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Madison, WI Header
File #: 90557    Version: Name: Cottage Court
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 10/21/2025 In control: PLAN COMMISSION
On agenda: 10/28/2025 Final action: 12/9/2025
Enactment date: Enactment #: ORD-25-00095
Title: SUBSTITUTE: Amending Sections within Chapters 16 and 28 of the Madison General Ordinances to create “Cottage Courts.”
Sponsors: Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, John W. Duncan, Tag Evers, John P. Guequierre, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, Will Ochowicz, Michael E. Verveer, Regina M. Vidaver, Sabrina V. Madison
Attachments: 1. 90557 Body Version 2, 2. 90557Body.pdf, 3. Public Comment 11-11-25.pdf, 4. 2025-11-18-Staff Presentation to HPC.pdf, 5. 90557-7000CottageCourt-OchowiczALT.pdf, 6. 90557-7000CottageCourt_Martinez Rutherford.pdf, 7. Zoning Text Memo 12-1-25 Cottage Courts 90557.pdf, 8. Public Comment 12-1-25, 9. 90557 Version 1 Report, 10. 103025-120925_CC_public_comments.pdf, 11. 120925_CC_public_comment.pdf

Fiscal Note

No City appropriation required.

Title

SUBSTITUTE: Amending Sections within Chapters 16 and 28 of the Madison General Ordinances to create “Cottage Courts.”

Body

DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS:   This proposed change amends both the Zoning Code, MGO Chapter 28, and the Subdivision Regulations, MGO Sec. 16.23, to create a housing type called “Cottage Courts.” Cottage Courts are defined as a group of eight (8) or fewer single family detached dwellings on a single zoning lot with common management and/or access. Cottage courts are added as permitted uses in most of the residential zoning districts, as seen in Table 28C-1 in MGO Sec. 28.032(1). The proposed changes also create a supplemental regulation which lays out the requirements of a Cottage Court, including parking standards, setback and building separation requirements, and building form and site design.

 

The SUBSTITUTE includes the recommendations from the December 1, 2025, Plan Commission meeting to add “two-family dwelling-twin” and “two-family dwelling two-unit” as allowed dwelling types in a Cottage Court and revise the “Setback and Building Separation Requirements” to reduce the rear yard setback to eight (8) feet.

 

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Please see Legistar File No. 90557 Body  - Version 2 in Attachments.