For the purpose of this chapter, certain words or phrases shall have meanings that either vary somewhat from their customary dictionary meanings or are intended to be interpreted to have a specific meaning. Words used in the present tense include the future. The word "person" includes a firm, association, partnership, trust, company, or corporation as well as an individual. The word "shall" is mandatory, the word "should" is advisory, and the word "may" is permissive. Any words not defined in this article shall be presumed to have their customary dictionary definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE
A use or structure customarily incidental to another use or structure and on the same lot or parcel as the principal use or structure.
ACCESS STRIP
Any portion of a parcel that is 33 feet or less in width.
AGRICULTURAL USE
As provided in § 91.01(2), Wis. Stats., any of the following:
A. 
Any of the following activities conducted for the purpose of producing an income or livelihood:
(1) 
Crop or forage production.
(2) 
Keeping livestock.
(3) 
Beekeeping.
(4) 
Nursery, sod, or Christmas tree production.
(5) 
Floriculture.
(6) 
Aquaculture.
(7) 
Fur farming.
(8) 
Forest management.
(9) 
Enrolling land in a federal agricultural commodity payment program or a federal or state agricultural land conservation payment program.
B. 
Any other use that the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, by rule, identifies as an agricultural use.
ANIMAL UNIT
One animal unit is equivalent to one cow, steer, horse, swine, llama, alpaca, deer, elk, buffalo and other animals similar by size and weight or two sheep or goats or five dogs, cats or other similar animals or 20 mink, rabbits, chickens, or similar animals and 5,000 pounds of fish. For young stock, divide the type of animals by two to determine animal unit equivalents [for example: two calves divided by two equals one cow (one cow equals one animal unit)].
BASEMENT
That portion of a dwelling below the first floor or ground floor with its entire floor below average grade, including walkout basements.
BOARDINGHOUSE
A building, other than a hotel, restaurant or a community-based residential facility, where meals or lodging is regularly furnished for compensation for three or more persons not members of a family, but not exceeding 12 persons and not open to transient customers.
BOATHOUSE
Any structure designed for the purpose of protecting or storing boats for noncommercial purposes. Boathouses do not involve human habitation.
BUILDING
Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having a roof or other covering and designed or used for the shelter or enclosure of any person, animal, equipment, machinery, materials, or property of any kind.
CAMPGROUND
A contiguous parcel of land upon which three or more recreational vehicles are placed, located or parked.
CAMPING
Temporary recreational occupancy of a parcel for more than 24 hours utilizing a camping unit or recreational vehicle as a means of shelter.
CAMPING UNIT
Includes recreational vehicles. The basic entities are: conventional travel trailer, popup-type camping trailer, truck camper, motor home and tent.
CAR WASH
A lot on, or structure in, which motor vehicles are washed or waxed, either by a patron or by others, using equipment or machinery specially designed for the purpose.
CLASS A HIGHWAYS
All state and federal highways.
CLASS B HIGHWAYS
All County trunks.
CLASS C HIGHWAYS
All town roads, public streets and highways not otherwise classified.
CLINIC
A place where doctors or dentists provide medical or dental care to people on an outpatient basis.
COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITY (CBRF)
A place where three or more unrelated adults reside in which care, treatment or services above the level of room and board are provided to persons residing in the facility, but not including nursing home.
CONDITIONAL USES
Uses which, because of their unique characteristics, cannot be properly classified in any particular district or districts without consideration in each case of the impact of these uses upon neighboring land and of the public need for the particular uses in the particular location.
CORNER LOT
A lot abutting two or more streets at their intersection where the interior angle formed by the street intersection is less than 135°. Any such lot shall be considered to have two front yards.
DAY-CARE CENTER
A licensed facility where a person, other than relative or guardian, provides care and supervision for four or more children under seven years of age, for less than 24 hours a day and for compensation.
DISTRICT
A part or parts of the County for which the regulations of this chapter are uniform.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Any animal typically or atypically kept as a pet not for harvest of any sort.
DRIVE-IN ESTABLISHMENT
A business establishment whose principal retail or service character depends upon providing a driveway approach or motor vehicle parking space to serve patrons while in their motor vehicles or to permit in-vehicle consumption of food or beverage obtained from the business establishment by the patron.
EFFECTIVE DATE
The date this chapter became effective in the particular town.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Services provided by public and private utilities, necessary for the exercise of a principal use or service of the principal structure. These services include underground, surface, or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water, sanitary sewerage, stormwater drainage, and communication systems. Accessories, such as poles, towers, wires, mains, drains, vaults, culverts, laterals, sewers, pipes, catch basins, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, pumps, lift stations, and hydrants, but not including buildings greater than 150 square feet in area, are also included.
FARM
All land under common ownership primarily devoted to agricultural use.
FARM CONSOLIDATION
The combination of two or more farms to create a smaller number of farms.
FARM FAMILY BUSINESS
A business operated by the owner or operator, or resident family member of the owner or operator, of a farm, that is not associated with an agricultural use, that requires no buildings, structures, or improvements other than those described in § 91.01(1)(a) or (c), Wis. Stats., that employs no more than four full-time nonfamily employees annually, and that does not impair or limit the current or future agricultural use of the farm or of other protected farmland.
FARM RESIDENCE
A single-family or duplex residence that is the only residential structure on the farm or is occupied by any of the following:
A. 
The owner or operator of the farm.
B. 
A parent or child of the owner or operator of the farm.
C. 
An individual who earns more than 50% of his or her gross income from the farm.
FEED LOT
A lot or facility used or proposed to be used for the confined feeding or holding of animals, exceeding 25 animal units per acre, for 30 or more continuous days per year on a twenty-four-hour per day basis.
FENCE
A barrier made of wood, iron, stone, or other materials.
FRONTAGE
The smallest dimension of a lot abutting a public street measured along the street right-of-way line.
FRONT LOT LINE
A line dividing a lot from any public highway or street, except a limited or controlled access highway to which the lot has no access.
FRONT YARD
A front yard extends across the full width of the lot, the depth of which is measured at right angles from the existing or proposed street or highway right-of-way line to the nearest point of the principal structure.
FUR-BEARING ANIMAL
Any animal raised or held in captivity that is typically raised for the purpose of harvesting the pelt, whether or not it is the intent to harvest the particular pelt(s).
GARAGE, PRIVATE
A structure, including carports, primarily intended and used for the enclosed storage or shelter of the private motor vehicles of the resident families.
GARAGE, PUBLIC OR COMMERCIAL
Any garage other than a private garage.
HEIGHT
The vertical distance from the highest point of a structure, excepting any chimney or antenna on a building, to the average ground level where the walls or other structural elements intersect the ground.
HOME OCCUPATION
Any occupation for gain or support conducted entirely within a residential structure by its occupant. The use is incidental to the principal use of the premises, does not exceed 20% of the total floor area, employs no more than one nonresident employee, uses only household equipment, and does not keep or sell stock-in-trade except that made on the premises. A home occupation includes uses such as, but not limited to, baby-sitting, millinery, dressmaking, canning, laundering, music teaching to not more than two pupils at one time, and crafts, but does not include the display of any goods visible from the street nor such use as barber or beauty shops, dance schools, real estate brokerage, or photographic studios.
HOTEL
A structure designed, used, or offered for residential occupancy for any period less than one month, including tourist homes and motels but not including hospitals or nursing homes.
JUNKYARD
An area consisting of buildings, structures, or premises where junk waste or discarded or salvaged materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, packed, disassembled, or handled, including house wrecking and structural steel materials, and equipment yards, but not including auto salvage yards.
KENNEL
Any activity involving the permanent or temporary keeping or treatment of a greater number of domestic/pet animals than permitted in any residential zoning district.
LIVESTOCK
Any horse, bovine, sheep, llama or other ruminants, goat, pig or domestic fowl, fish or other animal whether or not raised for harvest of any sort, including fur-bearing animals and game fowl raised in captivity.
LOADING AREA
An off-street space, on the same lot with the building or group of buildings it serves, for the temporary parking of a commercial vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.
LOT
A parcel of land having frontage on a public street, occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal structure or use and sufficient in size to meet the lot width, lot frontage, lot area, yard, parking area, and other open space provisions of this chapter.
LOT AREA
The total area within the lot lines of the lot or parcel, except that any portion of a lot less than 33 feet wide shall not be used in computing lot area.
LOT LINE
A line marking a boundary of a lot.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure that is designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation and that is certified by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development as complying with the standards established under 42 U.S.C. §§ 5401 to 5424, and includes any additions, annexes, foundations and appurtenances. A HUD-inspected, factory-constructed, portable dwelling unit assembled on or after June 15, 1976, and having a minimum width of 14 feet and a minimum 720 square feet of living area. It must be built to the Federal HUD Code (24 CFR Part 3280). It must be installed in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code, § 321.40. Beginning 6-19-2018, the following manufactured home requirements shall apply:
A. 
Must have a pitched roof; and
B. 
Must have residential siding, such as vinyl, wood, composite or newly engineered products
MANUFACTURED HOME LOT
A designated parcel of land in a manufactured home park designed for the long-term accommodation of one manufactured home, its accessory buildings or structures, and accessory equipment for the exclusive use of the occupants.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK
A contiguous parcel of land upon which two or more manufactured homes are placed, located or parked.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK ACCESSORY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
A building or structure which is in addition to or supplements the facilities provided a manufactured home. It is not a self-contained, separate, habitable building or structure. Examples are awnings, cabanas, ramadas, storage structures, carports, fences, windbreaks, or porches.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK MANAGEMENT
The person who owns or has charge, care, or control of the manufactured home park.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK STORAGE STRUCTURE
A structure located in a manufactured home park which is designed and used solely for the storage and use of personal equipment and possessions of the manufactured home occupants.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK STREET
A private way which affords principal means of access to individual manufactured home or recreational vehicle lots or auxiliary buildings.
MOBILE HOME
Beginning 6-19-2018, mobile homes will no longer be allowed to be placed. A portable dwelling unit constructed prior to June 15, 1976, having an overall length in excess of 27 feet or a body width of more than eight feet designed to be towed on its own chassis (comprised of frame and wheels) as a single unit upon a highway by a motor vehicle and equipped and used or intended to be used for residential occupancy and designed to be connected to utilities, excluding, however, recreational vehicles. Any such vehicle or structure shall be deemed a mobile home whether or not the frame and/or wheels have been removed therefrom and whether or not resting upon a temporary or permanent foundation.
MODULAR HOME
Any structure or component thereof which is intended for use as a dwelling and:
A. 
Is of closed construction and fabricated or assembled on site or off site in manufacturing facilities for installation, connection, or assembly and installation at the building site; or
B. 
Is a building of open construction which is made or assembled in manufacturing facilities away from the building site for installation, connection, or assembly and installation on the building site and for which certification is sought by the manufacturer.
MULTIPLE-FAMILY DWELLING
A residential structure designed for or occupied by three or more families. The number of families in residence may not exceed the number of dwelling units provided.
NONCONFORMING USES, LOTS OR STRUCTURES
Those which do not conform to a provision or requirement of this chapter but which were lawfully established prior to the effective date of this chapter or of an amendment to this chapter. A use that does not conform to the use regulations of the district in which it is located is a nonconforming use. Any structure conforming in respect to use but not in respect to frontage, width, height, area, yard, parking, loading, or setback requirements is a nonconforming structure and not a nonconforming use. A lot of record that does not conform to the minimum lot width or area requirements of the district in which it is located is a nonconforming lot.
NUISANCE
A. 
An unreasonable activity or use of property that interferes substantially with the comfortable enjoyment of life, health, or safety of others.
B. 
A substance or condition that is known to have the potential to cause acute or chronic illness or death if exposure to the substance, activity or condition is not abated.
NURSING HOME
A place which provides twenty-four-hour services including board and room to three or more unrelated residents who because of their mental or physical condition require nursing care or personal care in excess of seven hours a week, unless the facility has been designated as a community-based residential facility.
ORDINARY HIGH-WATER MARK
The point on the bank or shore up to which the presence and action of surface water is so continuous as to leave a distinctive mark, such as by erosion, destruction or prevention of terrestrial vegetation, predominance of aquatic vegetation or other easily recognized characteristics.
PARKING LOT
A structure or premises containing parking spaces open to the public.
PARK MODEL TRAILERS
Recreation vehicles primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreation, camping or seasonal use. They are built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels and have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the setup mode. They require registration, tags and insurance. Two different types of park model trailers are offered. One type is less than eight feet six inches in width and is designed for frequent travel on highways, while the other and more-popular type is wider than eight feet (usually 12 feet in width) and must be transported with special movement permits from the State Department of Transportation. Park model trailers are typically commercially constructed, and the manufacturer certifies them compliant with ANSI A119.5 standards for recreational park trailers. Park model trailers are allowed only in licensed campgrounds.
PARTIES IN INTEREST
Include all abutting property owners and all property owners within 300 feet of the subject property boundary.
PASSIVE RECREATION AREA
An area set aside, developed, and landscaped for sedentary activities, hiking, walking, driving for pleasure, sightseeing nature walks, fishing, and similar activities.
PRIMARY FLOOR AREA
The floor area of a building for purposes of determining required parking ratios, which area shall include only that portion of the total floor area devoted to customer service, sales, and office space and shall not include storage, utility, hallway, and other accessory space which does not generate parking demand.
PROFESSIONAL HOME OFFICES
Residences used to conduct the professions of doctors of medicine, dentists, nurse practitioners, clergymen, architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, professional land surveyors, lawyers, artists, teachers, authors, musicians, or other recognized professions. The office shall not exceed 20% of the total floor area of any one story of the residence, and only one nonresident person may be employed.
REAR LOT LINE
A lot line which is located opposite of a front lot line and which is not a front lot line.
REAR YARD
The yard extending across the full width of the lot whose depth is measured from the rear lot line to the nearest point of the principal structure. This yard shall be opposite the front yard or one of the front yards on a corner lot.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK
A contiguous parcel of land upon which three or more recreational vehicles are placed, located or parked.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (SELF-CONTAINED)
A recreational vehicle manufactured with water supply and sewage holding tanks which are an integral part of the recreational vehicle and having an overall length of 45 feet or less and a body width of eight feet six inches or less, primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle. The basic entities are: conventional travel trailer, popup-type camping trailer, truck camper and motor home.
RETAIL USE
The sale of goods to end users, not for resale, but for use and consumption by the purchaser.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
The recorded strip of land over which highways and railroads are constructed which includes the actual traveled way, ditches and keep-clear areas.
SALVAGE YARD
Any place which is owned, maintained, operated or used for storing, keeping, processing, buying or selling junk vehicles or vehicle parts, including vehicle graveyards, vehicle wrecking yards, vehicle recycling yards, used vehicle parts yards and temporary storage of vehicle bodies or parts awaiting disposal as a normal part of a business operation when the business will continually have like materials located on the premises. Keeping or storing of two or more unlicensed or unregistered, as appropriate, vehicles on a single parcel of land shall be considered a vehicle salvage yard.
SETBACK
The required distance between a structure and any lot line for the lot on which it is located.
SIDE LOT LINE
Any lot line which is not a front or a rear lot line.
SIDE YARD
One whose depth is measured from the side lot line to the nearest point of the principal structure.
SIGN
Any words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names, or trademarks by which anything is made known, which are used to advertise or promote an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession, business, commodity, or product, and which are visible from any public street or highway.
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING
A detached structure designed for and exclusively occupied by one family and containing a minimum of 720 square feet of livable floor area, with at least one portion able to contain a square 24 feet on a side. Single-family dwellings include manufactured dwellings, conventional site-constructed dwellings, site-assembled panel constructed dwellings and sectional manufactured homes. Single-family dwellings do not include rooming or boarding houses, community-based residential facilities, fraternity or sorority homes, or similar uses, or nonsectional manufactured homes.
STREET
A public right-of-way providing access to abutting properties.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
Any changes in the supporting members of a structure, such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams, or girders.
STRUCTURE
Any erection or construction, such as buildings, building additions and appurtenances, towers, masts, poles, fences, booms, signs, decorations, machinery, equipment and ponds.
SUBSTANTIAL WORK COMMENCED
50% or more of the project is complete.
TEMPORARY RENT OR LEASE
The renting or leasing of residential property for a period of 30 continuous days or less.
TINY HOME
A portable shelter structure built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels and allowed to be transported on public roadways. No vehicle registration, tags or insurance is required. Tiny homes are often noncommercially constructed. Tiny homes are allowed only in licensed campgrounds.
TOTAL FLOOR AREA
The gross floor area of a building, enclosed by walls and roof, including all floor levels including the basement except for crawl space floor.
TWO-FAMILY DWELLING
A detached structure containing two separate living units and designed for occupancy by not more than two families.
USE CONSISTENT WITH AGRICULTURAL USE
Any activity that meets all of the following conditions:
A. 
The activity will not convert land that has been devoted primarily to agricultural use.
B. 
The activity will not limit the surrounding land's potential for agricultural use.
C. 
The activity will not conflict with agricultural operations on the land subject to a farmland preservation agreement.
D. 
The activity will not conflict with agricultural operations on other properties.
UTILITIES
Include public and private utility uses such as water wells, water and sewage pumping stations, water storage tanks, power and communication transmission lines, booster stations, electrical power substations, static transformer stations, telephone and telegraph exchanges, microwave radio relays, and gas regulation stations, but not including wastewater treatment plants, or municipal incinerators, warehouses, shops, and storage yards.
VEHICLE
A self-propelled mode of transportation; basic entities include but are not necessarily limited to automobile, truck, van, motor home, motorcycle, boat, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile.
YARD
An open space which is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for vegetation, and is on the same lot or parcel with a structure. The front and rear yards extend the full width of the lot.