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SB473: Bill Text
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2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-4896/1
EVM:cdc&cjs
2025 SENATE BILL 473
October 2, 2025 - Introduced by Senators
Bradley
,
Feyen
,
Roys
,
Wall
and
Cabral-Guevara
, cosponsored by Representatives
Goeben
,
Brooks
,
Kreibich
,
O'Connor
,
Krug
,
Rivera-Wagner
,
Piwowarczyk
,
Murphy
,
Brill
,
Knodl
,
Summerfield
,
Behnke
,
Wichgers
and
Palmeri
. Referred to Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry.
SB473,1,2
1
An Act
to create
59.69 (16), 60.61 (3o) and 62.23 (7) (j) of the statutes;
relating
2
to:
local regulation of accessory dwelling units.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires political subdivisions with zoning ordinances to allow as a permitted use at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on each parcel that is zoned for residential use or mixed use on which an existing single-family dwelling is located. A permitted use under the bill is a use of property that complies with all requirements of the zoning district in which the property is located and for which no conditional use, variance, or special review or approval is required for an accessory dwelling unit. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions to 1) limit the size of an ADU to not larger than the square footage of the existing single-family dwelling, 2) limit the height of an ADU, other than an ADU that is a conversion of an existing legal nonconforming structure, to not greater than the maximum height permitted in the underlying zoning district, 3) require that an ADU satisfy current setback and lot coverage requirements, and 4) prohibit the use of an ADU created on a parcel after the effective date of the bill as a short-term rental.
Because this bill may increase or decrease, directly or indirectly, the cost of the development, construction, financing, purchasing, sale, ownership, or availability of housing in this state, the Department of Administration, as required by law, will prepare a report to be printed as an appendix to this bill.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SB473,1
1
Section
1
.
59.69 (16) of the statutes is created to read:
SB473,2,8
2
59.69
(16)
Accessory dwelling units
. (a) In this subsection, “accessory
3
dwelling unit” means a residential dwelling unit that is located on the same parcel
4
as an existing single-family dwelling and that provides complete independent living
5
facilities for one or more persons and has an entrance separate from the existing
6
single-family dwelling. An accessory dwelling unit may be within, attached to, or
7
detached from a single-family dwelling and may be created by converting an
8
existing structure.
SB473,2,15
9
(b) Notwithstanding sub. (4) and subject to par. (c), an ordinance under this
10
section shall allow as a permitted use at least one accessory dwelling unit on each
11
parcel that is zoned for residential use or mixed use on which an existing single-
12
family dwelling is located. Under this paragraph, a permitted use is a use of
13
property that complies with all requirements of the zoning district in which the
14
property is located and for which no conditional use, variance, or special review or
15
approval is required for the accessory dwelling unit.
SB473,2,16
16
(c) An ordinance under this section may do any of the following;
SB473,2,18
17
1. Limit the size of an accessory dwelling unit to not larger than the square
18
footage of the existing single-family dwelling on the same parcel.
SB473,3,2
19
2. Limit the height of an accessory dwelling unit, other than an accessory
1
dwelling unit that is a conversion of an existing legal nonconforming structure, to
2
not greater than the maximum height permitted in the underlying zoning district.
SB473,3,4
3
3. Require that an accessory dwelling unit satisfy current setback and lot
4
coverage requirements.
SB473,3,7
5
4. Notwithstanding s. 66.1014, prohibit the use of an accessory dwelling unit
6
created on a parcel after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date],
7
as a short-term rental, as defined in s. 66.0615 (1) (dk).
SB473,2
8
Section
2
.
60.61 (3o) of the statutes is created to read:
SB473,3,15
9
60.61
(3o)
Accessory dwelling units.
(a) In this subsection, “accessory
10
dwelling unit” means a residential dwelling unit that is located on the same parcel
11
as an existing single-family dwelling and that provides complete independent living
12
facilities for one or more persons and has an entrance separate from the existing
13
single-family dwelling. An accessory dwelling unit may be within, attached to, or
14
detached from a single-family dwelling and may be created by converting an
15
existing structure.
SB473,3,22
16
(b) Notwithstanding sub. (2) and subject to par. (c), an ordinance under this
17
section shall allow as a permitted use at least one accessory dwelling unit on each
18
parcel that is zoned for residential use or mixed use on which an existing single-
19
family dwelling is located. Under this paragraph, a permitted use is a use of
20
property that complies with all requirements of the zoning district in which the
21
property is located and for which no conditional use, variance, or special review or
22
approval is required for the accessory dwelling unit.
SB473,3,23
23
(c) An ordinance under this section may do any of the following;
SB473,4,2
1
1. Limit the size of an accessory dwelling unit to not larger than the square
2
footage of the existing single-family dwelling on the same parcel.
SB473,4,5
3
2. Limit the height of an accessory dwelling unit, other than an accessory
4
dwelling unit that is a conversion of an existing legal nonconforming structure, to
5
not greater than the maximum height permitted in the underlying zoning district.
SB473,4,7
6
3. Require that an accessory dwelling unit satisfy current setback and lot
7
coverage requirements.
SB473,4,10
8
4. Notwithstanding s. 66.1014, prohibit the use of an accessory dwelling unit
9
created on a parcel after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date],
10
as a short-term rental, as defined in s. 66.0615 (1) (dk).
SB473,3
11
Section
3
.
62.23 (7) (j) of the statutes is created to read:
SB473,4,18
12
62.23
(7)
(j)
Accessory dwelling units.
1. In this paragraph, “accessory
13
dwelling unit” means a residential dwelling unit that is located on the same parcel
14
as an existing single-family dwelling and that provides complete independent living
15
facilities for one or more persons and has an entrance separate from the existing
16
single-family dwelling. An accessory dwelling unit may be within, attached to, or
17
detached from a single-family dwelling and may be created by converting an
18
existing structure.
SB473,5,2
19
2. Notwithstanding par. (b) and subject to subd. 3., an ordinance under this
20
section shall allow as a permitted use at least one accessory dwelling unit on each
21
parcel that is zoned for residential use or mixed use on which an existing single-
22
family dwelling is located. Under this paragraph, a permitted use is a use of
23
property that complies with all requirements of the zoning district in which the
1
property is located and for which no conditional use, variance, or special review or
2
approval is required for the accessory dwelling unit.
SB473,5,3
3
3. An ordinance under this section may do any of the following;
SB473,5,5
4
a. Limit the size of an accessory dwelling unit to not larger than the square
5
footage of the existing single-family dwelling on the same parcel.
SB473,5,8
6
b. Limit the height of an accessory dwelling unit, other than an accessory
7
dwelling unit that is a conversion of an existing legal nonconforming structure, to
8
not greater than the maximum height permitted in the underlying zoning district.
SB473,5,10
9
c. Require that an accessory dwelling unit satisfy current setback and lot
10
coverage requirements.
SB473,5,13
11
d. Notwithstanding s. 66.1014, prohibit the use of an accessory dwelling unit
12
created on a parcel after the effective date of this subd. 3. d. .... [LRB inserts date],
13
as a short-term rental, as defined in s. 66.0615 (1) (dk).
SB473,4
14
Section
4
. Effective date.
SB473,5,16
15
(
1
)
This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after
16
publication.
SB473,5,17
17
(end)
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true
proposaltext
/2025/related/proposals/sb473
proposaltext/2025/REG/SB473
proposaltext/2025/REG/SB473
section
true
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