Community and other living arrangements
Wis. Stat. § 60.63
in effectFor purposes of s. 60.61, the location of a community living arrangement for adults, as defined in s. 46.03 (22), a community living arrangement for children, as defined in s. 48.743 (1), a foster home, as defined in s. 48.02 (6), or an adult family home, as defined in s. 50.01 (1), in any town shall be subject to the following criteria:
(1) No community living arrangement may be established after March 28, 1978 within 2,500 feet, or any lesser distance established by an ordinance of the town, of any other such facility. Agents of a facility may apply for an exception to this requirement, and such exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the local town. Two community living arrangements may be adjacent if the town authorizes that arrangement and if both facilities comprise essential components of a single program.
(2) Community living arrangements shall be permitted in each town without restriction as to the number of facilities, so long as the total capacity of the community living arrangements does not exceed 25 or one percent of the town’s population, whichever is greater. If the capacity of the community living arrangements in the town reaches such total, the town may prohibit additional community living arrangements from locating in the township. Agents of a facility may apply for an exception to this requirement, and such exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the town.
(3) A foster home that is the primary domicile of a foster parent and that is licensed under s. 48.62 or an adult family home certified under s. 50.032 (1m) (b) shall be a permitted use in all residential areas and is not subject to subs. (1) and (2) except that foster homes operated by corporations, child welfare agencies, churches, associations, or public agencies shall be subject to subs. (1) and (2).
(3m)
(a) No adult family home described in s. 50.01 (1) (b) may be established within 2,500 feet, or any lesser distance established by an ordinance of the town, of any other adult family home described in s. 50.01 (1) (b) or any community living arrangement. An agent of an adult family home described in s. 50.01 (1) (b) may apply for an exception to this requirement, and the exception may be granted at the discretion of the town.
(b) An adult family home described in s. 50.01 (1) (b) that meets the criteria specified in par. (a) and that is licensed under s. 50.033 (1m) (b) is permitted in the town without restriction as to the number of adult family homes and may locate in any residential zone, without being required to obtain special zoning permission except as provided in sub. (10).
(4) If the community living arrangement has capacity for 8 or fewer persons being served by the program, meets the criteria listed in subs. (1) and (2), and is licensed, operated, or permitted under the authority of the department of health services or the department of children and families, the community living arrangement is entitled to locate in any residential zone, without being required to obtain special zoning permission except as provided under sub. (10).
(5) In all cases where the community living arrangement has capacity for 9 to 15 persons being served by the program, meets the criteria listed in subs. (1) and (2), and is licensed, operated, or permitted under the authority of the department of health services or the department of children and families, that facility is entitled to locate in any residential area except areas zoned exclusively for single-family or 2-family residences except as provided in sub. (10), but is entitled to apply for special zoning permission to locate in those areas. The town may grant such special zoning permission at its discretion and shall make a procedure available to enable such facilities to request such permission.
(6) In all cases where the community living arrangement has capacity for serving 16 or more persons, meets the criteria listed in subs. (1) and (2), and is licensed, operated, or permitted under the authority of the department of health services or the department of children and families, that facility is entitled to apply for special zoning permission to locate in areas zoned for residential use. The town may grant such special zoning permission at its discretion and shall make a procedure available to enable such facilities to request such permission.
(7) The department of health services shall designate a single subunit within that department to maintain appropriate records indicating the location and the capacity of each community living arrangement for adults, and such information shall be available to the public. The department of children and families shall designate a single subunit within that department to maintain appropriate records indicating the location and the capacity of each community living arrangement for children, and such information shall be available to the public.
(8) In this section, “special zoning permission” includes but is not limited to the following: special exception, special permit, conditional use, zoning variance, conditional permit and words of similar intent.
(9) The attorney general shall take all necessary action, upon the request of the department of health services or the department of children and families, to enforce compliance with this section.
(10) Not less than 11 months nor more than 13 months after the first licensure of an adult family home under s. 50.033 or of a community living arrangement and every year thereafter, the town board of a town in which a licensed adult family home or a community living arrangement is located may make a determination as to the effect of the adult family home or community living arrangement on the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town. The determination shall be made according to the procedures provided under sub. (11). If the town board determines that the existence in the town of a licensed adult family home or a community living arrangement poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town, the town board may order the adult family home or community living arrangement to cease operation unless special zoning permission is obtained. The order is subject to judicial review under s. 68.13, except that a free copy of the transcript may not be provided to the licensed adult family home or community living arrangement. The licensed adult family home or community living arrangement must cease operation within 90 days after the date of the order, or the date of final judicial review of the order, or the date of the denial of special zoning permission, whichever is later.
(10m) The fact that an individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or a positive HIV test, as defined in s. 252.01 (2m), resides in a community living arrangement with a capacity for 8 or fewer persons may not be used under sub. (10) to assert or prove that the existence of the community living arrangement in the town poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town.
(11) A determination made under sub. (10) shall be made after a hearing before the town board. The town shall provide at least 30 days’ notice to the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement that such a hearing will be held. At the hearing, the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement may be represented by counsel and may present evidence and call and examine witnesses and cross-examine other witnesses called. The town board may call witnesses and may issue subpoenas. All witnesses shall be sworn by the town board. The town board shall take notes of the testimony and shall mark and preserve all exhibits. The town board may, and upon request of the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement shall, cause the proceedings to be taken by a stenographer or by a recording device, the expense thereof to be paid by the town. Within 20 days after the hearing, the town board shall deliver to the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement its written determination stating the reasons therefor. The determination shall be a final determination.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/60.63Fetched: 10/7/2026