IN GENERAL.
Madison General Ordinances § 28.181
in effect28.181 - IN GENERAL.
(1) Statement of Purpose.
This section describes how land development decisions and projects are approved and permitted in Madison. It describes how an application is submitted, who processes the application, the types of procedures that are followed, and what the approval allows the applicant to do.
(2) Common Elements.
Many of the application requirements outlined in this section have the following common elements:
Table 28L-1. Common Elements of Zoning Applications.
Element | Description
Applicability and Initiation | This element specifies the situations, building types, development types, uses, or contexts where the procedure applies, who may file an application, and where to file an application. Eligible Applicant: Unless otherwise specified, any person, firm, corporation or organization that has any of the following interests that are specifically enforceable in the land that is subject to the application may file an application:
• a freehold interest
• a possessory interest entitled to exclusive possession
• a contractual interest which may become a freehold possessory interest
• any exclusive possessory interest
• any unit of government which issues a relocation order or adopts a resolution of necessity of taking describing the land for which the application is sought
Completeness Review | Application materials shall be submitted as specified in each section. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Notice | This element specifies the type of required notice, who provides it and when it must be provided.
Decision | This element specifies the procedures for review and decision-making by appropriate staff, agencies, commissions, and boards.
Standards | This element specifies the standards for approval of an application.
Subsequent Applications | This element identifies any waiting period required before submission of an additional application.
Alterations | This element specifies how changes are made to an approved application.
Scope of Approval | This element specifies what rights an applicant obtains from approval or conditional approval of an application and any applicable time period for exercising rights under the approval.
Finalization of Approval | This element specifies finalization or recording requirements following approval.
(3) Pre-Application Meeting.
Before an application is filed, the applicant is strongly encouraged to attend a pre-application meeting with Zoning and Planning staff. The purpose of the pre-application meeting is to discuss, in general, the procedures and requirements for an Application.
(4) Completeness Review.
These procedures apply to any Application unless a different procedure is established for the Application elsewhere in this chapter.
(a) No Application is complete unless all of the required information is included and all application fees have been paid. The Zoning Administrator may refuse to accept an incomplete application.
(b) The Zoning Administrator will make current application materials available in the offices of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development.
(c) The Zoning Administrator may establish a schedule for filing any Application that requires action by the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Urban Design Commission, or the Common Council. Completed applications shall be filed according to any posted schedule of the Zoning Administrator.
(5) Notice.
The type of notice required for certain applications is established in Table 28L-2 below.
Table 28L-2. Notice Requirements.
Type of Notice (Responsible Party) | Requirements | Map Amendment | Text Amendment | Conditional Use | Variance | Demolition
Preapplication (Applicant) | Applicant must notify the following persons at least thirty (30) days before filing an application. Notice shall be by U.S. mail or electronic mail, with a copy to the Department Director and the Zoning Administrator.
• neighborhood association registered with City that serves the area where the property is located | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
• business association listed with City that serves the area where the property is located | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
• any person registered with the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development to receive such notice | ✓
• the alderperson of the district in which the property is located. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
Failure to provide pre-application notice does not invalidate any action taken on the application by the Plan Commission or Common Council. The neighborhood notice requirement may be waived, if approved by the Alderperson, and Director of Planning and Community and Economic Development.
Publication (City) | Class 1 notice in the official city paper (see ch. 985 WSA). | ✓
Class 2 notice in the official city paper (see ch. 985 WSA). | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
First class mail (City) | Recipients:
• the applicant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
• the alderperson of the district in which the property affected is located. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
• the owners of record, as listed in the office of the City Assessor, and occupants of multi-tenant buildings, of property in whole or in part situated within two hundred (200) feet of the boundaries of the properties affected. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
Signage (Applicant) | Obtain the sign from the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development, for the property that is the subject of the application. The sign must list the times and locations of all public hearing(s) to consider the application. The sign shall be posted at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the public hearing and shall be located in a position on the property so that it can be read from the sidewalk or other public right-of-way. If a property abuts more than one (1) public right-of-way, a sign shall be placed facing each public right-of-way. The sign shall be removed within seven (7) days of the last hearing listed on the sign. Failure to post the sign shall not invalidate any action taken on the application by the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, or Common Council. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓
(Am. by ORD-22-00105, 10-21-22; Am. by ORD-26-00039, 7-30-26)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH28ZOCOOR_SUBCHAPTER_28LPR_28.181INGEFetched: 11/1/2026