Frequently Asked Questions

The zoning can be found on the Planning/Zoning Department's webpage. Click on the "map gallery" category on the left hand side of the page, and then scroll down to the zoning maps.

First you must determine the zoning district where the property is located. If your property is located in a standard zoning district setbacks can be found in the Chapter 22 Zoning Ordinance. If your property is located in the Planned Development District (PDD) or SmartCode - New Community (SC-NC) Districts, please contact Planning & Zoning staff.

Setbacks are measured from the property line into the interior of the lot where the structure or building will be placed. Please note, structures cannot be placed in any easements or buffers.

To obtain written verification of a property zoning designation you will need to complete the Zoning Letter Request form and mail in with a check in the amount of $25.00 for 2014 made payable to the City of Fitchburg addressed to: City of Fitchburg Planning/Zoning Department 5520 Lacy Road Fitchburg, WI 53711

When subdivisions are recorded, covenants and restrictions may be placed on plats which place certain restrictions of properties within the subdivision. These are private restrictions that the City does not enforce or maintain. Please check with your Neighborhood Association to obtain a current copy.

The Fitchburg Zoning Ordinance allows for some household occupations with the following standards: - The activity must be clearly secondary and incidental to residential use. - The activity must not significant alter the residential character of the dwelling unit, dwelling structure or the parcel. - The activity must not unreasonably interfere with residential occupancy of other parcels in the neighborhood. - The activity must not create environmental, safety or health hazards such as noise, light, odors, vibrations, electrical emissions, or other fire or safety hazards that are noticeably out of character with those produced by normal residential occupancy. - Traffic generated by the vocational activity may not exceed that which is customary to residential occupancies in the neighborhood. - Signage for the vocational activity will be governed by the sign ordinance. - The parcel and structure must contain adequate area to accommodate the vocational activity without interfering with residential occupancy of other parcels in the neighborhood. - Garage sales as a type of vocational activity are allowable in all residential districts provided that not more than two are held on a single premises per year and that each such sale shall not exceed four days in duration. - Day care is allowable as a vocational activity on a residential premises. Conditional use approval will be required, however, if Wis. Stats. 66.1017 apply.