This chapter is adopted under the authority granted by § 236.45, Wis. Stats., and amendments thereto.
This chapter shall be known as, referred to, and cited as the "Adams County Land Division Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the division of land, which includes but is not limited to consolidation of individual parcels and surveys of existing parcels; to promote public health, safety, and general welfare; to further the orderly layout and use of land; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to lessen congestion in the streets and highways; to provide for adequate light and air; to facilitate adequate provision for water, sewerage and other public requirements; to provide for proper ingress and egress; to promote proper monumenting of land subdivided and conveyancing by accurate legal description; and to ensure compliance with all applicable County ordinances and state statutes.
The provisions contained in this Land Division Ordinance shall apply throughout the unincorporated area of Adams County.
A. 
This chapter shall apply to any division of a lot, parcel or tract of land by the owner thereof or the owner's agent where the act of division creates one or more parcels, including remnant parcels, of 15 acres or less in area. A division shall include but not be limited to all consolidation of individual parcels, surveys of existing parcels, subdivision plats, county plats, certified survey maps and local review of condominiums.
B. 
Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter relating to Certified Survey Maps, consolidations or divisions shall not apply to:
(1) 
Transfers of interest in land by will or pursuant to court order;
(2) 
Leases for a term not to exceed 10 years, mortgages or easements;
(3) 
The sale or exchange of parcels of land between owners of adjoining property if additional lots are not thereby created, the lots resulting are not reduced below the minimum sizes required by this chapter or other applicable laws or ordinances and a certified survey map of the affected areas is provided to the Planning and Zoning Agency.
(4) 
Conveyances of any lands pursuant to a contract entered into by and binding on the owner thereof prior to the effective date of this chapter if such conveyance would have been in conformance with the laws existing immediately prior to the adoption hereof.
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul, impair, or interfere with any existing easements, covenants, deed restrictions, agreements, ordinances, rules, regulations, or permits previously adopted or issued pursuant to law. However, wherever this chapter imposes greater restrictions, the provisions of this chapter shall govern. A person making or filing a submittal under this chapter for the County to review or take other action on, agrees to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend Adams County, its officers, employees, agents, or contractors for any mistake, error, or omission made by the person making such filing or submittal or otherwise utilizing this chapter.
In their interpretations and applications, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements and shall be liberally construed in favor of the County and shall not be deemed a limitation or repeal of any other powers granted by Wisconsin Statutes.