Senate Bill 300
The length of time for which a variance applies
Topics: County: Ordinance, Land use planning and control, Municipality: Ordinance
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 22, 2012. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Nov 21, 2011
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 7, 2012
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 76 to 5
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 135
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2012: “Published 4-4-2012”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, a city, village, or town that is authorized to exercise village powers (municipality) or county is authorized to enact zoning ordinances that regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for various purposes.
A municipality's board of appeals or a county's board of adjustment (board) is authorized under current law to hear and decide appeals that allege there is an error in the enforcement of a zoning ordinance, to hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of a zoning ordinance, and to authorize a variance from the terms of a zoning ordinance. A "use" variance grants permission for a use that is not permitted by the zoning ordinance, and an "area" variance relaxes restrictions on dimensions, such as setback, frontage, height, bulk, density, and area. To grant a variance, a board must find four things:
Read the full summary Show less
1. The variance will not be contrary to the public interest.
2. Substantial justice will be done by granting the variance.
3. The variance is needed so that the spirit of the ordinance is observed.
4. Due to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the zoning ordinance will result in unnecessary hardship.
This bill authorizes a municipality or county to enact an ordinance specifying an expiration date for a variance. If no such ordinance exits, however, the bill specifies that a variance that is granted does not expire unless the board specifies in the variance, at the time it is granted, a date after which the variance does not apply.
The bill also codifies a court decision ( Goldberg v. Milwaukee Zoning Appeals Board , 115 Wis. 2d 517 (Ct. App. 1983)) stating that a variance runs with the land.
The bill first applies, retroactively, to a variance that was granted before the effective date of the bill.
Who's behind it
3 senators are its . All 3 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 8 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Glenn Grothman · Republican, Senate
- Frank G. Lasee · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (5)
- Garey Bies · Republican, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Roger Rivard · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Steineke · Republican, Assembly
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 28, 2012
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 76 to 5 · Mar 15, 2012 · 16 didn't vote
See how each of the 97 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (76)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
No (5)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Chris Taylor (D, 76)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
Didn't vote (16)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 76, Noes 5, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 23, 2012
The new law was published.
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Mar 22, 2012
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 135.
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Mar 20, 2012
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 15, 2012
The Assembly passed it too, 76 to 5.
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Mar 9, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Mar 9, 2012
The Assembly received it.
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Mar 7, 2012
The Senate passed it.
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Mar 7, 2012
The Senate adopted it.
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Mar 7, 2012
“Placed at the foot of the 11th order order of business on the calendar of 03-07-2012” (the official wording)
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Feb 28, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
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Feb 1, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 21, 2011
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations.
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Nov 21, 2011
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Nov 21, 2011 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Lasee, Darling and Grothman;Cosponsored by Representatives Steineke, Stroebel, Bies, Rivard and Jacque
- Nov 21, 2011 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations
- Feb 1, 2012 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 27, 2012 · Senate
LRB correction
- Feb 28, 2012 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 28, 2012 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Feb 28, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 5, 2012 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator Lasee
- Mar 6, 2012 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-7-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Placed at the foot of the 11th order order of business on the calendar of 03-07-2012
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senators Lasee and Lazich
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Mar 7, 2012 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 9, 2012 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Mar 9, 2012 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:02 P.M. on 3-15-2012 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 25
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 76, Noes 5, Paired 2
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 19, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Mar 20, 2012 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 3-20-2012
- Mar 20, 2012 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-20-2012
- Mar 22, 2012 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-21-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 135
- Mar 23, 2012 · Senate
Published 4-4-2012
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote