General Zoning
1. Who do I contact with zoning questions within the City of Marshfield?
2. How do I find out the zoning of my property?
3. What are my building setbacks and yard requirements?
4. Do I need a permit for a fence?
5. Can I file an appeal from the decision of the Zoning Administrator or
request a variance to Zoning Ordinance requirements?
6. Can I operate a business from my residence?
Zoning Complaints & Inspections
1. Who enforces the zoning ordinance?
2. How are violations discovered?
3. Who do I notify if I suspect a zoning violation?
4. Do I have to give my name?
5. Can I call back for results of inspection?
6. What will happen if a zoning violation is found?
General Zoning
1. Who do I contact with zoning questions within the
City of Marshfield?
Contact the Zoning Administrator @ (715)
486-2075, or visit the Department of Planning & Economic Development, located on
the 6th floor of City Hall Plaza, 630 S. Central Avenue, Marshfield,
Wisconsin, 54449.
2. How do I find out the zoning of my property?
You can find out how your property is zoned
by calling the Zoning Administrator, visiting the department offices, or using
the City’s internet GIS application on the web site at
ci.marshfield.wi.us.
3. What are my building setbacks and yard requirements?
A building setback is the required distance
that a building (structure) must be located from the property lines. Typically,
setbacks and yard requirements are determined by your zoning classification;
therefore, you would need to verify the zoning of your property.
4. Do I need a permit for a fence?
Yes, a building permit is required for a
fence and there are height restrictions. Generally, the height of a fence in
residential districts is restricted to six (6) feet in the side and rear yards.
If the fence will be in any part of the front or side street side yard, you
should contact the Zoning Administrator for details on height and design
restrictions.
5. Can I file an appeal from the decision of the Zoning
Administrator or request a variance to Zoning Ordinance requirements?
Yes. Any decision or determination made by
the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals when it
is alleged that there was an error made by the Administrator. In addition, the
Board may grant dimensional or area type regulations of the zoning ordinance
when complying with the ordinance would create an “unnecessary hardship”. An
application for an appeal or variance request may be obtained on the
department’s web page or at the Department of Planning & Economic Development
office. Applications must be complete and include the required filing fee before
the application will be accepted.
6. Can I operate a business from my residence?
Yes, under certain limitations. Detailed
information must be provided to the Zoning Administrator to determine if the
home-based business qualifies under the zoning provisions.
Zoning Complaints & Inspections
The City of Marshfield’s
zoning ordinance helps protect property values by preventing the location of
incompatible uses in close proximity to one another, and by requiring certain
design standards for various uses. The ordinance regulates the location, height
and bulk of structures, the percent of lot coverage, setbacks, off-street
parking and driveway design standards, development density and the uses of
buildings, structures and land within the city limits.
1. Who enforces the zoning ordinance?
The Zoning Administrator (ZA)
of the City of Marshfield is required by law to enforce violations of the zoning
ordinance.
2. How are violations discovered?
There are four ways that the Zoning Administrator generally becomes aware of
a violation:
Direct Observation - The Zoning Administrator notices some
building or development that was not permitted. For example, the Zoning
Administrator may drive by a house and see a new porch or garage that was
built without a permit.
Complaint - A good number of violations are brought to the
attention of the Zoning Administrator by a neighbor or other interested
citizen who calls to complain.
Site Visit - The Zoning Administrator may discover a zoning
violation during a site visit to the property.
Landowner - Landowner's may discover a zoning violation, prior to
the sale of a property. Some title companies require as-built surveys, and
review and verification by the Zoning Administrator to determine if the
property is in compliance with zoning regulations. Zoning violations could
affect title to property.
3. Who do I notify if I suspect a zoning violation?
Call the Zoning
Administrator @486-2075 and explain the nature of your complaint. You must
provide the address where you believe the violation is occurring. Complaints
can also be submitted in writing to: Zoning Administrator, City of Marshfield,
P.O. Box 727, Marshfield, WI 54449.
4. Do I have to give my name?
Only give your name if you
want to be notified of the inspection results.
5. Can I call back for results of inspection?
Yes. You must provide the
address and request the results of the zoning inspection.
6. What will happen if a zoning violation is found?
The owner or tenant will be
issued a notice of violation. This notice will set the compliance date by which
all violations should be corrected. If the violations are not corrected by the
compliance date, a court citation may be issued. In certain circumstances, a
court citation may be issued immediately.