Certification of zoning ordinance by the department
Wis. Stat. § 91.36
in effect(1) General. The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or an amendment to a farmland preservation zoning ordinance as provided in this section.
(2) Certification period.
(a) The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance for a period that does not exceed 10 years. The department shall specify the expiration date of the certification of the farmland preservation zoning ordinance in the certification.
(b) The certification of an amendment to a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance expires on the date that the certification of the farmland preservation zoning ordinance expires, except that the department may treat a comprehensive revision of a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance as a new farmland preservation zoning ordinance and specify an expiration date for the certification of the revised farmland preservation zoning ordinance as provided in par. (a).
(3) Scope of department review.
(a) The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment to a farmland preservation zoning ordinance based on statements submitted under s. 91.40 (3) and (4), without conducting any additional review or audit.
(b) The department may do any of the following before it certifies a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment:
1. Review the farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment for compliance with the requirements under s. 91.38.
2. Review and independently verify the application for certification, including the statements under s. 91.40 (3) and (4).
(4) Denial of certification. The department shall deny an application for certification of a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment if the department finds any of the following:
(a) That the farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment does not comply with the requirements in s. 91.38.
(b) That the application for certification does not comply with s. 91.40.
(5) Written decision; deadline. The department shall grant or deny an application for certification under this section no more than 90 days after the day on which the political subdivision submits a complete application, unless the political subdivision agrees to an extension. The department shall issue its decision in the form required by s. 227.47 (1).
(6) Conditional certification. The department may grant an application for certification under this section subject to conditions specified by the department in its decision under sub. (5). The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment contingent upon the political subdivision adopting the farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment as certified.
(7) Effective date of certification. A certification under this section takes effect on the day on which the department issues the certification, except that if the department specifies conditions under sub. (6), the certification takes effect on the day on which the department determines that the political subdivision has met the conditions.
(8) Amendments to ordinances; certification.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), an amendment to a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance is automatically considered to be certified as part of the certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance.
(b) An amendment to a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance that is one of the following and that is adopted after July 1, 2009, is not automatically considered to be certified:
1. An amendment that is a comprehensive revision of a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance.
2. An amendment that extends coverage of a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance to a town that was not previously covered.
3. An amendment of a type specified by the department by rule that may materially affect compliance of the certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance with the requirements under s. 91.38.
(c) The department may withdraw certification of a farmland preservation zoning ordinance if, as a result of an amendment adopted after July 1, 2009, the amended farmland preservation zoning ordinance fails to comply with the requirements under s. 91.38. This paragraph applies regardless of whether the farmland preservation zoning ordinance was originally certified under s. 91.06, 2007 stats., or under this section.
(d) A political subdivision shall notify the department in writing whenever the political subdivision adopts an amendment that is described in par. (b) 1. to 3. to a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance. The political subdivision shall include a copy of the amendment in the notice. This paragraph does not apply to an amendment that rezones land out of a farmland preservation zoning district.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/91.36Fetched: 10/7/2026