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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 473

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: local regulation of accessory dwelling units. (FE)

Administration department of — Agency and general functions Housing Ordinance Real property Real property — Agent or appraiser

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. 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 permitted use at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on each parcel that is zoned for residential use or mixed use on which an existing single-family dwelling is located. A permitted use under the bill is a use of property that complies with all requirements of the zoning district in which the property is located and for which no conditional use, variance, or special review or approval is required for an accessory dwelling unit. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions to 1) limit the size of an ADU to not larger than the square footage of the existing single-family dwelling, 2) limit the height of an ADU, other than an ADU that is a conversion of an existing legal nonconforming structure, to not greater than the maximum height permitted in the underlying zoning district, 3) require that an ADU satisfy current setback and lot coverage requirements, and 4) prohibit the use of an ADU created on a parcel after the effective date of the bill as a short-term rental.

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

Introduced by: Bradley (R) , Cabral-Guevara (R) , Feyen (R) , Roys (D) , Wall (D)

19 cosponsors

Behnke (R) , Brill (R) , Brooks (R) , Brown (D) , Emerson (D) , Goeben (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Krug (R) , Miresse (D) , Murphy (R) , O'Connor (R) , Palmeri (D) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Subeck (D) , Summerfield (R) , Wichgers (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 16

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Votes

Senate: Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0

Passed 5–0 Feb 12, 2026 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0

Passed 5–0 Feb 12, 2026 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Oct 2, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Bradley, Feyen, Roys, Wall and Cabral-Guevara; cosponsored by Representatives Goeben, Brooks, Kreibich, O'Connor, Krug, Rivera-Wagner, Piwowarczyk, Murphy, Brill, Knodl, Summerfield, Behnke, Wichgers and Palmeri

  2. Oct 2, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry

  3. Oct 6, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Snodgrass added as a cosponsor

  4. Oct 7, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Miresse added as a cosponsor

  5. Oct 10, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor

  6. Oct 13, 2025 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Bradley

  7. Oct 15, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  8. Oct 20, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  9. Feb 12, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  10. Feb 12, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  11. Feb 12, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  12. Feb 12, 2026 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  13. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Brown added as a cosponsor

  14. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor

  15. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1