A. 
For the purpose of determining the distance buildings and other structures shall be set back from the street and highways, the highways of Adams County are divided into the following classes:
(1) 
Class A highways.
(a) 
All state and federal highways are hereby designated as Class A highways.
(b) 
The setback from Class A highways shall be 110 feet from the center line of the highway or 50 feet from the right-of-way line, whichever is greater.
(2) 
Class B highways.
(a) 
All County trunks are hereby designated as Class B highways.
(b) 
The setback from Class B highways shall be 83 feet from the center line of such highway or 50 feet from the right-of-way line, whichever is greater.
(3) 
Class C highways.
(a) 
All town roads, public streets and highways not otherwise classified are hereby designated as Class C highways.
(b) 
The setback from Class C highways shall be 63 feet from the center line of such highway or 30 feet from the right-of-way line, whichever is greater.
B. 
Visual clearance triangle.
(1) 
In each quadrant of every public street intersection there shall be a visual clearance triangle bounded by the street center lines and a line connecting points on them 300 feet from a Class A highway intersection, 200 feet from a Class B highway intersection and 150 feet from a Class C highway intersection.
(2) 
Objects permitted within highway setback lines and visual clearance triangles:
(a) 
Open fences.
(b) 
Telephone and power transmission poles, lines and pedestals.
(c) 
The planting and harvesting of field crops, shrubbery and trees except that no trees, shrubbery or crops shall be planted within a visual clearance triangle so as to obstruct the view.
C. 
Setbacks from private roads and access easements. When serving more than one residence or parcel, the setback shall be 30 feet from the described private road or easement; in case of a private road or easement that does not have a legal description, 30 feet from the nearest point on the edge of the traveled way.
A. 
Building setbacks are established to conform to health, safety and welfare requirements, preserve natural beauty, reduce flood hazards and avoid water pollution. All buildings and structures shall be set back at least 75 feet from the ordinary high-water mark of navigable waters. Exceptions: Boathouses, stairways, walkways, piers, and patios may require a lesser setback.
NOTE: There are increased setbacks and other zoning restrictions in some areas. Retaining walls are prohibited within the seventy-five-foot setback area. In situations where overlapping setbacks (e.g., road and water) exist, a variance is required.
(1) 
Stairs, elevated walkways and rail systems and that portion of piers landward of the ordinary high-water mark are exempted from the shoreline setback requirement provided:
(a) 
The structure is necessary to access the shoreline because of steep slopes or wet, unstable soils.
(b) 
The structure shall be located so as to minimize earth disturbing activities and shoreline vegetation removal during construction and to be visually inconspicuous as viewed from the adjacent waterways and public thoroughfares.
(c) 
The structure shall be no more than five feet wide.
(d) 
Structures shall be inconspicuously colored.
(e) 
Railings are permitted only where required by safety concerns.
(f) 
Canopies and roofs on such structures are prohibited.
(g) 
Stairways shall be supported on piles or footings rather than being excavated from erodible soils or steep slopes.
(h) 
Landings for stairways or docks are permitted only where required by safety concerns and shall not exceed 40 square feet in area.
(i) 
Stairway and landing structures shall be a minimum of six inches above average grade at the lowest point.
(j) 
Measures shall be taken to prevent erosion of the area beneath stairs and landings. An erosion control plan shall define the measures and a long-term maintenance plan approved by Adams County shall be included with the zoning permit application and implemented upon completion of the project.
(k) 
Elevated walkways over shore wetland areas must be installed in a manner involving the least amount of wetland disturbance possible.
(2) 
Patios. The Planning and Zoning Department shall grant special zoning permission for the construction or placement of a structure on property in a shoreland setback area if all of the following apply (see Article V, Mitigation):
(a) 
The part of the structure that is nearest to the water is located at least 35 feet landward from the ordinary high-water mark.
(b) 
Total area of all structures in the shoreland setback area of the property will not exceed 200 square feet. In calculating this square footage, boathouses shall be excluded.
(c) 
The structure that is the subject of the request for special zoning permission has no sides or has open or screened sides.
(d) 
Adams County shall approve a plan that will be implemented by the owner of the property to preserve or establish a vegetative buffer zone that covers at least 70% of the half of the shoreland setback area that is nearest to the water.
(3) 
Boathouses. Located entirely above the ordinary high-water mark and entirely within the access and viewing corridor that do not contain plumbing and are not used for human habitation.
(a) 
The construction or placement of boathouses below the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable waters shall be prohibited.
(b) 
Boathouses shall be designed and constructed solely for the storage of boats and related equipment.
(c) 
One boathouse is permitted on a lot as an accessory structure.
(d) 
Boathouses shall be constructed in conformity with local floodplain zoning standards.
(e) 
Boathouses shall not exceed one story and 450 square feet in area.
(f) 
New boathouse (constructed after January 4, 2017) roofs shall have a pitched roof that is no flatter than 4/12 pitch, and shall not be designed or used as decks, observation platforms or for other similar uses.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Ord. No. 8-2019]
(g) 
Boathouse eaves (roof overhang) shall not exceed 24 inches.
(h) 
Boathouse walls shall not exceed a height of 10 feet above lowest finished grade.
(i) 
Boathouses shall meet the minimum side yard setbacks for a structure of the applicable zoning district.
(j) 
Subdued earth-toned color shall be required for all exterior surfaces of a boathouse.
(k) 
The main door shall face the water and one service door not exceeding 38 inches is allowed.
(l) 
Patio doors, fireplaces, plumbing and other features inconsistent with the use of the structure exclusively as a boathouse are not permitted.
(m) 
Use of a boathouse for habitation by humans or animals is prohibited.
(n) 
Boathouses shall be placed entirely within the view/access corridor.
(o) 
Existing boathouse: The roof may be used as a deck, provided that:
[Added 4-17-2019 by Ord. No. 8-2019]
[1] 
The boathouse has a flat roof.
[2] 
The roof has no side wags or screens.
[3] 
The roof shall have a railing and access stairs that meet the Department of Safety and professional services standards.
(4) 
Other exemptions.
(a) 
Broadcast signal receivers, including satellite dishes or antennas that are one meter or less in diameter and satellite earth station antennas that are two meters or less in diameter.
(b) 
Utility transmission and distribution lines, poles, towers, water towers, pumping stations, well pumphouse covers, private on-site wastewater treatment systems that comply with Ch. SPS 383, Wis. Adm. Code, and other utility structures that have no feasible alternative location outside of the minimum setback and that employ best management practices to infiltrate or otherwise control stormwater runoff from the structure.
(c) 
Devices or systems used to treat runoff from impervious surfaces.
B. 
Existing exempt structures. Existing exempt structures may be maintained, repaired, replaced, restored, rebuilt and remodeled provided the activity does not expand the footprint and does not go beyond the three-dimensional building envelope of the existing structure. Expansion of a structure beyond the existing footprint may be allowed if the expansion is necessary to comply with applicable state or federal requirements. Mitigation is not required.
C. 
Livestock shall be prohibited closer than 35 feet to any navigable water body with the exception of a stream crossing that meets United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service Standard 578, Stream Crossing, and does not exceed 10 feet in width.
A. 
Basic requirements.
(1) 
Height. All buildings and structures shall comply with the applicable zoning district requirements; however, to protect and preserve wildlife habitat and natural scenic beauty, on or after February 1, 2010, any construction that results in a structure taller than 35 feet within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable waters is prohibited.
(2) 
To protect and preserve wildlife habitat and natural scenic beauty, on or after February 1, 2010, a county may not permit any construction that result in a structure taller than 35 feet within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable waters.
(3) 
Structure height is the measurement of the vertical line segment starting at the lowest point of any exposed wall and its intersect with the ground to a line horizontal to the highest point of a structure, unless specified under other sections of this chapter.
B. 
Setbacks.
(1) 
All buildings and structures shall be set back per the applicable zoning district yard requirements, including a minimum seventy-five-foot setback from the ordinary high-water mark.
(2) 
Zoning district yard setback exceptions.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Ord. No. 8-2019]
(a) 
Residential fences, hedges, and tree plantings are permitted along the inside of property lines or in the yards of residential districts.
[1] 
Residential fences shall not exceed a height of six feet. No height limitation shall be placed on tree plantings or hedges.
[2] 
The finished side of the fence must face to the outside if abutting a road right-of-way.
(b) 
Security fences are permitted along the property lines in all districts but shall not exceed 10 feet in height and shall be of an open type similar to woven wire or wrought iron fencing.
(c) 
Farm-related fencing is permitted along the property lines or in the yards of General Purpose Districts provided that a substantial impediment to visibility is not thereby created.
(d) 
Vegetation and certain accessory structures used for landscaping and decorating in the required front, rear and side yards. Structures and vegetation include, but are not limited to, flagpoles, ornamental light standards, ornamental ponds and fountains, lawn furniture, sundials, birdbaths, trees, shrubs and flowers.
(e) 
Signs as permitted in Article XIX.
A. 
Reduced principal structure setback. A setback less than the seventy-five-foot required setback from the ordinary high-water mark shall be permitted for a proposed principal structure and shall be determined as follows:
(1) 
Where there are existing principal structures in both directions, the setback shall equal the average of the distances the two existing principal structures are set back from the ordinary high-water mark provided all of the following are met:
(a) 
Both of the existing principal structures are located on adjacent lot to the proposed principal structure.
(b) 
Both of the existing principal structures are located within 250 feet of the proposed principal structure and are the closest structure.
(c) 
Both of the existing principal structures are located less than 75 feet from the ordinary high-water mark.
(d) 
The average setback shall not be reduced to less than 35 feet from the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable water.
(2) 
Where there is an existing principal structure in only one direction, the setback shall equal the average distance the existing principal structure is set back from the ordinary high-water mark and the required setback of 75 feet from the ordinary high-water mark provided all of the following are met:
(a) 
The existing principal structure is located on adjacent lot to the proposed principal structure.
(b) 
The existing principal structure is located within 250 feet of the proposed principal structure and is the closest structure.
(c) 
The existing principal structure is located less than 75 feet from the ordinary high-water mark.
(d) 
The average setback shall not be reduced to less than 35 feet from the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable water.
Any such required setback area shall be kept clean and free from the accumulation of debris and refuse. Such required setback areas shall not be used for the storage or display of equipment, products, vehicles, or other materials for a period to exceed six consecutive months.
The following use restrictions and regulations shall apply:
A. 
Only those principal uses specified for a district and their essential services shall be permitted in that district.
B. 
Only one principal structure shall be located, erected or moved onto a lot, except in the General Purpose District, a permitted manufactured home park or an approved and platted condominium.
C. 
Customary accessory uses and structures are permitted in any district. Accessory structures, including those for storage or occasional use such as hunting quarters, shall not consist of truck bodies, recreational vehicles, or mobile or manufactured homes. Residential accessory uses shall not involve the conduct of any business, trade, or industry, except in a residential district, home occupations and professional home offices are permitted.
D. 
Special exceptions and their accessory uses are considered as special uses requiring review, public hearing, and approval by the Board of Adjustment in accordance with § 396-84 of this chapter.
E. 
The regular outside parking of more than one truck, other than panel or pickup trucks, or of other vehicular equipment, which exceeds 30 feet in length, shall be prohibited in all residential districts.
F. 
Unclassified or unspecified uses shall not be permitted until the Board of Adjustment has reviewed and approved an application in accordance with the requirements of § 396-84 of this chapter.
G. 
Temporary uses, such as real estate sales field offices or shelters for materials and equipment being used in the construction of a permanent structure, are permitted upon obtaining a permit from the Planning and Zoning Department.
H. 
No lot, yard, parking area, building area, or other space shall be reduced in area or dimension so that it does not meet the provisions of this chapter. No part of any lot, yard, parking area, or other space required for a structure or use shall be used for any other structure or use.
The County shall review, pursuant to § 236.45, Wis. Stats., all land divisions in shoreland areas which create three or more parcels or building sites of five acres each or less within a five-year period. In such review all of the following factors shall be considered:
A. 
Hazards to the health, safety or welfare of future residents.
B. 
Proper relationship to adjoining areas.
C. 
Public access to navigable waters, as required by law.
D. 
Adequate stormwater drainage facilities.
E. 
Conformity to state law and Administrative Code provisions.
The County shall enforce sanitary regulations for the protection of health and the preservation and enhancement of water quality.
A. 
Where public water supply systems are not available, private well construction shall be required to conform to Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code.
B. 
Where a public sewage collection and treatment system is not available, design and construction of a private on-site waste treatment system shall, prior to July 1, 1980, be required to comply with Ch. SPS 383, Wis. Adm. Code, and after June 30, 1980 be governed by a private sewage system ordinance adopted by the County under § 59.70(5), Wis. Stats.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 294, Sewers and Sewage Disposal, Art. I, Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems.