Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: local and private regulation of accessory dwelling units. (FE)
Administration department of — Agency and general functions Housing Ordinance Real property
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires political subdivisions with zoning ordinances to allow as a use permitted by right at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on each parcel on which single-family or multi-family residential use is a use permitted by right. The bill also prohibits political subdivisions from doing any of the following:
1. Charging fees, other than standard building permit fees, related to the addition of an ADU to a parcel.
2. Providing dimensional, physical, design, or locational requirements that apply to ADUs, but do not apply to single-family dwellings.
3. Providing standards, other than standards relating to habitability, that apply to ADUs but do not apply to other accessory structures.
4. Imposing any additional parking requirements to parcels on the basis of the existence of an ADU.
5. Requiring the installation of a separate utility connection to an ADU.
The bill also provides that any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in a deed or other instrument affecting real property that prohibits or unreasonably restricts the construction, maintenance, or use of an ADU is void and unenforceable and prohibits a homeowners’ association from restricting or preventing the construction, maintenance, or use of an ADU, except to the extent necessary to protect public health and safety.
Because this bill may increase or decrease, directly or indirectly, the cost of the development, construction, financing, purchasing, sale, ownership, or availability of housing in this state, the Department of Administration, as required by law, will prepare a report to be printed as an appendix to this bill.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 5
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Full history
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Roys, Ratcliff, Wall and Keyeski; cosponsored by Representatives Hong, Tenorio, Snodgrass, Rivera-Wagner, Brown, Palmeri, Bare, Roe and DeSmidt
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry
- May 22, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 11, 2025 · Senate
Representative Arney added as a cosponsor
- Jun 13, 2025 · Senate
Housing report received pursuant to s. 13.099 (2) Wisconsin Statutes
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1