ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.
Madison General Ordinances § 28.202
in effect28.202 - ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.
(1) Establishment.
(a) This section establishes the office of the Zoning Administrator of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development.
(b) The Zoning Administrator is responsible to the Director of the Building Inspection Division or their designee.
(c) The Director of the Building Inspection Division is assigned the same powers as the Zoning Administrator.
(2) Duties.
The Zoning Administrator shall enforce this ordinance, and shall exercise the duties listed below to determine compliance with this chapter and to support its enforcement or administrative functions:
(a) Issue all zoning certificates (See (3) below).
(b) Issue all certificates of occupancy.
(c) Approve all site plans.
(d) Conduct inspections of buildings, structures, and use of land, including damage assessment for floodplain structures per MGO Chapter 21, to determine compliance with this ordinance.
(e) Maintain permanent and current records of this ordinance, including but not limited to all maps, amendments, conditional uses, variances, appeals, zoning certificates, certificates of occupancy, and applications for approval.
(f) Provide and maintain public records relative to all matters arising out of this ordinance.
(g) Receive, file and forward to the City Clerk all applications for amendments to this ordinance.
(h) Receive, file and forward to the City Plan Commission all applications for conditional uses.
(i) Receive, file and forward to the Zoning Board of Appeals all applications for appeals, variances or other matters on which the Zoning Board of Appeals is required to act under this ordinance or per MGO Chapter 21.
(j) Initiate, direct and review, from time to time, a study of this chapter.
(k) Make recommendations to the City Plan Commission about revisions to this chapter.
(l) Refer violations of this chapter to the City Attorney for prosecution. Copies of the violation report on floodplain regulations shall be sent to the Southern District office of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pursuant to MGO Chapter 21.
(m) Review and interpret deed restrictions which were initiated at the request of a City agency in order to relate the restrictions to uses of land authorized in this Zoning Code.
(n) Provide substantial damage assessment for floodplain structures under MGO Chapter 21.
(o) Act as the Floodplain Officer pursuant to MGO Chapter 21, and in that capacity the duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
i. Maintain floodplain records, including all permits issued, inspections made, and work approved related to floodplains; documentation of certified lowest floor and regional flood elevations; floodproofing certificates; floodplain maps, and ordinances, all water surface profiles, substantial damage assessment reports, and list of nonconforming structures and uses. (Am. by ORD-14-00146, 9-12-14)
ii. Submit copies of applications for amendments, variances and appeals to the floodplain regulations and floodplain maps to the appropriate Regional Office of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
iii. Submit copies of any adopted amendments, any decisions by the Zoning Board of Appeals on appeals and variances to the floodplain regulations and floodplain maps within ten (10) days of the decision, any case-by-case analyses of proposals in floodplain areas, an annual summary report of the number and types of zoning actions taken and substantial damage assessment reports to the appropriate District Office of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Decisions by the Zoning Board of Appeals on appeals and variances to the flood plain regulations and flood plain maps shall be signed by the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals and shall state the basis for the Board's decision, including appropriate facts.
(p) Take other actions that are assigned under other provisions of this chapter.
(3) Issuance of Zoning Certificates.
(a) A zoning certificate is required before any permit relating to the use of land, buildings or structures is issued by any officer, department or employee of the City.
(b) Any permit or certificate of occupancy issued in conflict with this Section is null and void.
(c) This section does not apply to:
1. Lots without buildings or structures; and
2. Lots used for public recreation purposes.
(d) The Zoning Administrator shall approve or deny the zoning certificate application. Approval indicates that the proposed use of land, buildings or structures and any future proposed buildings or structures comply with all of the provisions of this chapter.
(e) No change in use shall be made until a zoning certificate has been issued by the Zoning Administrator. Every certificate shall state that the use complies with all provisions of this ordinance. For the purposes of floodplain regulations, this certificate shall also be known as a Certificate of Compliance and must meet the requirements in MGO Chapter 21. (Am. by ORD-13-00086, 5-29-13; Am. by ORD-14-00146, 9-12-14)
(4) Appeals to Decisions of the Zoning Administrator.
Any decision of the office of the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, as specified in Sec. 28.205(5) below.
(Am. by ORD-25-00013, 3-20-25) (Am. by ORD-25-00013, 3-20-25)
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_28NADEN_28.202ZOADFetched: 11/1/2026