How long does the development review process take?
It depends. Typically, any item that is considered a Special Use, Conditional Use or a Land Division takes anywhere from 3-8 weeks, from application submittal to final approval. A planned development or any other rezoning requires at least three to four months. The table below shows average review timelines in greater detail.
Item: Meetings (in order of appearance) (Timeline)
Special Use: Plan Commission (3 weeks)
Conditional Use: Plan Commission, Committee on Community Devp., Common Council (6-8 weeks)
Land Division: Plan Commission, Committee on Community Devp, Common Council (4-5 weeks)
Zoning Amendment: Plan Commission, Committee on Community Devp., Common Council, Committee on Community Devp., Common Council, Common Council (3 months)
Planned Development: Combination of many meetings. (Minimum 3-4 months).
Does the city have a home occupation ordinance?
Yes. While a permit is not required for a home occupation in the City of Wauwatosa, the ordinance does outline guidelines that need to be followed. For a complete description of the city's home occupation ordinance please visit the Wauwatosa Municipal Code under our links menu, scroll down to Title 24 - Zoning and Land Use, and then navigate to Section 24.02 and scroll down to Home Occupations.
What do I need to know about building a garage?
General requirements for detached garages:
Structure must be 18 inches from the side and rear lot lines (for non-corner property; side street set-back shall be 20% of lot width). If the property is located along an alley, the structure shall be 5 feet off of the alley.
Are not permitted in the front yard.
Are not permitted in the side yard set-backs.
Total footprint for detached garages cannot exceed 12% of the total lot area provided that when combined with the footprint of the principal structure (house) all buildings total no more than 37% of lot area (or 42% for a corner lot).
Detached garages over 770 square feet require one hour firewall and ceiling.
Cannot exceed 16 feet in height (measured from finished floor to the ridge of the roof). Garages or out-buildings between 16' and 20' in height are considered Special Uses and must be approved by the city plan commission.
These requirements also apply for storage sheds, or other accessory buildings.
Attached garages:
Must meet same set-back and lot coverage requirements as the principal building.
Must have frost footings
Must have fire separation.
For more information about garages including a downloadable brochure, click here.
Does the city have any fence requirements?
Yes. The maximum height of a residential fence is 4 1/2 feet in the side and rear yards. The maximum height for a fence in the front yard is 3 feet with a length limited to 20% of the lot width and 40% of the fence area must be open.
A fence may be placed up to the property line provided it meets the height limitations described above. A fence abutting an alley must be set back 18 inches from the property line.
Height exceptions: Residential properties abutting a commercial property or abutting an alley across from a commercial property may construct a fence 6 feet in height. A privacy fence may be 6 feet in height provided the fence meets the principal set-backs of the property.
Corner lots: Corner lots are a little tricky. It is important to note that the City of Wauwatosa considers the front yard to be the narrowest portion of the property fronting a street. This is regardless of the address of the property or which way the house faces. Fence height standards remain as above. Location of a fence along the side street of corner lot shall be set back 3 feet from the side street property line with landscaping in the set-back area.
Fence permits are only required for front yard fences and those fences over six feet in height abutting commercial properties and alleys.
Click here for more information and a downloadable brochure.
Where are my property lines?
Property lines can only be determined by a survey. Please note, front property lines in the city are not located at the curb or sidewalk line. They are most likely located at some point behind the sidewalk closest to your house / property. You may inquire about surveys on file at the Building & Safety division at 479-8907.
What is my property zoned?
To find out the zoning classification of your property, simply click on the Assessor's property assessment file located on the Home Page of this web site (gray box right below the Mayor's message), type in your address and all pertinent property information including zoning classification will be made available to you.
What are the set-back requirements on my property?
Set-back guidelines vary depending on where you live in the city. If you know your property's zoning classification you can look up the set-back requirements in the city zoning code which is located under the Links menu at the top of the web page (Wauwatosa Municipal Code). Once at the city code, scroll down to Title 24 - Zoning and Land Use, and navigate to the pertinent zoning district.
Is there anything I need to know about adding on to my house?
Yes. There are several items to be aware of before altering or putting an addition on to your house. First, and this cannot be emphasized enough, before you spend a lot of money on plans, materials, or anything else, make sure that the zoning and building codes will even permit such an addition in the first place. If you have an idea of what you are planning check with the planning department to see what pertinent zoning regulations apply to your property (set-backs, lot coverage, etc.). Or you can simply check the zoning regulations from the city zoning code located under the links menu. (To determine your property's zoning classification navigate to the Assessor's property assessment file located on the this web site's home page - the gray box right below the Mayor's message - and type in your address).
What is the capital of Mongolia?
The capital city of Mongolia is Ulan Bator, with an estimated population of about 1 million persons.
|
