Overview
Worth knowing
- Zoning ordinance from 1981 (adopted) with subdivision ordinance from 1970s
- City conducting comprehensive zoning code rewrite with updates expected 2024-2025
- Distinct fee structure: R1/R2/Conservancy/Ag = $400; MF/Office/Commercial/Industrial = $600
+ 4 more in Quirks & notes
Districts
res_sf 3res_mf 1com 1off 1ind 1
| Code | Name | Category | Min lot | Height | Coverage | FAR | Du/ac | Parking | Setbacks F/S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | Single-Family Low-Density | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| R2 | Single-Family Medium-Density | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| MF | Multi-Family Residential | res_mf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| CONS | Conservancy | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| COM | Commercial | com | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| OFF | Office | off | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| IND | Industrial | ind | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found
Overlays
AOZ
Airport Overlay Zoning District
APVicinity of Janesville airport; based on approach/departure corridors and height restriction zones
| height_restrictions | Based on runway approach surfaces |
|---|---|
| uses | Compatibility restrictions on sensitive land uses |
SW
Shoreland-Wetland Overlay District
ENVProperties adjacent to waterways, lakes, and wetland areas subject to Wisconsin Shoreland Protection Rule
| setbacks | From waterway/wetland boundaries |
|---|---|
| vegetation | Buffer standards |
| stormwater | Runoff restrictions |
| height_coverage | Building height and coverage limitations within shore zones |
HD
Historic District Overlay
HPLocally designated historic properties and historic districts
| review | Design review for external modifications |
|---|---|
| guidelines | Preservation guidelines for facades, windows, doors |
Adopted building codes
Modified as WI Uniform Dwelling Code
Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.
Quirks & notes
- Zoning ordinance from 1981 (adopted) with subdivision ordinance from 1970s
- City conducting comprehensive zoning code rewrite with updates expected 2024-2025
- Distinct fee structure: R1/R2/Conservancy/Ag = $400; MF/Office/Commercial/Industrial = $600
- Historic Commission operates independently; specific integration with Chapter 42 zoning requires clarification
- Airport overlay includes noise, height, and compatibility requirements specific to Janesville airport operations
- Article XIII references zoning districts and maps; visual inspection of official zoning map recommended
- Street-adjacent vegetation in setbacks: 30 inches max height confirmed for plants in required building setbacks along public streets
Formulas
Definitions
- height
- Grade to highest point of structure
- lot_coverage
- Building footprint / lot area
- far
- Gross floor area / lot area
- du_ac
- Dwelling units per acre
- setback_front
- Front property line to nearest building face
- setback_side
- Side property line to nearest building face
- setback_rear
- Rear property line to nearest building face
- parking
- Spaces per dwelling unit
Capacity calculations
- max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * lot_coverage- max_gfa_sf
lot_area_sf * far- max_units_from_density
lot_area_sf / 43560 * du_ac
Massing explorer
Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.
Sort by
Max height
— ft
——
Floor area ratio
—
——
Lot coverage
—%
——
Setbacks (F / S / R)
— ft
——
Parking
— /unit
——
Max density
— du/ac
——
Min lot size
— sf
——
Copy zoning profile
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| District | Category | Height | FAR | Coverage | Setbacks | Parking | Density | Min lot | Overlays |
|---|
Research status
Data quality
35%completeness3 confirmed1 partial1 inferred
Documented gaps
- Specific base district KPIs (lot sizes, heights, coverage, FAR, setbacks)
- Exact parking ratio standards
- Detailed setback requirements for each district
- Density controls for multi-family
Known issues
schema:v1-legacypriority:lowdata:gaps-present
Other cities in this state
Nearest-alphabetical profiles. Click through to compare zoning patterns side-by-side.