Industrial Design Standards.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-805
in effect295-805. Industrial Design Standards.
1. PURPOSE. The objective of the design standards of this section is to reduce or eliminate potential adverse effects and nuisances often associated with industrial activities and structures, particularly as these activities and structures impact surrounding residents and businesses. The standards set forth in this section include setbacks, screening/buffering, height transitions and noise limitations.
2. PRINCIPAL BUILDING STANDARDS. a. Introduction. Table 295-805-2 indicates the design requirements for all buildings that are located in industrial districts. Table 295-805-2 also specifies which commercial or residential design standards of subchs. 5 and 6 apply to non-industrial buildings located in industrial zoning districts. The provisions of this subsection explain, qualify or specify exceptions to the design standards set forth in table 295-805-2.
b. Conversion of Industrial Buildings. Industrial buildings may be converted to non-industrial uses as permitted by table 295-803-1 or as approved by the board. The design standards for non-industrial and residential buildings specified in table 295-805-2 shall apply to new construction only. Converted buildings shall not be subject to these design standards.
c. Exception to Height Limitations. Solar farms and solar arrays shall not be subject to any height limitations established by table 295-805-2. Table 295-805-2
PRINCIPAL BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS
Design Standards for Industrial Buildings (as defined in s. 295-201-302)
I01 | I02 | IL1 | IL2 | IC | IM | IH
Front setback, minimum (ft.) | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none*
Side street setback, | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none*
minimum (ft.)
Rear street setback, minimum (ft.) | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none*
Side setback, minimum (ft.) | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none*
Rear setback, minimum (ft.) | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none* | none*
Height, maximum | none** | none** | none** | none** | 85 ft. (new | 85 ft. (new | none**
construction | construction
only)** | only)**
Height, minimum | none | none | none | none | 18 ft. | 30 ft. | none
*Whenever an industrial building site is adjacent to or across a street or alley from a residential, institutional, park or non-industrial planned development district, see also the residential buffer (setback) standards of table 295-805-4-d.
**Whenever an industrial building site is adjacent to or across a street or alley from a residential, institutional, park or non-industrial planned development district, see also s. 295-805-4-e.
Design Standards for Non-industrial Buildings except Single-family and Two-family Dwellings
I01 | I02 | IL1 | IL2 | IC | IM | IH
Refer to design standards in subch. | LB1 | LB2 | LB1 | LB2 | LB2 | LB3 | LB2
6 for this commercial district: | ***
*** For new construction on a parcel that is located within 100 feet of a residentially-zoned parcel, the design standards for the
LB2 zoning district shall apply.
Design Standards for Single-family and Two-family Dwellings
I01 | I02 | IL1 | IL2 | IC | IM | IH
Refer to design standards in | RT2 | RT3 | RT2 | RT3 | RT4 | RT4 | RT4
subch. 5 for this residential district
3. ACCESSORY STRUCTURE STANDARDS. a. Accessory Industrial Buildings. Accessory industrial buildings shall comply with the following standards:
a-1. The front setback of an accessory industrial building shall not be less than the front setback of the principal building.
a-2. No side setbacks shall be required.
a-3. The side street setback shall not be less than the side street setback of the principal building.
a-4. The rear setback shall not be less than the rear setback of the principal building.
a-5. If access to a garage is provided from an alley, a minimum setback of 4 feet shall be required. Otherwise, there shall be no setback requirement.
a-6. The rear street setback shall not be less than the rear street setback of the principal building.
a-7. The number of accessory structures shall not be limited.
a-8. If the building is located adjacent to a residential district, it shall be subject to the height limitations of sub. 4-e.
b. Accessory Commercial Structures. Structures accessory to commercial buildings shall comply with the accessory structure standards for the zoning district referenced in table 295-805-2.
c. Accessory Residential Structures. Structures accessory to residential buildings shall comply with the accessory structure standards for the zoning district referenced in table 295-805-2.
d. Solar Arrays. A ground-mounted solar array that is more than 20 feet in height shall comply with the setback regulations for a principal building. A ground-mounted solar array that is 20 feet or less in height shall comply with the front setback requirement and be set back a minimum of 1.5 feet from all side, side street and rear lot lines.
4. SITE STANDARDS. a. Applicability. Unless otherwise noted, the provisions of this subsection apply to all industrial uses. For commercial and residential uses, the site design standards applicable to the zoning district referenced in table 295-805-2 shall apply.
b. Parking. b-1. General. Off-street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of s. 295-403-2 and meet the design standards of s. 295-403-3.
b-2. Reduction Prohibited. The number of parking spaces required for a use in an industrial zoning district shall not be reduced below the number required by s. 295-403-2.
b-3. Landscaping. Parking lots shall be landscaped in accordance with the applicable provisions of s. 295-405.
c. Access Drives. c-1. Configuration. An access drive shall generally traverse the front setback at a right angle. The commissioner of public works shall approve the location and design of the curb cut and driveway apron for the access drive.
c-2. Width. An access drive shall not exceed 30 feet in width.
d. Residential Buffers. d-1. When Required. A transition buffer shall be required when a site in the IO1, IO2, IL1, IL2 or IH district is used for a storage, recycling or wholesale trade use, a transportation use or an industrial use, either principal or accessory, and is adjacent to or across a street or alley from a residential, institutional, parks or non-industrial planned development district. The purpose of such buffers is to screen unsightly activities or buildings, and to reduce significant scale changes between industrial districts and surrounding neighborhoods. While setbacks, landscaping and fences are the primary methods used to achieve this objective, architectural techniques or features such as masonry walls may also be used to provide the buffer. The buffer area shall only include fences, walls, berms, landscaping, and access drives that traverse the buffer at right angles. Table 295-805-4-d contains setback and tree-planting requirements that shall be met whenever a residential buffer is required. Required evergreen trees shall be located and planted in a manner that most effectively obstructs views of industrial activities. Table 295-805-4-d
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT RESIDENTIAL TRANSITION STANDARDS
I01 I02
Residential Buffer
Min. setback (Buffer width) 25 ft. 10 ft.
Zoning District IL1 IL2 IC IM IH
50ft. 10 ft. 15 ft.
No buffer required
Evergreen trees 1 per 5 ft.
(min.) per x
lineal ft. of
alley, street
frontage or shared
property line
1 per 5
n.a.
ft.
Evergreen tree 2 staggered rows with trees a maximum of 10 ft. on
same as
n.a.
spacing center in each row
Min. tree height at 6 ft.
planting
I01-IL2
6 ft.
n.a.
Max. tree height at no limit
maturity
Alternative Residential Buffer Standards
no
n.a.
limit
(Note: Where an alternative residential buffer is permitted, the use or industrial process shall not produce dust, odor,
vibration, noise or light exceeding the standards specified in ch. 80 or elsewhere in this code at the nearest residential
property line.)
Min. buffer width 12.5 Ft.
New building no alternative
construction or buffer
alternative standards not permitted
addition standards
permitted
Light motor see s.
vehicle parking 295-405-3
Dumpsters and trash see s.
collection equip.; 295-405-6
Loading docks
Outdoor storage, see s.
outdoor salvage, 295-405-5
outdoor
operational space 25 ft. 10 ft.
No buffer required
see s. see s.
n.a. 295-405-3 295-405-3
alternative standards not permitted see s. see s.
n.a. 295-405-3 295-405-3
see s. see s.
n.a. 295-405-6 295-405-6
see s. see s.
n.a. 295-405-5 295-405-5
d-2. Alternative Buffer Standards. The width of a residential buffer may be reduced by up to 50% if the buffer meets a higher standard for screening and design, as specified by the alternative buffer standards included in table 295-805-4-d, and if the required buffer is not less than 10 feet wide. While the width of a buffer may be reduced, the number of required evergreen trees shall not be reduced and additional screening materials, such as fences and shrubs, shall be added as specified in table 295-805-4-d.
e. Height Adjustment. e-1. Height Limitation When Adjacent to Residential, Institutional, Parks, or Non-Industrial Planned Development District. The maximum height of an industrial building at the required residential buffer line or, if there is no buffer requirement, at the property line, located adjacent to or across a street or alley from a residential, institutional, parks or non-industrial planned development district shall be the average height of residential buildings on the adjacent blockface. The height of the industrial building may be increased by one foot for every 2 feet the building is set back from the residential buffer line or the property line, as appropriate.
e-2. Exceptions to Height Limitations. All structures shall comply with the height limitations established in subd. 1, except the following:
e-2-a. Chimneys and flues.
e-2-b. Water towers or tanks other than those located on the roof of a building.
e-2-c. Bulkheads, elevator enclosures, penthouses, skylights or water tanks occupying in the aggregate less than 25% of the area of the roof on which they are located.
e-2-d. Parapet walls or cornices extending above the height limit not more than 5 feet.
e-2-e. Monuments, television reception antennae, radio reception antennae, flag poles, spires, church roofs, domes, cupolas or belfries for ornamental purposes and not used for human occupancy.
e-2-f. Religious assemblies, convents, schools, dormitories, colleges, libraries and museums in zoning districts which limit height to 45 or 60 feet. Such a building or portion thereof may exceed the height limit of the district if the building, or portion of the building in excess of the limit, is setback from side lot lines a distance equal to one-half the height of the building or portion thereof.
e-2-g. Transmission towers which do not exceed 85 feet in height or have received special use approval from the board.
e-2-h. Airports. In any area within the city where the height limitations of the Milwaukee county airport approach height ordinances are applicable, such height limitations shall apply, except where the height limitations of this chapter are more restrictive. Exceptions permitted under s. 200-44 and objects of natural growth shall not exceed the height limitations established by the Milwaukee county general ordinances and by s. 114.136, Wis. Stats.
f. Dumpsters And Waste Storage. A dumpster or common waste storage facility visible from a public street or a non-industrially-zoned district shall be screened in accordance with s. 295-405-6-a.
g. Loading Docks. Where loading for more than 2 truck bays is in a yard facing and visible from a public street or a non-industrial district, the loading docks shall be screened in accordance with s. 295-405-6-b. These standards may be waived in whole or in part, or compliance with them may be delayed, if visibility of the loading docks is limited by changes of grade, natural features, elevated roadways, existing buildings or similar obstructions.
h. Outdoor Storage. h-1. Screening. The objective of the screening standard is to hide exterior storage areas from the view of properties located outside the industrial district or from public streets. Where an outdoor storage area or outdoor salvage operation is visible from a public street or a non-industrial district, the outdoor storage area shall be screened in accordance with s. 295-405-5.
h-2. Stockpiles. All stockpile heights shall be limited to either the height of the fence enclosure provided or the average height of the landscape plant material, if greater. This limitation may be exceeded by 50% if the stockpile is located on the rear 25% of the site and not within 120 feet of a public street or any zoning district other than an industrial district. In a situation where a building completely screens the stockpile from the street, the 120-foot limitation shall not apply for as long as the building remains in place.
i. Fences. i-1. General. In industrial districts, all types of fences are permitted and may be located anywhere on a lot, including along a property line.
i-2. Fences Along Streets. Fences along streets shall not exceed a height of 6 feet, with the following exceptions;
i-2-a. A fence may be erected to a height of 9 feet if it is set back at least 5 feet from the street property line and provided with a continuous landscaped area at least 5 feet in width with 2 staggered rows of shrubs spaced 4 feet on center in each row and a minimum of one canopy tree per 25 linear feet of street frontage.
i-2-b. An ornamental metal fence or a combination ornamental metal fence and masonry wall may be constructed on the street property line provided the wall is no higher than 6 feet, the combined height of the wall and fence does not exceed 9 feet and the portion of the fence structure above 6 feet high is at least 50% open.
i-3. Fences along Side and Rear Lot Lines. A fence located along a side lot line or a rear lot line shall not exceed a height of 9 feet. A fence within 5 feet of a residential use shall be opaque up to at least 6 feet in height.
i-4. Orientation of Supporting Members. The vertical and horizontal supporting members of a fence shall face the interior of the lot on which the fence is located.
i-5. Public-Right-of-Way. A fence or retaining wall may extend into the public right-of-way to the extent allowed by a special privilege granted by the common council pursuant to s. 245-12.
i-6. Barbed Wire. Barbed wire may be used for fence purposes provided it is located not less than 6 feet above the grade directly below the fence and is not located within a residential buffer or within 15 feet of a street lot line. If visible from a public street, a continuous landscaped area at least 5 feet in width with 2 staggered rows of shrubs spaced 4 feet on center in each row and a minimum of one canopy tree per 25 linear feet of street frontage shall be provided. Razor wire and concertina wire are prohibited in all circumstances.
i-7. Fences as Part of Required Screening. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this paragraph, a fence may be erected to the height necessary to comply with the screening requirement of s. 295-405.
j. Vision Triangles. A fence or other opaque or semi-opaque object located near the intersection of a street with an alley, access drive or another street shall be in compliance with the applicable vision triangle regulations of s. 295-405-1-g.
k. Noise. See ss. 80-60 through 80-75 for noise regulations applicable to industrial zoning districts.
L. Lighting. See s. 295-409 for lighting regulations applicable to industrial zoning districts.
5. SIGNS. a. General. The design standards for signs in industrial districts are set forth in table 295-805-5. As described in s. 295-407, signs are divided into 2 categories, type "A" and type "B". General standards for each of these categories are found in s. 295-407.
b. Sign Limitation Based on Lineal Footage. Where table 295-805-5 links the maximum number of area of signs to lineal footage, the lineal footage referred to is the length of the building facade. In each 25-foot segment, the square footage of all signs shall not exceed the maximum area specified in the table and the size of a sign in a facade segment less than 25 feet may be determined by prorating. The square footage allocation for 2 adjoining facade segments may be combined to allow one sign larger than the maximum amount specified. Only one wall, projecting or canopy/hood sign may be located in each facade segment.
c. Bonus Provision for Type “B” Freestanding Signs. If a monument-type base meeting the base standard for a type “A” freestanding sign is provided and the sign does not exceed 8 feet in height, the maximum display area shall be 10 square feet more than the maximum display area specified in table 295-805-5.
d. Standards for Multiple Freestanding Signs. Where more than one freestanding sign is permitted on a site, no 2 freestanding signs may have display areas that are oriented to the same street unless the signs are at least 150 feet apart or separated by a building which obstructs the view of each sign from the other sign.
e. Combination Type A and B Signs. Signs that contain elements of both type A and B signs shall be permitted as long as the size of each element does not exceed its prorated share of total display area, in accordance with s. 295-205-5-d.
f. Temporary Signs. The following temporary signs shall be permitted in all industrial zoning districts:
f-1. A sign pertaining to the construction of a building or the sale or lease of vacant land shall not exceed:
Zoning District Max. Sign Area
IO1, IO2, IL1, IL2, IM 48 sq. ft.
IH 72 sq. ft.
f-2. A sign not exceeding 36 square feet erected and maintained on a lot to advertise the leasing, rental or sale of a building or other improved real estate.
g. Type “A” Roof Signs in the Industrial-Mixed District. g-1. There shall be no maximum display area for a type “A” roof sign located in an industrial-mixed district more than 100 feet from a residential district.
g-2. The maximum display area for a type “A” roof sign located in an industrial-mixed district within 100 feet of a residential district shall be 100 square feet. If this standard is not met, a type “A” roof sign in an industrial-mixed district shall be a special use.
g-3. All type “A” roof signs shall be stationary.
h. Additional Regulations. See s. 295-407 for additional regulations for on-premise and off-premise signs.
Table 295-805-5 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT SIGN STANDARDS
Zoning District
I01/I02 | IL1/IL2 | IC | IM | IH
Freestanding Signs | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted
Maximum number | 1 per street frontage | 1 per site * | 1 per site * | 1per site * | 1 per site *
Type “A” max display | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
area (sq. ft.)
Type “B” max. display | 40 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 50 30
area (sq. ft.)
Maximum height | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15
Wall signs | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted
Maximum number | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25
lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft.
Type “A” max display | 75 | 120 | 50 | 50 | 120
area (sq. ft.)
Type “B” max. display | 32 | 60 | 32 | 32 | 60
area (sq. ft.)
Projecting Signs | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted
Maximum number | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25
lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft.
“A” Type max display | 50 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 60
area (sq. ft.)
Type “B” max. display | 25 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 30
area (sq. ft.)
Awning Signs
type “A” permitted only
Maximum number | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25
lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft.
Type “A” max display | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20
area (sq. ft.)
Canopy and Hood Signs | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted | permitted
Maximum number | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25 | 1 per 25
lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft. | lineal ft.
Type “A” max display | 50 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 60
area (sq. ft.)
Type “B” max. display | 25 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 30
area (sq. ft.)
* Except 2 shall be permitted if the site fronts on 3 streets or has continuous street frontage of at least 240 feet.
Table 295-805-5 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT SIGN STANDARDS
Zoning District
I01/I02 | IL1/IL2 | IC | IM | IH
Roof Signs | type “A” | permitted | type “A” | type “A” | permitted
permitted only | permitted only | permitted only
Maximum number | 1 per building | 1 per building | 1 per building façade | 1 per building façade | 1 per building
“A” Type max display area (sq. ft.) | 100 | no limit | see s. 295- 805-5-g | see s. 295- 805-5-g | no limit
Type “B” max display area (sq. ft.) | NA | 100 | NA | NA | 100
Off-premise Signs | permitted ** | permitted ** | permitted ** | permitted ** | permitted **
Maximum number | 1 per site | 1 per site | 1 per site | 1 per site | 1 per site
Maximum display area per sign (sq. ft.) | 672 | 672 | 300 | 300 | 672
Minimum distance between signs | 500 ft. between any 2 ground or roof signs; 200 ft. between a ground or roof sign and a wall sign; 200 ft. between any 2 wall signs
Maximum height, Freestanding sign (ft.) | 35 | 35 | 40 | 40 | 40
Maximum height, wall sign (ft.) | 40 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 60
Maximum height, roof sign | 25 ft. above roof
**Subject to special use permit requirement set forth in s. 295-407-7-d.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-2/CH295-sub8.pdf#page=11Fetched: 10/26/2026