not be more than 25 feet high, shall adhere to the square footage size as described in § 300-16 of this chapter, and shall not be nearer than five feet to any lot line, except that where an accessory building has an entrance on an alley, such entrance shall be located not less than 15 feet from the nearest alley line. No more than one accessory building shall be located on a lot. The above height and area regulations shall not apply to accessory buildings designated as farm structures. However, the farm structure shall be located on a minimum farm site of 10 acres. Farm accessory buildings shall not be closer than 25 feet to any lot line.
Any new subdivisions not approved at the adoption of this chapter
shall comply with the Town of Lawrence Comprehensive Plan.
A.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the height of any building
hereafter erected, converted, enlarged or structurally altered shall
be in compliance with the regulations established herein for the district
in which such building is located.
B.
Accessory farm buildings, windmills, belfries, chimneys, cooling
towers, elevator bulkheads, fire towers, monuments, silos, scenery
lofts, tanks, water towers, ornamental towers, spires, wireless television
or broadcasting towers, masts or aerials, public water towers, telephone,
telegraph and power transmission poles and lines, microwave radio
relay structures and necessary mechanical appurtenances are herein
exempted from the height regulations of this chapter.
C.
Churches, schools, hospitals, sanitariums and other public and quasi-public
buildings may be erected to a height not exceeding 60 feet, provided
that the front, side and rear yards required in the district in which
the building is to be located are each increased at least one foot
for each foot of additional building height above the height limit
otherwise established for the district in which such building is to
be located.
D.
Residences may be increased in height by not more than 10 feet when
all yards and other required open spaces are increased by one foot
for each foot by which such building exceeds the height limit of the
district in which it is located.
A.
No front yard shall be used for open storage of boats, vehicles or
any other equipment except for vehicular parking on driveways. All
open storage areas shall be properly landscaped.
B.
No part of a yard or other open space provided about any building
for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this chapter shall
be included as part of a yard or any other open space required for
another building.
C.
Buildings on through lots and extending from street to street may
waive the requirements for a rear yard by furnishing an equivalent
open space on the same lot in lieu of the required rear yard, provided
that the setback requirements on both streets are complied with, and
further provided that no accessory building shall extend within the
setback line on either street.
D.
Detached accessory buildings may be located in the rear yard or the
side yard of a main building, provided that such accessory building
will meet district requirements.
A.
Fence permit.
(1)
It
shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, or replace a
fence in the Town without first obtaining a fence permit and complying
in all respects with the terms and conditions of this section.
(2)
To
obtain a permit required, the applicant shall first file an application
for permit on a form furnished by the Building Inspector.
(3)
A
set of plans and such other data as deemed necessary by the Building
Inspector shall be submitted with each application for a permit. Plans
shall be drawn to scale and shall include the following:
(4)
The
application, plans and other data filed by an applicant for a permit
shall be reviewed by the Building Inspector. If the work described
in a permit application conforms to all the requirements of this section
and all other pertinent laws and ordinances, and the fees specified
in the Town Fee Schedule have been paid, the permit shall be issued
to the applicant.[1]
(5)
Every
permit issued by the Building Inspector shall expire by limitation
and become null and void if the authorized work is not commenced within
60 days from the date of permitting or if the authorized work is not
completed for a period of 60 days.
(6)
The
Building Inspector may suspend or revoke a permit under the provisions
of this section whenever a permit is issued in error or on the basis
of incorrect information supplied or in violation of any code or ordinance
of the Town.
(7)
A
fence permit is not required for the following, provided that said
fence does not in any way interfere with traffic visibility or block,
redirect or cause a drainage problem for the adjacent or downstream
properties:
(a)
Fifty percent or less of an existing fence is being replaced
and no changes are made to the fence size or materials.
(b)
A snow fence, provided that it is removed between May 1 and
November 1 of each year. No snow fence shall extend into the street
right-of-way without approval from the Town of Lawrence Board of Supervisors.
(c)
Agricultural/farm fences limited to agricultural zoned properties.
(d)
Decorative fences not exceeding two feet in height.
(e)
Underground electrical fences or invisible fencing.
(f)
Garden fences.
B.
Location and height restrictions.
(1)
A
fence or wall may be erected, placed, or maintained along a lot line
on residentially zoned property or adjacent thereto to a height not
exceeding six feet above the ground level. No fence or wall which
is located in a required front or corner side yard shall exceed a
height of three feet. In a required rear yard, the height of fences
or walls shall not exceed six feet. Exception for a fence exceeding
three feet in a front or corner side yard or over six feet high in
rear and side yards may be provided by the Town of Lawrence Board
of Supervisors under a conditional use permit.
[Amended 11-28-2011]
(2)
No
fence or wall shall be erected, placed, or maintained along a lot
line on any nonresidentially zoned property, adjacent to residentially
zoned property, to a height exceeding six feet.
(3)
In
any district, no fence or wall shall be erected, constructed, maintained
or grown to a height exceeding three feet above the street grade nearest
thereto within 25 feet of the intersection of any street lines or
street lines projected, or to any height of less than three feet if
it is determined by the Town's Building Inspector that such a height
interferes with safe, clear visual distance along any roadway.
C.
Electrically charged fence. No fence erected or constructed shall
be electrically charged in any manner on any property with the exception
of property located in the Agricultural or Agricultural-Farmland Preservation
Zoning District unless approved by the Town of Lawrence Planning and
Zoning Board and the Town Board. Exception: An electrically charged
fence is allowed for the purpose of fencing in a garden to keep out
wild animals, provided that the fence is a minimum of five feet from
the lot line.[2]
D.
Use of barbed wire.
(1)
No fence shall be constructed of barbed wire in any zoning district
except for the following:
(b)
On property zoned ER Estate Residential in conjunction with a conditional
use permit.
(2)
In A-1 Agricultural, AG-FP Agricultural-Farmland Preservation, B-1
Business/Commercial, LI Limited Industrial, GI General Industrial
or PD Planned Development Zoning Districts, fences six feet or greater
in height may be constructed with angle arms at the top and such angle
arms may be armed with barbed wire. Such arms shall not extend over
adjacent property, including public or private property, Town, county
or state rights-of-way, or on private or public easements.[5]
E.
Fence gate. All fences shall have a minimum of one gate for emergency
ingress/egress. The minimum width of such gate shall be three feet.
F.
Fence materials.
(1)
All
fence material shall be of new material. Fence materials permitted
are wood, metal tubing, wrought iron, stone, masonry, and chain link.
Vinyl or fiberglass composite materials may be utilized if the material
is listed, designed and constructed for fencing materials. Metal posts
will be allowed on wood fences.
(2)
No
person shall use rope, string, wire products, including but not limited
to chicken wire, hog wire, wire fabric, barbed wire (except as allowed
in other subsections of this section), razor ribbon, wire and similar
welded or woven wire fabrics, chain, netting, cut or broken glass,
paper, metal panels, corrugated metal panels, galvanized sheet metal,
plywood, fiberglass panels or plastic panes in any fence or any other
materials that are not manufactured specifically as fencing materials.
The Building Inspector may require the applicant to provide the manufacturer's
standards to establish the intended use of a proposed fence material.
(3)
No
person shall construct a fence of wood, metal, or plastic products
that are designed specifically for other than fence construction.
(4)
No
person shall construct a fence of damaged, used or unsafe materials.
Used fencing material may be used if it is determined by the Building
Inspector that the material meets the requirement of new material.
(5)
No
person shall weave or use slats of any material, including but not
limited to metal, fiberglass, or bamboo, through a chain link fence
to create a blind fence, screening fence or any other type of fence
addressed in this section unless approved by or required by the Town
Planning and Zoning Board and Town Board.
(6)
There
shall be no fence painted or made with bright or fluorescent-type
colors.
H.
Installation. Fences shall be installed with the finished side facing
the adjacent property or public right-of-way, and the fence posts
must be located on the inside of the fence facing the property on
which the fence is located, except when the style of fence commonly
described as a "good neighbor fence" is installed.
I.
Maintenance.
(1)
All
fences, both existing and new, and all parts thereof shall be maintained
in a safe and aesthetically pleasing condition. There shall be no
messages or words allowed on the fence. Graffiti shall be removed
immediately upon recognition and/or notification.
(2)
The
owner or his/her designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance
of the fence. The Building Inspector shall determine compliance with
this section and may cause any fence to be reinspected.
J.
Berms. A berm (earthen wall) of any type of construction is not permitted
in any zone within the Town without Town Board approval as a conditional
use.
(1)
Plans for berms in new subdivisions shall be clearly indicated, and
plat approval shall include specific language indicating that the
berm, as presented, has been approved with the plat. Plat approval
alone shall not indicate approval for a berm.
(2)
All berms shall comply with the Town of Lawrence stormwater management
plan and stormwater management practices.
A.
Parking areas may be located in any yard space for commercial uses
and in any yard except the front yard for other uses but shall not
be closer than 10 feet to any street line. No parking space or area
shall be permitted within five feet of a property line in a side yard.[1]
B.
Each parking space shall not be less than 180 square feet, exclusive
of the space required for ingress and egress. Minimum width of the
parking space shall be nine feet.
C.
Where parking facilities are permitted on land other than the zoning
lot on which the building or use served is located, such facilities
shall be in the same possession as the zoning lot occupied by the
building or use to which the parking facilities are accessory.
D.
All off-street parking areas for more than 10 vehicles shall be graded
and surfaced so as to be dust-free and properly drained and shall
have the aisles and spaces clearly marked.
E.
All parking areas and appurtenant passageways and driveways serving
commercial uses shall be illuminated adequately from the hours of
sunset to sunrise when the use is in operation. Adequate shielding
shall be provided by commercial uses to protect adjacent residential
zones from the glare of such illumination and from that of automobile
headlights.
F.
Where a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date
of this chapter, and provided that construction is begun within six
months of such effective date and diligently prosecuted to completion,
parking and loading facilities, in the amounts required for the issuance
of said building permit, may be provided in lieu of any different
amounts required by this chapter.
G.
When the intensity of use of any building, structure or premises
shall be increased through the addition of dwelling units, gross floor
area, seating capacity or other units of measurement specified herein,
the required parking or loading facilities as required herein shall
be provided for such increase in intensity of use and for at least
50% of any existing deficiency in parking or loading facilities.
[Amended 4-25-2016; 5-14-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-1]
A.
Accessory buildings shall be compatible with the principal use and
shall not be established prior to the establishment of the principal
building or use.
B.
The accessory building exterior and roofing materials shall be compliant with § 300-19 and shall be of similar materials to the principal structures.
C.
An accessory building shall not exceed 1,000 square feet on any lot
that consists of less than 1.5 acres in any residential zoned district.
D.
An accessory building shall not exceed 1,500 square feet on any lot
that consists of 1.50 acres to 3 acres in any residential zoned district.
E.
An accessory building shall not exceed 2,400 square feet on any lot
that consists of 3.01 acres to 6 acres in any residential zoned district.
F.
An accessory building shall not exceed 3,000 square feet on any lot
that consists of 6.01 acres or more in any residential zoned district.
A house razed or moved within the Town must include a moving
permit issued by the Town's Building Inspector.
A.
Houses removed from their original foundations for the purpose of
moving to a new location shall be either removed from the Town or
transported to a permanent location in the Town within 24 hours of
removal from the original foundation.
B.
In the event the new permanent location is within the Town, the house
in transport shall be secured on a permanent foundation at the new
location within 30 days from the time the house was moved to the permanent
location.
A.
Towers of any type of purpose (except specifically for electrical
transmission lines) shall be prohibited in all zones within the Town.
Exceptions (conditional use) shall be at the sole discretion of the
Town Board.
[Amended 9-9-2013; 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-002]
Except as noted in Subsection D(1), all single-family and two-family residential dwellings shall meet the following requirements as set forth in this section. Any home not meeting the requirements of this section shall be treated as a manufactured home Class II and may only be placed in a manufactured home park, pursuant to Article XVIII, Manufactured Home Regulations, as set forth in this chapter.
A.
Minimum
floor area. The minimum floor area for every dwelling shall be 1,200
square feet, excluding the area of garage or carport.
B.
Roof overhang.
All main buildings shall have a minimum pitch of four inches per 12
inches of run, with a minimum twelve-inch roof overhang on each of
the dwelling's perimeter walls, such that the overhang is architecturally
integrated into the design of the dwelling.
C.
Roofing
material. All main buildings and all detached garages or carports
located on a residential lot shall have a roof surface of wood shakes
or asphalt shingles; clay, concrete, metal, or slate tiles; smooth
or corrugated metal with hidden fasteners; or alternative materials
showing quality and warranty as approved by the Building Inspector.
D.
Siding materials. All main buildings and all detached garages located on a lot shall have exterior siding material consisting of either wood, masonry concrete, stucco, masonite, vinyl or metal lap. The exterior siding material shall extend to ground level, except that, when masonry foundation is used, the siding material need not extend below the top of the foundation. The following and similar materials shall be prohibited as siding [note Subsection D(1)]: smooth, ribbed or corrugated sheets of metal, fiberglass, plastic and any materials having a highly reflective or high-gloss finish.
(1)
Smooth,
ribbed, or corrugated sheets of metal shall be permitted on detached
garages located in ER Estate Residential Zoning Districts.
E.
Foundation.
All dwellings shall have a properly engineered, permanently attached
means of support meeting the manufacturer's installation requirements
and all applicable building codes. In the event that a manufactured
home does not utilize a perimeter load-bearing foundation, any space
between ground level and siding shall be enclosed with permanent,
non-load-bearing concrete or masonry having a foundation-like appearance.
Top of foundation wall shall be 24 inches to 30 inches above curb
or existing center of roadway measured from the center of the driveway
or must be approved by the Building Inspector or designee.
F.
Minimum
width. The minimum width of a dwelling shall be 22 feet.
G.
Wheels
and axles. A razed building shall have all tow bars, wheels and axles
removed when the dwelling is installed on a residential lot.
Any lot zoned residential shall comply with the following standards:
A.
No large equipment, vehicles, junk, garbage, or salvageable material
of any type shall be stored on a residential lot.
B.
Residential lots shall be maintained so that weeds, noxious plants,
and grasses do not exceed 12 inches in height at any time.
C.
Fill or topsoil shall not be stored on residential lots except during
construction of a house or other buildings.
D.
Lawns/yards shall be planted on residential lots within one year
from the issuance of the building permit.
A.
The construction of a driveway on any property in the Town of Lawrence
requires a permit from the Town and must be approved by the Town Building
Inspector or designee.
B.
All driveways shall be a minimum of six feet from the lot line. All
rural driveways require a culvert unless otherwise approved by the
Town Building Inspector or designee.
C.
Any driveway or approach constructed in Town right-of-way is for
the bona fide purpose of securing access to the property and not for
the purpose of parking or servicing vehicles or for advertising, storage
or merchandising of goods on the Town right-of-way.
D.
Upon issuance of a permit to install access driveway, the permittee
shall furnish all materials, do all work, and pay all costs in connection
with the construction and maintenance of the driveway and its appurtenances
on the right-of-way. Materials used shall be corrugated metal culvert
pipe and the type of construction shall be as designated and subject
to approval of the Town Building Inspector or designee. The permittee
shall make the installation without jeopardy to or interference with
traffic using the Town road. Town road surfaces, shoulders, ditches,
and vegetation disturbed shall be restored to equivalent of original
condition by the permittee.
E.
The Town of Lawrence shall be held harmless against any action for
personal injury or property damage sustained by reason of exercise
of a permit to construct a driveway.
F.
Driveway culverts shall be a minimum of 18 inches in diameter by
30 feet in length with end walls for residential properties. The culvert
is to be installed on natural ground. In the event the ditch depth
warrants a longer or shorter length of culvert pipe or a lesser diameter
pipe, approval is required by the Town Building Inspector or designee.
G.
The maximum culvert size shall not exceed 40 feet in length in addition
to end walls for commercial, business or industrial properties. In
the event the ditch depth warrants a longer length of culvert pipe,
approval is required by the Town Building Inspector or designee.
H.
The surface of the driveway connecting with rural-type highway sections
shall slope down and away from the highway shoulder a sufficient amount
and distance to preclude ordinary surface water drainage from the
driveway area flowing into the road/roadbed. The driveway shall not
obstruct or impair drainage in highway side ditches or roadside areas.
Driveway culverts shall be adequate for surface water drainage along
the road and in no case less than the equivalent of fifteen-inch-diameter
pipe in new or like new condition. The size shall be approved by the
Town of Lawrence Building Inspector or designee.[1]
I.
No noncommercial driveway or combination of driveways shall have
a width less than 16 feet or greater than 30 feet measured at right
angles to the center line of the driveway.
J.
No commercial driveway shall have a width less than 16 feet or greater
than 40 feet measured at right angles to the center line of the driveway
unless otherwise approved by the Town Building Inspector or designee.
K.
The construction operation shall conform to all requirements for
the specific class of work as may be set forth in the Wisconsin Statutes
and to the regulations imposed by all legally empowered commissions,
boards, or individuals having jurisdiction therein.
L.
Driveway side slopes shall be of earth material only. No concrete,
stone, or bituminous side slopes shall be constructed. The slope of
the end walls shall not be steeper than a four-to-one slope, and the
elevation of the walls shall not protrude above the grade of the driveway.
M.
The Town of Lawrence Town Board reserves the right to make such changes,
additions, and relocations within statutory limits on the right-of-way
as may at any time be considered necessary to permit the relocation,
widening, and maintaining of the highway or to provide proper protection
to life and property on the highway.
N.
The Town of Lawrence does not assume any responsibility for the removal
or clearance of snow, ice or sleet on any driveway or the entrance
thereof.
O.
Rural driveways shall be gravel, asphalt or concrete. No concrete
shall be used in the Town right-of-way. In the event the Town needs
to remove concrete in a right-of-way for any reason it shall be replaced
with asphalt.
P.
A driveway shall be located and restricted as to width as necessary
so that the entire driveway and its appurtenances are contained within
the frontage along the Town road of the property served. At public
Town road intersections a driveway shall not provide direct ingress
or egress to or from the public Town road intersection area. It shall
not encroach on or occupy areas of the Town road right-of-way deemed
necessary for effective traffic control for Town road signs or signals.
Urban driveways shall be 75 feet from intersection-intersection and
rural driveways shall be 125 feet from intersection-intersection.
A driveway shall be so located and constructed that vehicles approaching
or using it will have adequate sight distance in both directions along
the Town road.
Q.
In the event a used culvert is to be installed it must be inspected
by the Town of Lawrence Building Inspector or designee.
R.
Soil on driveway slopes shall be permanently stabilized within nine months of installation. Interim erosion control shall be according to Chapter 145, Erosion Control and Stormwater Management, Article II, Construction Site Erosion Control, of this Code. All fill surrounding culverts shall be a minimum of six inches of three-fourths-inch road gravel.
T.
The Town of Lawrence reserves the right to correct any deficiencies
in driveway construction that have not been addressed in this section
and shall charge all associated costs to the owner/applicant.
A.
All underground utility installations require a permit from the Town
of Lawrence Building Inspector.
B.
All underground utility companies, including but not limited to gas,
electric, telephone, cable or any other utility, shall provide the
Town with as-built plans for the underground installations.
[Added 5-13-2013]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide for the health,
safety and welfare of all individuals.
B.
Application. This section shall apply to all new, remodeled, altered and relocated private swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas. (Ponds are addressed in Article XXI of this chapter.)
C.
PORTABLE POOL
SPA or HOT TUB
SWIMMING POOL
Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in
this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection,
except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
A container of water less than 36 inches in depth that can
be readily disassembled for storage and reassembled to its original
integrity.
A hydro-jet massage pool or tub for recreational or therapeutic
use, designed for immersion of users, which may or may not have a
filter, heater and motor-driven blower.
Any depression in the ground, either temporary (installed
for a period of less than seven days) or permanent (installed for
a duration of more than seven days), or an aboveground or below-ground
container of water, either temporary or permanent, which is 36 inches
or greater in depth, used primarily for the purpose of wading or swimming,
excluding portable pools.
D.
Permit required. Before commencing the construction or installation
of a swimming pool, hot tub, or spa, a permit authorizing such construction
must be obtained from the Building Inspector. Permit applications
shall be accompanied by fully dimensioned plans showing the following
information:
(1)
Location of the swimming pool, hot tub, or spa on the lot showing
the distance from property lines, easements and structures.
(2)
Location of overhead and/or underground wiring in relation to the
swimming pool, hot tub, or spa.
(3)
Dimensions and depth of the swimming pool, hot tub, or spa.
(4)
Type, location and height of fence either if existing or proposed.
(5)
Type, dimensions and location of deck if proposed.
E.
General requirements.
(1)
Swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas shall not be allowed in the front
yard and interior side yard building setbacks of interior lots.
(2)
Swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas shall not be allowed in the front
yard, corner side yard and interior building setbacks of corner lots.
(3)
Side yard and rear yard setbacks for swimming pools, hot tubs, and
spas shall be a minimum of 10 feet measured from the property line.
(4)
Swimming pools shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any structure
other than a deck.
(6)
All plumbing shall meet the requirements of the State Plumbing Code,
Chs. SPS 381 to SPS 387, Wis. Adm. Code.
(7)
All electrical work shall meet the requirements of the State Electrical
Code, Ch. SPS 316, Wis. Adm. Code, and the National Electrical Code.
F.
Fence requirements.
[Amended 8-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-001]
(1)
A fence of not less than four feet in height, measured from grade,
shall completely enclose all swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas with
the following exceptions:
(a)
Hot tubs and spas do not need fence protection as long as their
covers can be fastened and key locked when unattended and shall be
able to withstand 150 pounds.
(b)
An aboveground pool, hot tub, or spa with side rail height of
at least four feet above grade and a removable ladder or compliant
gate does not require a fence.
(c)
Where decks surround or adjoin an aboveground swimming pool,
hot tub, or spa, a three-foot minimum height guardrail mounted to
and measured from the deck surface to the top of the guardrail will
be considered as meeting the fencing requirements as long as the design
and construction regulations of this section are complied with and
the overall vertical measurement from grade (ground) level to the
top of the guardrail is a minimum height of four feet. Sides of stairs
and gates leading to a deck shall also comply with the requirements
of this section. Interior side yard and rear yard setbacks for a detached
deck surrounding a swimming pool, hot tub, or spa shall be measured
five feet from the property line.
(2)
Fences shall be located a minimum of four feet beyond the outside
perimeter of a swimming pool, hot tub, or spa.
(3)
Fences shall be constructed and designed so as to prevent penetration
of an object greater than four inches in diameter through or under
the fence.
(4)
Fences shall be able to withstand 200 pounds of force in any direction
and shall be properly maintained in a good state of repair and appearance.
(5)
Fences with horizontal boards spaced more than one inch apart are
prohibited.
(6)
All gates or doors opening through a fence enclosure shall be kept
securely closed at all times while unattended and shall be equipped
with a self-closing and self-latching device designed to keep such
gate or door securely closed. All gates or doors shall comply with
all other height and structural requirements of this section.
(7)
Portable pools do not need fence protection but must be drained or
covered in such a manner as to provide public safety when left unattended.
(8)
To ensure public safety, variances for lesser fence heights than
specified in this section shall not be granted.
(9)
Rail sides do not qualify as a substitute for a fence.
G.
Shielding lights. Lights used to illuminate any residential swimming
pool, hot tub or spa shall be so arranged and shaded as to reflect
light away from adjoining premises.
H.
Drainage. In no case shall any swimming pool, hot tub, or spa be
drained onto properties other than that of the owner of the swimming
pool, hot tub or spa.
I.
Sanitation. Filtration systems shall be maintained in proper working
order. The swimming pool, hot tub or spa shall be kept clean and in
sanitary condition at all times.
[Added 8-11-2014]
A.
Livestock. No person shall keep or maintain any livestock such as
horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, fish or other animals
raised for performing work or providing recreation or commonly raised
for the production of meat, hair, furs, or skins in any zoning district,
except in agricultural districts, or by conditional use permit as
allowed in Estate Residential Districts. Livestock does not include
household pets such as dogs, cats, birds, and fish kept by homeowners
as pets and not for commercial purposes.
B.
Prohibited animals. No person shall keep wild or exotic animals such
as primates, snakes, or reptiles in any zoning district within the
Town of Lawrence.
C.
Poultry. No person shall keep or maintain poultry, chickens or fowl in any zoning district, except as provided in Subsection D.
D.
Poultry; keeping of chickens within the Town of Lawrence. In addition
to all other regulations in this section, the following shall apply
to the keeping of chickens within the Town in the (R-1) Residential
and (ER) Estate Residential Districts.
(1)
CHICKEN
CHICKEN RUN
COOP
KEEP
ROOSTER
Definitions. The following terms, when used in this section, shall
have the meanings set forth below:
A domestic chicken of the subspecies Gallus gallus domesticus.
A fenced cage attached to a coop and not to exceed 40 square
feet in area.
A new or existing enclosed accessory structure designed or
modified exclusively for the keeping of chickens and meeting the requirements
of this section.
Either the owning, keeping, possessing or harboring of a
chicken.
A male chicken of any age, including a capon or otherwise
neutered male chicken.
(2)
Permit required.
(a)
Any person who keeps chickens in the (R-1) Residential or (ER)
Estate Residential District which the person owns, occupies and controls
shall obtain a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator. All permits
are subject to annual renewal or denial by the Town Zoning Administrator.
The permit is valid January 1 to December 31, and the fee shall be
as established by resolution of the Town Board.
(b)
All applicants must receive written approval from all of the
owner-occupied neighboring property owners adjacent to the applicant's
property lines exclusive of street right-of-way. The applicant shall
contact neighboring property owners and provide to the neighboring
property owners information required for the permit in order that
such neighboring property owners may be informed as to the impact
that such chickens may have on the neighborhood. No applicant shall
be considered by the Town Board unless said approval has been obtained.
(c)
All permit applications shall be accompanied by satisfactory
evidence that the applicant has registered the proposed location with
the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
pursuant to § 95.51, Wis. Stats., and Ch. ATCP 17, Wis.
Adm. Code.
(3)
Keeping of chickens allowed.
(a)
Minimum lot size of one acre (43,560 square feet).
(b)
Up to four chickens are allowed with a permit.
(c)
Restrictive covenants of subdivisions may be more restrictive
than this section.
(d)
No person shall keep any rooster.
(e)
No person may slaughter any chickens within residential districts
within the Town of Lawrence.
(f)
Chickens shall be provided with fresh water at all times and
adequate amounts of feed.
(g)
Chickens shall be provided with a sanitary and adequately sized
coop and shall be kept in the coop or a sanitary and adequately sized
chicken run attached thereto at all times. Chickens shall not be allowed
to free range.
(h)
All coops shall comply with all building and zoning requirements
of this Code.
(i)
Coops shall be constructed in a workmanlike manner, be moisture-resistant
and either raised above the ground or placed on a hard surface such
as concrete, patio block or gravel.
(j)
Coops shall be constructed and maintained to reasonably prevent
the collection of standing water and shall be cleaned of hen droppings,
uneaten feed, feathers and other waste daily and as is necessary to
ensure that the coop and yard do not become a health, odor or other
nuisance. All feed containers shall be rodent-proof. All chicken droppings
shall be disposed of in accordance with solid waste disposal regulations.
(k)
Coops shall be large enough to provide at least four square
feet per chicken with a maximum size of 32 square feet.
(l)
No chicken coop shall be located closer than 25 feet to any
principal residential structure. No chicken coop shall be located
within 10 feet of any rear or side property line.
(m)
No chicken coop shall be located in the front or side yard of
any parcel.
(n)
In addition to compliance with the requirements of this section,
no one shall keep chickens that cause any other nuisance associated
with unhealthy conditions, create a public health threat or otherwise
interfere with the normal use of property or enjoyment of life by
humans or animals.
(4)
Public health requirements.
(a)
Chickens shall be kept and handled in a sanitary manner to prevent
the spread of communicable diseases among birds or to humans.
(b)
Any person keeping chickens shall immediately report any unusual
illness or death of chickens to the Town.
(c)
The Town may order testing, quarantine, isolation, vaccination
or humane euthanasia of ill chickens or chickens believed to be a
carrier of a communicable disease. The owner of the chicken shall
be responsible for all costs associated with the procedures ordered
hereunder.
(5)
Permit revocation. A permit is subject to revocation by the Town
Zoning Administrator upon failure to comply with any provisions of
this section. Such revocation is subject to appeal to the Town Board.
Once a permit is revoked, a permit shall not be reissued.
(6)
Sale of eggs and baby chicks prohibited. No person may offer to sell
eggs or chicks accumulated from the activities permitted hereunder.
(7)
Nonrenewal of permit. Any violation of this section may be cause
for nonrenewal of a permit.
