City of Janesville - General Definitions

A Zones (model flood regs) Those areas shown on the official floodplain zoning map which would be inundated by the regional flood. These areas may be numbered or unnumbered A Zones. The A Zones may or may not be reflective of flood profiles, depending on the availability of data for a given area.

Accessible entrance (new) An entrance to a facility meeting the minimum accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Accessible parking space (new) An on-site parking space meeting the minimum accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
Note: Specifications are described in Article __ of the zoning code.

Accessory building (current s. 42-121) A building which is incidental and subordinate to the principal building, serves the principal building exclusively and located on the same lot with such principal building. An accessory building shall not exceed 120 square feet in area.

Accessory structure A structure which: (a) Is or will be subordinate to and serves a principal structure, land, or water. (b) Is or will be located on the same lot or parcel. (c) Is detached from the principal structure. (d) Is not used as living quarters, nor has a permanent well or sanitary connection.

Accessory structure or use (model flood regs) A facility, structure, building, or use which is accessory or incidental to the principal use of a property, structure, or building. An accessory structure shall not be used for human habitation.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Accessory use A use which: (a) Is or will be subordinate to and serves a principal use. (b) Is or will be located on the same lot or parcel as the principal use.

Accessory use (current s. 42-122) A use which is incidental to the principal use and serves the principal use exclusively.

Acre (new) A measure of land area. One acre equals 43,560 square feet.

ADA An abbreviation for Americans with Disability Act.

Adaptive facade material Adaptive facade material An exterior building material that can be altered in terms of appearance, transparency, and illumination due to environmental conditions or user input. This category of building material includes a wide array of innovative substances including the following examples:

• Smart glass: Glass that can change opacity or tint in response to light, heat, or electrical input, helping to control temperature and privacy.
• Dynamic LED screens: Facade systems that incorporate LED technology to display visuals, advertisements, or patterns, allowing for vibrant, customizable exteriors.
• Photochromic materials: Materials that change color when exposed to sunlight, creating facades that react to changing light conditions.
• Thermochromic coatings: Coatings that alter color based on temperature, providing visual cues about the building’s thermal performance.
• Electrochromic materials: Surfaces that can change color or transparency when an electrical charge is applied, often used in windows and skylights.
• Responsive textiles: Fabrics integrated into facades that can shift in color or texture based on environmental stimuli, such as humidity or temperature.
• Bimetallic panels: Panels that expand and contract in response to temperature changes, creating a dynamic surface that can change its shape and appearance.
• Phase change materials (PCMs): Materials that absorb or release heat when they change states, influencing the facade's thermal performance and potentially altering its appearance.
• Kinetic facades: Facade systems that incorporate movable components to change the building's silhouette and light penetration based on the time of day or weather conditions.

Adult arcade (new) An establishment wherein coin, slug, electronically, or mechanically controlled or operated still or motion picture machines, projectors, computers, or other image producing devices are maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

Adult bath house (new) An establishment that provides a bath as a service, including all forms and methods of hydrotherapy, that is not operated by a medical practitioner or a professional physical therapist licensed by the state of Wisconsin and which provides to its patrons an opportunity for engaging in specified sexual activities.

Adult body painting studio (new) An establishment wherein patrons are afforded an opportunity to be painted or to paint images on specified anatomical areas. The term does not include a tattoo parlor.

Adult book/video store (new) An establishment having as its stock in trade the sale, rental, or lease for any form of consideration, any one or more of the following: (a) books, magazines, periodicals or other printed or electronic matter, photographs, films, motion pictures, recordings, video cassettes, DVDs, video reproductions, slides, closed-circuit transmission, cable/satellite transmission, subscriber programming, or other visual representations or physical medium which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on any actual of simulated specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, the removal of articles of clothing, or partial or totally nude appearance; (b) instruments, devices, or paraphernalia which are designed for use in connection with specified sexual activities; and (c) facilities or premises to which public patrons or members are invited or admitted for the presentation or viewing of adult entertainment as defined herein, including, but not limited to, adult-oriented films, motion pictures, video cassettes, video reproductions, slides, closed-circuit transmission, cable/satellite transmission, subscriber programming or other visual representation or physical medium that allows an image to be displayed or transmitted; and/or any live performance, display, or dance of any type.

Adult cabaret (new) An establishment, such as a nightclub, dance hall, bar, restaurant, or similar establishment, that regularly features (1) persons who appear nude or semi-nude; (2) live performances that are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities; or (3) film, motion pictures, video cassettes, streaming videos, DVDs, slides or other photographic or video reproductions or closed-circuit transmission, cable/satellite transmission, subscriber programming, or other visual representation or physical medium, which are characterized by the exhibition or display of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

Adult massage parlor (new) An establishment with or without sleeping accommodations that provides the service of massage or body manipulation, including exercise, heat, and light treatment of the body, and any form or method of physiotherapy, not operated by a medical practitioner or professional physical therapist licensed by the state of Wisconsin and which also provides its patrons with the opportunity to engage in specified sexual activities.

Adult modeling studio (new) An establishment that provides the services of modeling for the purpose of reproducing the human body wholly or partially in the nude by means of photography, painting, sketching, drawing, or other means.

Adult motel (new) An establishment that (1) offers accommodations to the public for any form of consideration; provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, film, motion pictures, video cassettes, video reproductions, slides, cable/satellite transmission, subscriber programming, or other visual representation or physical medium characterized by depicting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas; and has a sign visible from the public right-of-way which advertises the availability of this type of adult entertainment; (2) offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time that is less than 10 hours; or (3) allows a tenant or occupant of a sleeping room to sublet the room for a period of time that is less than 10 hours.

Adult theater (new) An enclosed building such as a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or other similar business establishment which is used for presenting adult entertainment.

AH zone (model flood regs) See area of shallow flooding

Airport hazard Any structure or object of natural growth, which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off operations at an airport, or which is otherwise hazardous to such operations.

Airport manager The person employed by the City to perform the duties in § 9.03 of the municipal code.

Airport runway The level portion of an airport having a surface specially developed and maintained for the landing and take-off of aircraft.

Alley A special public right-of-way affording only secondary access to abutting properties.

Alteration (current s. 42-125) Alteration means any change to one or more of the exterior architectural features of an improvement, including, but not limited to, the erection, construction, reconstruction or moving of any such improvement.

Alteration (model flood regs) An enhancement, upgrade or substantial change or modification other than an addition or repair to a dwelling or to electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other systems within a structure. (Also see maintenance)
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Americans with Disability Act (ADA) (new) Federal legislation passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many aspects of public life, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, telecommunications, and government services. As applied to zoning regulations, businesses that are open to the public, such as restaurants, stores, and hotels, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Annexation (new) The process as authorized by state law by which land is removed from a town and added to a city or village. (In contrast see detachment)

ANSI An acronym for American National Standards Institute.

Antenna (new) Communications equipment that transmits and receives electromagnetic radio signals and is used in the provision of mobile services.
Note: This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats.

AO zone (model flood regs) See area of shallow flooding

Appeal (new) A process initiated by an aggrieved party to review a decision made pursuant to the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) or an alleged failure to act as required by such regulations.

Area of shallow flooding (model flood regs) A designated AO, AH, AR/AO, AR/AH, or VO zone on a communitys flood insurance rate map (FIRM) with a 1 percent or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of 1 to 3 feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable, and where velocity flood may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.

Assessed value (new) The dollar amount assigned to taxable real and personal property by the assessor for the purpose of taxation.

Auto title loan business (new) Any person licensed pursuant to § 139.09, Wis. Stats., who makes a loan that is secured by an interest, other than a purchase money security interest, in the borrowers motor vehicle.

Awning (revised s. 42-126) A roof-like fixture that projects from a wall and is typically placed above a door or window to provide protection from the sun and precipitation. An awning can be constructed of various materials, including metal, fabric, or plastic and may be nonretractable or retractable so as to fold up against the building when not in use. (Also see marquee)

Balcony (new) A floor area that projects beyond the exterior wall of an upper story, is enclosed by a half wall or railing, and is only accessible from the buildings interior. A balcony can be supported by columns or brackets or be cantilevered.

Base density A total permissible number of residential units that may be built on any given parcel of land to establish the number of units the land can reasonably accommodate. Providing a base density, as opposed to requiring a minimum lot size, allows for flexibility on the part of the landowner in determining the distribution of residential units on the parcel while protecting significant environmental features.

Base district See zoning district, base

Base flood (model flood regs) The flood having a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, as published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of a flood insurance study (FIS) and depicted on a flood insurance rate map (FIRM).

Base zoning district (new) See zoning district, base

Basement That portion of any structure which is below grade, or which is partly below and partly above grade but so located that the vertical distance from the grade to the floor is greater than the vertical distance from the grade to the ceiling.

Basement (model flood regs w/ edits) Any enclosed area of a building having its floor sub-grade (i.e., below ground level) on all sides.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Battery charging station An electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles.

Battery electric vehicle Means any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source (generally, the electric grid) that is stored in the vehicle's batteries, and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.

Bay (current) Bay means an area within the building intended for or usable as a location to service, repair or wash a car. Each area large enough to accommodate one car shall be considered as one bay.

Beehive (new) An enclosure inhabited by a colony that is specifically built for that purpose and which includes removeable frames and slats to allow for inspection.

Beekeeper (new) The person who owns the property where honey bees are kept or the person responsible for keeping the honey bees, if different.

Bees Honey bees or mason bees raised for honey or pollination.

Bioswale A feature that is specifically designed to collect stormwater from parking lots and streets and to infiltrate and filter the collected water. Bioswales are generally landscaped and include features to handle large stormwater flows.

Body piercer (new) An individual who performs body piercing on another upon his or her request.
Note: This definition is derived from DHS 173.03, Wis. Admin. Code.

Body piercing (new) The perforating of any human body part or tissue, except an ear, and placing a foreign object in the perforation to prevent the perforation from closing.
Note: This definition is derived from DHS 173.03, Wis. Admin. Code.

Breakaway wall (model flood regs) A wall that is not part of the structural support of the building and is intended through its design and construction to collapse under specific lateral loading forces, without causing damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Breezeway (new) A roofed structure without sides that connects two buildings.

Building (current) Building means any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, chattels, or movable property of any kind and which is permanently affixed to the land but shall not include fences.

Building (new) Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls used or intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, equipment, machinery or materials. A building may be enclosed with exterior walls or open without walls.

Building codes (new) Those regulations adopted by a municipality or the state that regulate the construction, repair, alteration, and maintenance of buildings.

Building coverage (new) The area of a lot covered by principal and accessory buildings. Building coverage is expressed as a percent of the entire lot. Depending on the context, building coverage could refer to the actual or proposed amount, or the maximum amount that is permitted in a zoning district. (In contrast see impervious coverage)
Note: See § 46-## that describes how building coverage is measured.

Building Division Director (current) Building Division Director means the person designated by the City Manager to enforce and administer this Code or his or her duly authorized representative.

Building height Forthcoming . . .

Building inspector (new) The individual so designated by the City of Janesville. (Also see zoning administrator)

Building permit (new) A permit issued by the building inspector that authorizes an applicant to conduct a specified construction activity that is consistent with the City's building code. (In contrast see zoning permit)

Building scale (new) The relationship between the mass of a building and its surroundings; including streets, open spaces, and surrounding buildings. Mass is the three-dimensional bulk of a structure: height, width, and depth.

Bulkhead line (model flood regs) A geographic line along a reach of navigable water that has been adopted by a municipal ordinance and approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pursuant to § 30.11, Wis. Stats., and which allows limited filling between this bulkhead line and the original ordinary high-water mark, except where such filling is prohibited by the floodway provisions.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Burden of proof (new) The obligation of a party to establish a fact by evidence.

Caliper (new) The diameter of a tree, measured at a point 6 inches above the ground line if the resulting measurement is not more than 4 inches. If the resulting measurement is more than 4 inches, the measurement is taken 12 inches above the ground line.

Campground (model flood regs) A parcel of land which is designed, maintained, intended, or used for the purpose of providing sites for nonpermanent overnight use by 4 or more camping units, or which is advertised or represented as a camping area.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Camping unit (model flood regs) Any portable device, no more than 400 square feet in area, used as a temporary shelter, including but not limited to a camping trailer, motor home, bus, van, pick-up truck, or tent that is fully licensed, if required, and ready for highway use.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Certificate of appropriateness (current) Certificate of appropriateness means a statement containing the signature of the secretary of the Historic Commission verifying that the Historic Commission has found the requested action to be appropriate to the general character of the Historic Overlay District and that the requested action may be taken subject to applicable building and zoning codes.

Certificate of compliance (model flood regs w/ edits) A certification issued by the zoning administrator stating that any construction and use of land or a building, the elevation of fill, or the first floor of a structure is in compliance with all of the provisions of the City's floodplain regulations (Chapter 46).
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) An approval granted by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) authorizing the establishment a large-scale electric generating facility, high-voltage transmission line, or natural gas pipeline, which exceed a specified threshold. Certificates are reviewed under the procedures and requirements in § 196.491, Wis. Stats.

Channel (model flood regs) A natural or artificial watercourse with definite bed and banks to confine and conduct normal flow of water.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

City Council (new) The City of Janesville City Council.

City manager (new) The indidual so designated by the City Council. The City Manager is the City's Chief Executive and is responsible for the implementation of the City Council's policies and priorities.

Co-location (new) The location of multiple antennas of more than one commercial wireless communication service provider or governmental entity on a single tower or alternative tower structure.

Commercial zoning district (new) A base zoning district so designated in § 46-921. (Also see manufacturing zoning district, residential zoning district, and special purpose zoning district)

Common open space (new) Those areas within a planned unit development project that will generally remain undeveloped and which are jointly owned and maintained by those owning property in the development.

Compatible (current) Compatible means: (1) Having harmony in design and/or appearance between two or more attributes of a structure; (2) Having harmony in design and/or appearance between two or more structures; (3) Having harmony in design and/or appearance between two or more attributes of a neighborhood; (4) Having harmony in use or function between two or more attributes of a neighborhood or area.

Comprehensive plan (new) A plan adopted by the City of Janesville Common Council consistent with § 66.1001, Wis. Stats., as may be amended.

Conditional use See land use, conditional

Condominium (new) A form of property ownership where multiple owners individually own specified portions of a building along with any other common elements that are held in a proportional, undivided basis.

Condominium association (new) An association, whose members consist of owners of units in a condominium, which administers and maintains the common property and common elements of a condominium.

Conservation easement (new) The grant of a property right or interest from the property owner to another person, agency, unit of government, or organization stipulating that the described land shall remain in its natural, scenic, open, or wooded state, precluding future or additional development.

Conversion order (new) A written decision issued by the Common Council authorizing the property owner to convert an existing nonconforming use to a different nonconforming use that is determined to be of the same or lesser degree of nonconformity.

Corner lot (current) For a definition of the term "corner lot," see Lot, corner (current)

Corner lot (new) See lot, corner

Cottage housing development (new) A residential project characterized by comparatively small housing units that front on a common area. (In contrast see traditional neighborhood development)

Court (current) Court means an area planned to accommodate mobile homes and their accompanying facilities.

CPCN An abbreviation for certificate of public convenience and necessity.

Crawlway or crawl space (model flood regs) An enclosed area below the first usable floor of a building, generally less than 5 feet in height, used for access to plumbing and electrical utilities.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Cupola An architectural feature that sits on the ridgeline of a pitched roof that is typically rounded or a square in cross-section. A copula may be functional—allowing light into the building or enhancing ventilation—or non-functional, serving primarily for aesthetic appeal. They are commonly found on barns, churches, and civic buildings, adding architectural interest and a sense of height to the structure.

Curb (new) A barrier used to separate a street, parking area, or other vehicle use areas from the surrounding environs.

Cutoff luminaire (new) See luminaire, cutoff

DATCP An acronym for Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Deck (model flood regs with edits) A structure characterized by a flat, unroofed, horizontal surface or platform suspended above the grade of the land it covers and which may be supported by posts, beams, cantilever, or other similar methods. Decking is commonly used and allows infiltration of stormwater between the boards.

Decommissioning The removal of all of the following: (1) The above ground portion of a wind energy system, including wind turbines and related facilities, except for access roads if removal has been waived by the property owner. (2) All below ground facilities, except the following: underground collector circuit facilities and those portions of concrete structures 4 feet or more below grade.

Deed restriction (new) An instrument recorded at the county register of deeds office by a property owner that restricts the use and development of a specified property.

Demolition (current s. 42-148) Demolition means any act of razing, destruction, or ruination of all or any part of an improvement.

Density The number of dwelling units per acre of land on a parcel, lot or unified land-developing activity. For the purposes of calculation, the number of dwelling units is the numerator and the acreage is the denominator, with the resultant expressed in dwelling units per acre.

Detachment (new) The process as authorized by state law by which land is removed from a city or village and added to a town. (In contrast see annexation)

Development (current) Development means any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, construction of or additions to or, substantial improvements to buildings, other structures, or accessory uses, the placement of mobile homes, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations, deposition of materials.

Development (model flood regs) Any artificial change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, the construction of buildings, structures, or accessory structures; the construction of additions or alterations to buildings, structures, or accessory structures; the repair of any damaged structure or the improvement or renovation of any structure, regardless of percentage of damage or improvement; the placement of buildings or structures; subdivision layout and site preparation; mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations; the storage, deposition or extraction of materials or equipment; and the installation, repair or removal of public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Development agreement (new) A contract between a developer and a municipality that describes the obligations of both parties regarding a private development project.

Disability (new) A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activity.
Note: Definition derived from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Distinguished or characterized by (new) The dominant or principal theme of the object referenced. For instance, when the phrase refers to films which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis upon the exhibition or display of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, the films so described are those whose dominant or principal character and theme are the exhibition or display of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

District (new) See zoning district

Double frontage lot (new) See lot, through

Drainage greenbelt (current) Drainage greenbelt means a normally dry valley which is subject to intermittent storm runoff.

Drainage system One or more artificial ditches, tile drains, or similar devices which collect surface runoff or groundwater and convey it to a point of discharge.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the shoreland-wetland regulations.

Drainageway (current) Drainageway means a public owned and maintained valley for the purpose of conducting surface drainage; the bottom of a greenbelt.

Drip line (new) A line on the ground established by a vertical plane extending from a trees outermost branch tips down to the ground.

Driveway (new) A private route of ingress and egress from a private or public right-of-way, which provides access to a residential dwelling, business, or properties.

Dryland access (model flood regs) A vehicular access route which is above the regional flood elevation and which connects land located in the floodplain to land outside the floodplain, such as a road with its surface above regional flood elevation and wide enough for wheeled rescue and relief vehicles.

Dwelling A building or portion thereof, used exclusively for residential occupancy, including single-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings, but not including hotels, motels, lodging houses, boardinghouses, tents, cabins, or mobile homes.

Dwelling (current) Dwelling means a building or portion thereof used primarily for human habitation including single-family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings, but not including hotels, motels, or lodginghouses.

Dwelling unit (current) Dwelling unit means a unit consisting of one or more rooms containing cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities and which are arranged, designed, or used as living quarters for one family only. Cooking facilities shall consist of a minimum of a sink equipped that is connected to public potable water and sanitary sewer facilities, a stove or oven that has been designed and approved for interior use and a source of refrigeration that has been designed and approved for interior use and both of which are intended for the preparation and preservation of food for human consumption. Sanitary facilities shall consist of a minimum of a toilet, sink and shower or bathtub that are all connected to public potable water and sanitary sewer facilities.

Dwelling unit (new - revised?) A building, or portion thereof, that provides complete, independent living facilities for one household unit, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.

Easement (new) A non-possessory legal interest a person has in the property of another for a specific use. An easement may apply to the entire property or a portion thereof and may be perpetual or temporary, expiring after a period of time or after a certain event occurs.

Efficiency (current) A dwelling unit consisting of one principal room with no separate sleeping rooms.

Elevator penthouse That portion of an elevator shaft that extends above the last service floor where mechanicals are housed.

Encroachment (model flood regs) Any fill, structure, equipment, use, or development in the floodway.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Environmental control facility A temporary or permanent facility that is reasonably expected to abate, reduce, or aid in the prevention, measurement, control, or monitoring of noise, air, or water pollutants, solid waste and thermal, radiation or other pollutants, including facilities installed principally to supplement or to replace existing property or equipment not meeting or allegedly not meeting acceptable pollution control standards or which are to be supplemented or replaced by other pollution control facilities.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the shoreland-wetland regulations.

Equipment compound (new) The area surrounding or adjacent to the base of an existing support structure within which is located mobile service facilities.
Note: (1) This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats. (2) This definition is only used in the context of telecommunication facilites.

Erosion The detachment and movement of soil, sediment or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, or gravity.

Existing facilities (current-wellhead) means current facilities, practices and activities which may cause or threaten to cause environmental pollution within that portion of the well head protection district that lies within the corporate limits of the City.

Existing mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision See mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision, existing

Expansion to existing mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision See mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision, expansion to existing

Facade (new) The exterior face of a building including projections from and attachments to the buildings face. Projections and attachments include balconies, decks, porches, awnings, and chimneys.

Fall zone (new) The area over which a mobile support structure is designed to collapse.
Note: (1) This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats. (2) This definition is only used in the context of telecommunication facilties.

Family (new) See household unit

Farm drainage ditch (new) An artificial channel that drains water from lands currently used for agricultural purposes.
Note: This term is used in the definition for navigable water.

FC An abbreviation for footcandle.

FCC An abbreviation for Federal Communications Commission.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (new) A federal agency established by the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate broadcast communications (e.g., wire, radio, and television) in the United States.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (model flood regs w minor edits) The federal agency that administers the National Flood Insurance Program, among other programs and activities.

FEMA An acronym for Federal Emergency Management Agency .

Fenestration (current s. 42-163) The design and placement of windows in a building.

Financial guarantee (new) A written guarantee, such as a letter of credit, that a developer submits to the City to ensure the completion of an obligation relating to a development project.

Fire lane (new) A hard surfaced travelway extending along one or more sides of a building or other structure that provides access exclusively for fire fighters.

FIRM An acronym for flood insurance rate map.

FIS An abbreviation for flood insurance study.

Five-year time of travel The land area around a well, within which water and any contaminants would reach a pumping well within five years, based on a determination or an estimate.

Five-year time of travel (needed?) The 5-year time of travel is the recharge area upgradient of the cone of depression, the outer boundary of which it is determined or estimated that groundwater will take five years to reach a pumping well.

Flood frequency (model flood regs) The probability of a flood occurrence which is determined from statistical analyses. The frequency of a particular flood event is usually expressed as occurring, on the average once in a specified number of years or as a percent chance of occurring in any given year.

Flood hazard boundary map (model flood regs) A map designating approximate flood hazard areas. Flood hazard areas are designated as unnumbered A zones and do not contain floodway lines or regional flood elevations. This map forms the basis for both the regulatory and insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until superseded by a flood insurance study and a flood insurance rate map.

Flood insurance rate map (FIRM) (model flood regs) A map of a community on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the floodplain and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. This map can only be amended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Flood insurance study (FIS) (model flood regs) A technical engineering examination, evaluation, and determination of the local flood hazard areas. It provides maps designating those areas affected by the regional flood and provides both flood insurance rate zones and base flood elevations and may provide floodway lines. The flood hazard areas are designated as numbered and unnumbered A zones. Flood insurance rate maps, that accompany the flood insurance study, form the basis for both the regulatory and the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Flood or flooding (model flood regs) A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas caused by one of the following conditions: (1) The overflow or rise of inland waters; (2) The rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; (3) The inundation caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels along the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior; or (4) The sudden increase caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as a seiche, or by some similarly unusual event.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Flood profile (model flood regs) A graph or a longitudinal profile line showing the relationship of the water surface elevation of a flood event to locations of land surface elevations along a stream or river.

Flood protection elevation (model flood regs) An elevation of 2 feet of freeboard above the water surface profile elevation designated for the regional flood. (Also see freeboard.)

Flood storage (model flood regs) Those floodplain areas where storage of floodwaters has been taken into account during analysis in reducing the regional flood discharge.

Floodfringe (model flood regs) That portion of the floodplain outside of the floodway which is covered by floodwaters during the regional flood and associated with standing water rather than flowing water. (In contrast see floodway)

Floodplain (model flood regs) Land which has been or may be covered by floodwater during the regional flood. It includes the floodway and the floodfringe, and may include other designated floodplain areas for regulatory purposes. (Also see floodway and floodfringe)
Note: This definition only applies in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Floodplain island (model flood regs) A natural geologic land formation within the floodplain that is surrounded, but not covered, by floodwater during the regional flood.

Floodplain management (model flood regs) Policies and procedures to ensure wise use of floodplains, including mapping and engineering, mitigation, education, and administration and enforcement of floodplain regulations.
Note: This definition only applies in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Floodplain permit See certificate of compliance

Floodproofing (model flood regs) Any combination of structural provisions, changes, or adjustments to properties and structures, water and sanitary facilities and contents of buildings subject to flooding, for the purpose of reducing or eliminating flood damage.

Floodway (model flood regs) The channel of a river or stream and those portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel required to carry the regional flood discharge. (In contrast see floodfringe)

Flyaway barrier (new) A natural or manmade obstacle designed to cause bees to fly upward after exiting the hive and directing them away from neighboring and adjoining areas inhabited by humans. Barriers may be fences and/or dense vegetation.

Footcandle (FC) (new) The unit of measure expressing the quantity of light received on a surface. One footcandle is the illuminance produced by a candle on a surface one foot square from a distance of one foot.

Freeboard (model flood regs) A safety factor expressed in terms of a specified number of feet above a calculated flood level. Freeboard compensates for any factors that cause flood heights greater than those calculated, including ice jams, debris accumulation, wave action, obstruction of bridge openings and floodways, the effects of watershed urbanization, loss of flood storage areas due to development and aggregation of the river or stream bed.

Front yard See yard, front

Frontage The smallest dimension of a lot abutting a public street measured along the street right-of-way line. For lots abutting a lake or stream, the smallest dimension measured along the shoreline.

Frontage (current) Frontage means that portion of a lot abutting a public street or, in a planned unit development, abutting a private street.

Fugitive dust (new) Solid airborne particulate matter resulting from any activity conducted on a parcel.

Garage (current) Garage means a building or portion thereof that is greater than 120 square feet in area and in which a motor vehicle containing gasoline, distillate, or other volatile flammable liquid in its tank may or may not be stored, prepared, or kept. A garage may also allow storage of other vehicles (including electric vehicles), tools, gardening equipment, or other vehicle or equipment that includes gasoline or other volatile flammable liquid in its tank.

Garage, attached (current) Attached garage shall mean a garage which meets or exceeds one or more of the following: (1) Attached directly to the principal building.

Garage, detached (current) Detached garage means a garage entirely separated from the principal building and which meets or exceeds one or more of the following: (1) Situated so that any portion of any garage wall lies on or to the rear of an imaginary line extending across the lot (said line being five feet in back of and parallel to the closest rear wall of the principal building or attached deck) and all other garage walls are ten feet (or five feet if a firewall is provided in accordance with the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code) or more from any other wall of the principal building.

Geothermal energy system A sealed, watertight loop of pipe buried outside of a building foundation, intended to re-circulate a liquid solution through a heat exchanger. This includes but is not limited to: vertical closed loop, horizontal closed loop and body of water closed loop systems.

Geothermal energy system, horizontal A geothermal energy system constructed to contain horizontal piping and the installation and grouting of the horizontal piping when such piping does not exceed 20 feet in depth.

Geothermal energy system, vertical A geothermal energy system constructed to contain vertical piping and the installation and grouting of the vertical piping exceeding 20 feet in depth.

Grading plan (new) A scaled drawing that generally documents the natural grade and finished grade at important reference points, such as property boundaries, building edges, building entrances, driveway entrances and top and bottom of retaining walls.

Green area (current) Green area means that part of a parcel or lot that is permanently devoted to grass, trees, shrubs and similar natural aesthetic plantings.

Groundwater protection overlay district (current-wellhead) means that area described within the water utility's Well Head Protection Plan. A copy of the well head protection plan can be obtained from the water utility.

Habitable structure (model flood regs) Any structure or portion thereof used or designed for human habitation.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Hazard (new) A condition, whether manmade or natural, that presents a tangible danger to the public health, safety, and general welfare.

Height (current) Height refers to the height of a building and is measured from the ground level at the entrance to the building to the highest point of the roof.

High flood damage potential (model flood regs) Damage that could result from flooding that includes any danger to life or health or any significant economic loss to a structure or building and its contents.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Highest adjacent grade (model flood regs) The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Highway width map (new - needed?) A map adopted by Rock County pursuant to § 66.1031, Wis. Stats.

Historic overlay district (current) Historic Overlay District means an area designated by the City Council which contains one or more improvements or historic structures (also referred to as Historic District).

Historic structure (current) Historic structure means any improvement which has historic significance as described in the intent and purpose of this article.

Historic structure (model flood regs) Any structure that is (1) listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; (2) certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district; (3) individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or (4) individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either by an approved state program, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

HOA (new) An abbreviation for homeowners association.

Holiday lighting (new) A string of individual low-wattage lamps temporarily installed in connection with a holiday or religious observance and removed after such observance.

Homeowners association (HOA) (new) An association registered with the State of Wisconsin combining individual ownership with shared use, ownership, maintenance, and responsibility for common property or facilities, including private open space, within a development project.

Honey bee (new) A life stages of the common domestic honey bee, Apis mellifera, species of European origin.

Hotel (current) Hotel means a building containing a group of rooms for sleeping accommodations with bathroom and closet space and designed for use by transient tourists or temporary residents.

Household unit (formerly Family in s. 42-161) Family means an individual or two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or legal adoption living as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit, including foster children, domestic servants, and not more than four roomers.

Household unit (new) An individual living alone in a dwelling unit, or 2 or more individuals living together in a dwelling unit who are related by blood, marriage, adoption, or other legal means, or a group of not more than 4 individuals who are not so related who live together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit. A single housekeeping entity infers the use in common of all spaces, household services, and utilities with a single source of food preparation for all occupants.

Hydraulic reach (current) Hydraulic reach means that portion of the river or stream extending from one significant change in the hydraulic character of the river or stream to the next significant change. These changes are usually associated with breaks in the slope of the water surface profile, and may be caused by bridges, dams, expansion and contraction of the water flow, and changes in stream bed slope or vegetation.

Impervious coverage (new) The area of a lot that substantially reduces or prevents the infiltration of stormwater into the ground. Impervious coverage is expressed as a percent of the entire lot. Depending on the context, impervious coverage could refer to the actual or proposed amount, or the maximum amount that is permitted in a zoning district. (In contrast see building coverage)
Note: See § 46-## that describes how impervious coverage is measured.

Impervious surface Any artificial or natural surface which does not allow the entrance or passage of water or sediment into the ground surface. These areas seal the ground surface from infiltration of water into the subsurface and prevent recharge of the ground water and increase the amount of stormwater runoff. Runoff from impervious surfaces tends to increase the potential for flooding, and carries sediment and pollutants that are detrimental to the quality of surface waters. New developments typically increase the amount of impervious surface. It is important to manage and minimize the amount of impervious surface in new and existing developments to help protect the surface waters and help recharge natural ground water. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to buildings and roof areas, structures, concrete or asphalt surfaces, gravel or traffic bond surfaces, decks with no spaces in between the decking, and bricks or pavers with no spacing between, which are placed on traffic bond.

Improvement (current) Improvement means any building, erection, structure or appurtenance within an historic district and shall include, but is not limited to, the following: wall, fence, steps, paving, gate, sign, light, general arrangement of place or area, the kind of texture or quality of building material, landscaping or landscape architecture, or work of art which may be erected upon or proposed to be erected upon any specific real estate.

Increase in regional flood height (model flood regs) A calculated upward rise in the regional flood elevation greater than 0.00 feet, based on a comparison of existing conditions and proposed conditions which is directly attributable to development in the floodplain but not attributable to manipulation of mathematical variables such as roughness factors, expansion and contraction coefficients, and discharge.

Interior lot (new) See lot, interior

Irrevocable letter of credit An agreement, entered into by a bank, savings and loan, or other financial institution which is authorized to do business in the State of Wisconsin and which has a financial standing acceptable to the City of Janesville, and which is approved, as to form, by the city attorney.

Kilowatt (kW) A unit of measure for how much power an electrical device consumes or generates. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.

Kitchenette A small kitchen or area for preparing food, often as a part of a room instead of a separate room.

kW An abbreviation for kilowatt.

Lamp (new) The component of a luminaire that produces the actual light.

Land division regulations (new) All of the requirements set forth in Chapter 12 of the municipal code.

Land use Any nonstructural use made of unimproved or improved real estate. (Also see development)
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Land use (current flood regs) Any nonstructural use made of unimproved or improved real estate. (Also see Development.)

Land use (new) As the context indicates (1) the development that has occurred on the land, (2) development that is proposed for the land, or (3) the use permitted for the land under the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Land use, accessory (new) A land use that is subordinate to, and customarily incidental to, the permitted principal use of the property or buildings and located upon the same lot as the principal use.

Land use, conditional (current) Conditional use means a use which, because of its unique or varying characteristics, cannot be properly classified as a permitted use in a particular district. After due consideration, as provided for in this article, of the impact of such use upon neighboring land and of the public need for the particular use at a particular location, such conditional use may or may not be granted.

Land use, conditional (new) A land use, which by its nature, character, or circumstance, is so unique or so dependent upon specific conditions that permissibility by right is not practical, but which may be permitted subject to certain conditions and requirements as determined by the reviewing authority.

Land use, permitted by right (new) A land use that is allowed throughout a specified zoning district. Land uses permitted by right may be reviewed to ensure that all provisions of local, state, and federal regulations are met.

Land use, principal (new) The main or primary use of a property as may be allowed under the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Land use, temporary (new) A land use which is on a parcel of land for a limited and specified period of time.

Land-disturbing activity Any manmade change of the land surface, including removing vegetative cover, excavating, filling and grading, and installation of any site improvements. The term does not include agricultural activities such as planting, growing, cultivating and harvesting of crops; growing and tending of gardens; harvesting of trees as may be allowed; and planting of trees and shrubs without modifying the existing grade.

Landscape island (new) An area reserved for landscaping within a parking lot or other paved or improved area.

Landscape plan (new) A scaled drawing of a subject property that shows existing and/or proposed landscaping elements and other features as required by the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46). Depending on the nature of the development project, the content of a landscaping plan can be shown on a site plan. (Also see site plan)

Legal nonconforming building (new) See nonconforming building

Legal nonconforming lot (new) See nonconforming lot

Legal nonconforming structure (new) See nonconforming structure

Legal nonconforming use (new) See nonconforming use

Letter of map amendment (LOMA) Official notification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that a flood hazard boundary map or flood insurance rate map (FIRM) has been amended.

Light fixture (new) See luminaire

Light pollution (new) Any adverse effect of artificial light including, glare, light trespass, sky glow, energy waste, compromised safety and security, and impacts on the nocturnal environment.

Light trespass (new) Light that falls beyond the property it is intended to illuminate.

Living area (current s. 42-190) Living area means the gross floor area of living space within the principal building, excluding porches, decks, breezeways, garages, and basements, regardless of whether or not these areas are finished.

Living area (revised) The total area bounded by the exterior walls of a building at the floor levels, but not including a basement, utility rooms, attached garages, porches, breezeways, and unfinished attics. (In contrast see building area.)

Loading area A designated place on a parcel of land for the loading or unloading of freight carriers.

Lodging, rooming, or boarding room (current) Lodging or boarding room means a room within a dwelling unit that is rented as a sleeping and living quarters, but without separate kitchen facilities and with or without an individual bathroom.

LOMA An acronym for letter of map amendment.

Lot (current s. 42-193) Lot means a parcel of land recorded for the purpose of transferring ownership.

Lot (new) A parcel of land on which a principal building and its accessory building are placed, together with the required open spaces, provided that no such parcel shall be bisected by a public street and should not include any portion of a public right-of-way. No lands dedicated to the public or reserved for roadway purposes should be included in the computation of lot size.

Lot area (current s. 42-194) Lot area means the area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side and rear lot lines.

Lot area (new) As the context indicates, the minimum required area of a lot, actual area of a lot, or proposed area.
Note: See 46-## that describes how lot area is measured.

Lot corner (current) Corner lot means a lot that has at least two adjacent sides that abut for their full lengths upon a street provided that the interior angle at the intersection of such two sides is less than 150 degrees.

Lot depth The horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines. Depending on the context, the term can refer to the required depth of a lot, actual depth, or proposed depth.
Note: See 46-## that describes how lot depth is measured.

Lot depth (current) Lot depth means the mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line of a lot measured within the lot boundaries.

Lot line (new) A line dividing one parcel of land from another.

Lot width (new) The width of a parcel of land measured at the front of the specified street yard OR measured at the setback line. Depending on the context, the term can refer to the required width of a lot, actual width, or proposed width.
Note: See § 46-## that describes how lot width is measured.

Lot, corner A lot abutting two or more streets at their intersection provided that the corner of such intersection shall have an angle of 135 degrees or less, measured on the lot side. The primary street yard shall be that associated with the mailing address or fire number, as applicable. The other street yard shall be the secondary street yard. (See lot type illustration)

Lot, corner (new) A lot abutting two or more streets at their intersection provided the corner of such intersection has an angle of 135 degrees or less, measured on the lot side.

Lot, double frontage A parcel of land, other than a corner lot, with frontage on more than 1 street or with frontage on a street and a navigable body of water. Double frontage lots, for the purpose of this chapter, shall be deemed to have two street yards and no rear yard. The primary street yard shall be that associated with the mailing address or fire number, as applicable. The secondary street yard shall be opposite the primary street yard. (See lot type illustration).

Lot, flag (new) A lot which has a narrow strip of land that extends from the main part of the lot where a building could be lawfully constructed to the street.

Lot, interior (none in current code)

Lot, through (current) Through, lot, means a lot having a pair of opposite lot lines along two more or less parallel public streets and which is not a corner lot. On a through lot, both street lines shall be deemed front lot lines.

Lot, through (OR double frontage) A parcel or lot, other than a corner lot, with frontage on two streets or with frontage on a street and a navigable body of water. Where access to the parcel or lot is restricted from one of the frontages, then the yard facing the restricted access street shall be considered the rear yard for building setback purposes, and the yard facing the allowable access street shall be considered the street yard for building setback purposes.

Lowest adjacent grade (model flood regs) The elevation of the lowest ground surface that touches any of the exterior walls of a building.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Lowest floor (model flood regs) The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An enclosed space as provided in (s. 5.3(2)(f)) § _________ is not considered the building's lowest floor.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Low-impact stormwater design (new) A design approach to stormwater management intended to mimic the predevelopment hydrology of a site. Initial site design strategies include minimizing impervious surfaces and the integration of existing wetlands, riparian areas, and other environmentally sensitive natural resources into the overall site design. Manmade features, generally distributed throughout the site, are also used to store, infiltrate, evaporate, and detain stormwater runoff. Examples of such features include bioswales, rain gardens, and pervious surfaces. This term is sometimes referred to as low impact development (LID).

Lumen (new) A unit of measure used to quantify the amount of light produced by a lamp or emitted from a luminaire.
Note: The lumen output of a lamp is typically listed on the packaging. A 60-watt incandescent lamp produces 950 lumens and a 55-watt low-pressure sodium lamp produces 8,000 lumens.

Luminaire (new) A complete lighting unit, consisting of one or more lamps and ballast(s), if any, together with the parts designed to distribute the light (e.g., reflector, lens, diffuser), to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.

Luminaire, cutoff (new) A luminaire that is designed and installed so that the luminous intensity at or above an angle of 90 degrees above nadir (as measured directly below the lamp to the ground) does not exceed 2.5 percent of the luminous flux of the lamp or lamps in the luminaire, and the luminous intensity at or above a vertical angle of 80 degrees above nadir does not exceed 10 percent of the luminous flux of the lamp or lamps in the luminaire.

Luminaire, shielded (new) A luminaire that is designed and installed so that light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted.

Maintenance (model flood regs) The act or process of ordinary upkeep and repairs, including redecorating, refinishing, non-structural repairs, or the replacement of existing fixtures, systems, or equipment with equivalent fixtures, systems, or structures. (Also see alteration.)
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Major street (needed?) A street so designated on the adopted zoning map.

Manufactured home (current flood regs) a structure transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to required utilities. The term "manufactured home" includes a mobile home but does not include a "mobile recreational vehicle.�

Manufactured home (revised) A dwelling unit that is constructed in an off-site facility in conformance with the federal construction and safety standards established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to the Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended.
Note: A manufactured home bears a red insignia which certifies that it meets all applicable federal construction and safety standards.

Manufacturing zoning district (new) A base zoning district so designated in 46-921. (Also see commercial zoning district, residential zoning district, and special purpose zoning district)

Marquee A flat, roof-like feature that projects beyond the face of an exterior wall. A marquee is typically placed above a door or window to provide protection from the sun and precipitation. (Also see awning)

Maximum blade tip height The nominal hub height plus the nominal blade length of a wind turbine, as listed in the wind turbine specifications provided by the wind turbine manufacturer. If not listed in the wind turbine specifications, "maximum blade tip height" means the actual hub height plus the blade length.

Maximum blade tip height (new) The nominal hub height plus the nominal blade length of a wind turbine, as listed in the wind turbine specifications provided by the wind turbine manufacturer. If not listed in the wind turbine specifications, maximum blade tip height means the actual hub height plus the blade length.

Migrant labor contractor (current) Migrant labor contractor means any person, who, for a fee or other consideration, on behalf of another person, recruits, solicits, hires, or furnishes migrant workers, excluding members of the contractor's immediate family, for employment in the State of Wisconsin. The term "migrant labor contractor" shall not include an employer or any full-time regular employees of an employer who engages in any such activity for the purpose of supplying workers solely for the employer's own operation.

Migrant worker (current) Migrant worker means any person who temporarily leaves a principal place of residence outside of this state and comes to the State of Wisconsin for not more than ten months in a year to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state.

Mini-warehouse (current) Mini-warehouse means a building containing separate storage spaces of varying sizes leased or rented for the storage of customers' goods.

Mitigate (new) To take an action designed to offset or rectify a negative effect.

Mobile home (current) Mobile home means a transportable, factory built home, designed to be used as a year-round residential dwelling and which: (1) Was built prior to enactment of the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, which became effective June 15, 1976; and/or (2) Regardless of when built, is not in conformance with said Act.

Mobile home (revised) A dwelling unit that was originally constructed prior to June 15, 1976, and that is (1) constructed off-site, (2) equipped with the necessary utility service connections, (3) made to be readily movable as a unit or units on its (their) own running gear, and (4) designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation.
Note: After June 15, 1976 no mobile homes have been constructed.

Mobile home court (current) Mobile home court means an area planned to accommodate a group of mobile and/or manufactured homes and their accompanying facilities.

Mobile home lot (current) Mobile home lot means a lot within a mobile home court designated for the exclusive use of a single mobile or manufactured home.

Mobile home stand (current) Mobile home stand means that part of a mobile home lot which has been reserved and designed to support and anchor a mobile home with appurtenant structures or additions to the mobile home.

Mobile recreational vehicle (model flood regs) A vehicle which is built on a single chassis, 400 square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection, designed to be self-propelled, carried, or permanently towable by a licensed, light-duty vehicle, is licensed for highway use if registration is required and is designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling, but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use. Manufactured homes that are towed or carried onto a parcel of land, but do not remain capable of being towed or carried, including park model homes, do not fall within the definition of mobile recreational vehicles.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Mobile service (new) A radio communication service carried on between mobile stations or receivers and land stations, and by mobile stations communicating among themselves, and includes (1) both one-way and two-way radio communication services; (2) a mobile service which provides a regularly interacting group of base, mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations (whether licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiple basis) for private one-way or two-way land mobile radio communications by eligible users over designated areas of operation; and (3) any service for which a license is required in a personal communications service established pursuant to the proceeding entitled Amendment to the Commissions Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services (GEN Docket No. 90-314; ET Docket No. 92-100).
Note: This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats.

Mobile service facility (new) The set of equipment and network components, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, base stations, power supplies, cabling, and associated equipment, that is necessary to provide mobile service to a discrete geographic area, but does not include the underlying support structure.
Note: This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats.

Mobile service provider (new) A person who provides mobile service.
Note: This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats.

Mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision (model flood regs) A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land, divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision, existing (model flood regs) A parcel of land, divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale, on which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots is completed before the effective date of this ordinance. At a minimum, this would include the installation of utilities, the construction of streets and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Mobile/manufactured home park, expansion to existing (model flood regs) The preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed. This includes installation of utilities, construction of streets and either final site grading, or the pouring if concrete pads.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Model, corrected effective (model flood regs) A hydraulic engineering model that corrects any errors that occur in the duplicate effective model, adds any additional cross sections to the duplicate effective model, or incorporates more detailed topographic information than that used in the current effective model.

Model, duplicate effective (model flood regs) A copy of the hydraulic analysis used in the effective flood insurance study (FIS) and referred to as the effective model.

Model, effective (model flood regs) The hydraulic engineering model that was used to produce the current effective flood insurance study (FIS).

Model, existing (pre-project) (model flood regs) A modification of the duplicate effective model or corrected effective model to reflect any man-made modifications that have occurred within the floodplain since the date of the effective model but prior to the construction of the project for which the revision is being requested. If no modification has occurred since the date of the effective model, then this model would be identical to the corrected effective model or duplicate effective model.

Model, revised (post-project) (model flood regs) A modification of the existing or pre-project conditions model, duplicate effective model, or corrected effective model to reflect revised or post-project conditions.

Modular home (new) A dwelling unit that meets local building codes and which was constructed off site in a factory as separate modules which are joined together and set on a permanent foundation.

Motel (current) Motel means a building or buildings consisting of a group of rooms for sleeping accommodations with bathroom and closet space and designed for use by transient tourists.

Mulch (new) A nonliving organic or inorganic material customarily used in landscape design to retard erosion, retain soil moisture, maintain even soil temperature, control weeds, and/or enrich the soil. Examples of materials often used include tree bark, wood chips, and decorative stones.

Municipal code (new) The compilation of laws as adopted by the City of Janesville.

Municipal water supply (new) The municipal water supply of the City of Janesville.

Nameplate capacity The nominal generating capacity of a wind energy system, as listed in the wind turbine specifications provided by the wind turbine manufacturer.

National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) (model flood regs) Elevations referenced to mean sea level datum, 1929 adjustment. (Also see North American Vertical Datum)

NAVD An abbreviation for North American Vertical Datum.

Navigable waters (revised s. 42-210) Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, natural inland lakes, streams, ponds, sloughs, flowages, and other waters, including the Wisconsin portion of boundary waters, which are navigable under the laws of this state. The term does not include farm drainage ditches if (1) such lands are not adjacent to a natural navigable stream or river, (2) those parts of such drainage ditches adjacent to such lands were not navigable streams before ditching, and (3) such lands are maintained in nonstructural agricultural use. (Also see farm drainage ditch)
Note: In Wisconsin, a navigable body of water is capable of floating the lightest boat or skiff used for recreation or any other purpose on a regularly recurring basis. See DeGayner Co., Inc. v. DNR, 70 Wis. 2d 936 (1975) and Village of Menomonee Falls v. DNR, 140 Wis. 2d 579 (Ct. App. 1987).

Neighborhood meeting see handbook for more details.

New construction (current flood regs) for floodplain management purposes, the term "new construction" (current flood regs) structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of floodplain zoning regulations adopted by this community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures. For the purpose of determining flood insurance rates, it includes any structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of an initial FIRM or after December 31, 1974, whichever is later, and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.

New construction (model flood regs) Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of floodplain zoning regulations adopted by this community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

NGVD An abbreviation for National Geodetic Vertical Datum.

Nonconforming building (new) A building that at the time of construction conformed to existing regulations including size, location, and other dimensional standards, but is now inconsistent with the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Nonconforming lot (new) A lot that at the time of creation conformed to existing regulations including lot size, dimensions, lot configuration, and other dimensional and design standards, but is now inconsistent with the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Nonconforming structure (model flood regs) An existing lawful structure or building which is not in conformity with the dimensional or structural requirements of the floodplain regulations for the area of the floodplain which it occupies. (For example, an existing residential structure in the floodfringe district is a conforming use. However, if the lowest floor is lower than the flood protection elevation, the structure is nonconforming.)
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Nonconforming structure (new - needed?) A structure that at the time of construction or placement conformed to existing regulations including size, location, and other dimensional standards, but is now inconsistent with the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Nonconforming use (current) Nonconforming use means any use of land, buildings, or structures which does not comply with all the regulations of this article or of any amendment hereto governing use for the zoning district in which such use is located.

Nonconforming use (model flood regs) An existing lawful use or accessory use of a structure or building which is not in conformity with the provisions of the floodplain regulations for the area of the floodplain which it occupies. (Such as a residence in the floodway.)
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Nonconforming use (new) A use of land that at the time of establishment conformed to existing regulations, but is now inconsistent with the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Nonconforming uses or structures Any structure, land, or water lawfully used, occupied, or erected at the time of the effective date of this chapter or amendments thereto which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter or amendment thereto. Any such structure conforming in respect to use but not in respect to frontage, width, height, area, yard, parking, loading, or distance requirements shall be considered a nonconforming structure and not a nonconforming use.

Non-electric vehicle Any motor vehicle that does not meet the definition of electric vehicle.

Non-flood disaster (model flood regs) A fire or an ice storm, tornado, windstorm, mudslide, or other destructive act of nature, but excludes a flood.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Nonparticipating property (needed?) Real property that is not a participating property.

Nonparticipating residence (needed?) A residence located on nonparticipating property.

Nonprofit conservation organization (new) A nonprofit corporation, charitable trust, or other nonprofit organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes the acquisition of property or rights in property for conservation purposes as part of its mission, as reflected in the bylaws, charter, or incorporation papers of the organization.

North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) (model flood regs) Elevations referenced to mean sea level datum, 1988 adjustment. (Also see National Geodetic Vertical Datum)

Nursery school (current) For a definition of the term "nursery school," see Day care center.

Nursing home (current) For a definition of the term "nursing home," see Convalescent home or nursing home.

Obstruction to flow (model flood regs) Any development which blocks the conveyance of floodwaters such that this development alone or together with any future development will cause an increase in regional flood height.

Official floodplain zoning map (model flood regs w/ minor edits) The map, adopted and made part of the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) which has been approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Official letter of map amendment (current) Official letter of map amendment means official notification from the Federal Insurance Administration Office of FEMA that a flood hazard boundary map or flood insurance study map has been amended. This official letter does not amend the floodplain zoning map for regulation purposes.

OHWM An abbreviation for ordinary high-water mark.

Open space (current) Open space means that part of a parcel or lot which is open to the sky and which is unoccupied by buildings, or structures. However, swimming pools, tennis courts, or similar recreational facilities and walks, off-street parking spaces or other similar uses are permitted in required open space.

Open space use (model flood regs) Those uses having a relatively low flood damage potential and not involving structures.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Open storage lot (current) Open storage lot means an unroofed area upon which are kept any goods, materials, merchandise, product, vehicles and other items.

Ordinance (new) A legislative measure adopted by a municipality that is legally binding and enforceable. Although an ordinance is a permanent enactment, it may be rescinded or modified. (In contrast see resolution.)

Ordinary high-water mark (OHWM) The point on the bank or shore up to which the presence and action of surface water is so continuous as to leave a distinctive mark such as by erosion, destruction or prevention of terrestrial vegetation, predominance of aquatic vegetation, or other easily recognized characteristic. Where the bank or shore of any particular place is of such character that it is difficult or impossible to ascertain where the point of ordinary high-water mark is, recourse may be had to the opposite bank of a stream or to other places on the shore of a lake or flowage to determine whether a given stage of water is above or below the ordinary high-water mark.

Outdoor cafe (current) Outdoor cafe means a place of business or an accessory business activity being operated for the sale and purchase at retail of food, refreshments or beverages which is laid out to allow its patrons to be served on the premises and outside any completely enclosed structure. The term "outdoor cafe" shall not include drive-in establishment.

Overlay district See zoning district, overlay

Overlay zoning district See zoning district, overlay

Owner (Wind Energy System) (1) A person with a direct ownership interest in a wind energy system, regardless of whether the person was involved in acquiring the necessary rights, permits and approvals or otherwise planning for the construction and operation of a wind energy system. (2) At the time a wind energy system is being developed, a person who is acting as a wind energy system developer by acquiring the necessary rights, permits and approvals for or by planning for the construction and operation of a wind energy system, regardless of whether the person will own or operate the wind energy system.

Panelized home (new) A dwelling unit that meets local building codes and which was constructed off site in a factory as flat panels (e.g., walls, roof, and floor) which are joined together and set on a permanent foundation.

Parking space (new) A graded and surfaced area of not less than 180 square feet in area either enclosed or open for the parking of a motor vehicle, having adequate ingress and egress to a public street or alley.

Participating property (needed?) Any of the following: (1) A turbine host property. (2) Real property that is the subject of an agreement that does all of the following: (a) Provides for the payment of monetary compensation to the landowner from the owner regardless of whether any part of a wind energy system is constructed on the property. (b) Specifies in writing any waiver of a requirement or right under this chapter and that the landowner's acceptance of payment establishes the landowner's property as a participating property.

Participating residence (needed?) A residence located on participating property.

PDD An abbreviation for planned development district.

Permanent foundation (new) A foundation wall under the entire perimeter of a building.

Permitted use (new) See land use, permitted by right

Person (current revised s. 42-221) An individual, corporation, municipality or other local unit of government, governmental agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal entity.

Personal communications Includes wireless telecommunications, personal communications service, radio, television, wireless internet service, and other systems used for personal use purposes.

Pervious surface Any artificial or natural surface which allows the entrance or passage of water or sediment into the ground surface via the porous nature of the material itself. The void areas and the infiltration rates of these materials allow rainwater and surface water to penetrate deep into the soil areas allowing the natural recharge of groundwater. The Town of West Bend promotes and in some cases requires the use of pervious materials in lieu of impervious materials in developed areas of the Town; therefore the Town is encouraging the use of materials and technologies which achieve the goals of protection of surface water quality, prevention of flooding and groundwater recharge. Some examples of these materials include open cell block grass pavers, spaced paving bricks or pavers, pervious asphalt and pervious concrete.

Photometric (lighting) plan (new) A scaled drawing of the subject property showing where light fixtures will be located and at what height, together with simulated lighting levels across the property. Additional details are provided for each type of fixture used, typically cut sheets from the manufacturer.

Photovoltaic cell A semiconductor device that converts solar energy into electricity.

Pier (new) A structure extending into navigable waters from the shore with water on both sides, that is built or maintained for the purpose of providing a berth for watercraft or for loading or unloading cargo or passengers onto or from watercraft. Such a structure may include a boat shelter which is removed seasonally. Such a structure may include a boat hoist or boat lift, and the hoist or lift may be permanent or may be removed seasonally. (Also see wharf)

Plan Commission (new) The commission established by the Common Council to make recommendations and decisions relating to planning and land use issues as authorized by the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) and Wisconsin Statutes.

Planned development district (PDD) (new) A zoning district established pursuant to the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) that has PDD followed by a number as its abbreviation (e.g., PDD-01).

Planned unit development (PUD) (current) Planned unit development (PUD) means a parcel of land having an area as required in the district regulations under common management and single ownership control or under condominium ownership pursuant to Wis. Stats. ch. 703 and which is the site for one or more buildings and where yard requirements as required by district regulations may be modified as regulated by this article.

Playhouse (new) An accessory building, either at ground level or elevated, or supported by a tree, characteristically used by children for play.

Porch (new) A part of a building with a roof of its own that covers an entrance.

Pre-cut home (new) A dwelling unit that meets local building codes and which was largely constructed off site in a factory and then disassembled and transported to the site where it is reassembled and set on a permanent foundation.

Premises Any lot or parcel of land owned by any person, firm or corporation, public or private, improved with building, whether occupied or unoccupied.

Principal structure The primary structure on a parcel of land where the principal use occurs.

Principal use The permitted or conditional use on a parcel of land.

Private sewage system (model flood regs) A sewage treatment and disposal system serving one structure with a septic tank and soil absorption field located on the same parcel as the structure. It also means an alternative sewage system approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services, including a substitute for the septic tank or soil absorption field, a holding tank, a system serving more than one structure, or a system located on a different parcel than the structure.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Property boundary line (new) See lot line

Public notice (new) The means that a governmental body uses, or is required to use, to formally notify people and other interested entities of a pending governmental hearing or proposed action.

Public utilities (model flood regs) Those utilities using underground or overhead transmission lines such as electric, telephone and telegraph, and distribution and collection systems such as water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Public utility (new) A public utility as defined in §196.01, Wis. Stats.
Note: This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats.

Public view (current s. 42-223) Any view from a street, site, way or building and shall include the visual perspective from any adjoining or abutting property to an Historic Overlay District or to an improvement within an Historic Overlay District.

Rain garden (new) A planted area that is designed, with respect to placement and plant selection, to filter and temporarily store stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces.

Reach, hydraulic (current) For a definition of the term "reach, hydraulic," see Hydraulic reach.

Rear yard (new) See yard, rear

Reasonably safe from flooding (model flood regs) Base flood waters will not inundate the land or damage structures to be removed from the floodplain and that any subsurface waters related to the base flood will not damage existing or proposed buildings.

Recharge area (needed ?) The area which encompasses all areas or features that, by surface infiltration of water that reaches the zone of saturation of an aquifer, supplies groundwater to a well.

Redevelopment Any substantive change to a developed site, its structures, or its uses.

Regional flood (model flood regs) A flood determined to be representative of large floods known to have occurred in Wisconsin. A regional flood is a flood with a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, and if depicted on the flood insurance rate map, the regional flood elevation is equivalent to the base flood elevation.

Regularly features or regularly shows (new) A consistent or substantial course of conduct, such that the films or performances exhibited constitute a substantial portion of the films or performances offered as part of the ongoing business of the adult establishment.

Regulated substances Chemicals and chemical mixtures that are health hazards except for products registered as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Health hazards for chemicals and chemical mixtures are typically identified on 19 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available from the substance manufacturer or supplier. Substances packaged for consumption for humans or animals are not considered regulated substances. Regulated substances include (1) chemicals for which there is scientific evidence that acute or chronic health effects may result from exposure including carcinogens, toxic and highly toxic agents, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, agents that act on the hematopoietic system, reproductive toxins, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes as defined in 29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix A, “Health Hazard Definitions (Mandatory)”; (2) mixtures of chemicals which have been tested as a whole and have been determined to be a health hazard; (3) mixtures of chemicals which have not been tested as a whole but which contain any chemical which has been determined to be a health hazard and comprises one (1.0) percent or greater of the composition on a weight per unit weight basis; (4) mixtures of chemicals which include a carcinogen if the concentration of the carcinogen in the mixture is one tenth of one (0.1) percent or greater of the composition on a weight per unit weight basis; (5) ingredients of mixtures prepared within the Wellhead Protection Overlay district in cases where such ingredients are health hazards but comprise more than one tenth of one (0.1) percent of the mixture on a weight per unit weight basis if carcinogenic, or more than one (1.0) percent of the mixture on a weight per unit weight basis if noncarcinogenic; and (6) petroleum and non-solid petroleum derivatives (except non-PCB dielectric fluids used in equipment or for transmission of electric power to homes and businesses).

Residence (specifically regarding Wind Energy System) An occupied primary or secondary personal residence including a manufactured home as defined in Chapter 101.91(2), Wis. Stats., a hospital, community-based residential facility, residential care apartment complex or similar facility, or a nursing home. Residence includes a temporarily unoccupied primary or secondary personal residence. Residence does not include any of the following: (a) A recreational vehicle as defined in Chapter 340.01(48r), Wis. Stats., notwithstanding the length of the vehicle. (b) A camping trailer as defined in Chapter 340.01(6m), Wis. Stats. (c) A permanently abandoned personal residence.

Residential shelter care facility (current) Residential shelter care facility means a dwelling unit in which short-term occupancy (not exceeding 60 days) may be provided as a service to multiple related or unrelated individuals in need of emergency shelter, sustenance and other support services. Such facilities shall be run as not-for-profit operations. They are intended to principally serve clients, including, but not limited to, the homeless, persons seeking immediate refuge from violence or abuse, persons rendered shelterless by natural disasters or calamity or other persons that by some atypical circumstance have been displaced from their normal or permanent residence. Residential shelter care facilities are not intended to provide transitional housing or accommodate licensed communal living arrangements, including, but not limited to, group homes, foster homes or community based residential facilities.

Residential zoning district (new) A base zoning district so designated in § 46-921. (Also see commercial zoning district, manufacturing zoning district, and special purpose zoning district)

Resolution (new) A formal statement adopted by a municipality that lacks the force of law and in contrast to an ordinance may be less formal. Unlike ordinances, resolutions do not create new laws or regulations. (Also see ordinance.)

Restrictive covenant (new) See deed restriction

Reviewing authority (new) As the context would indicate, the zoning administrator, Plan Commission, Common Council, or Zoning Board of Appeals.

Rezoning (new) See zoning map amendment

Right-of-way (ROW) (new) A strip of land dedicated to or acquired by the City of Janesville, Rock County, or the state of Wisconsin for road purposes and other related public purposes.

Roadside stand (current) Roadside stand means a temporary structure which is not permanently affixed to the ground, is readily removable in its entirety, and is used solely for the display or sale of farm products, or Christmas trees.

ROW (new) An abbreviation for right-of-way

Satellite lot (needed ?) A confined designated area, either subdivided or in common ownership with adjacent areas, containing a single use building that is designed as an integral part of a unified commercial/retail center or business center.

Screening (current) Screening means a hedge, wall or fence that provides a visual separator and physical barrier from abutting property.

Search ring (new) A shape drawn on a map to indicate the general area within which a mobile service support structure should be located to meet radio frequency engineering requirements, taking into account other factors including topography and the demographics of the service area.
Note: This definition is based on the corresponding definition in § 66.0404, Wis. Stats.

Seasonal merchandise (current) Seasonal merchandise means merchandise which is sold only part of the year during one of the four seasons; winter, spring, summer, or fall. The term "seasonal merchandise" shall include firewood, Christmas trees, fruits and vegetables, soda, outdoor plants, topsoil, garden fertilizer, ornamental stone, charcoal, mulch, lawnmowers, rototillers, bicycles, wading pools, lawn furniture and other similar items. Seasonal merchandise shall not include products such as package food or other packaged products, furniture, clothing or other similar merchandise or products permitted to be prepared and/or offered for sale under non-motorized vendor cart or motorized vendor truck regulations.

Seat Furniture upon which to sit having a linear measurement not less than 24 inches across the surface used for sitting.

Semi-nude or semi-nude condition (new) The showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva or anus, with not more than a complete opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with not more than a complete opaque covering of any part of the nipple or areola.

Service building (current) Service building, for travel trailer camps, means a building housing toilet and bathing facilities for men and women which may also include laundry and other facilities. The term "service building," for mobile home courts, means a building providing adequate space for storage of court grounds maintenance equipment.

Setback The minimum horizontal distance between the existing or proposed street or highway line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure.

Setback averaging (new) An approach to determining the minimum setback when the subject property is in an area of previously developed lots and the actual setbacks on those lots are less than the required setback for the district in which the subject property is located.

Shadow flicker A pattern of moving shadows cast on a residence or an occupied community building caused by sunlight shining through moving wind turbine blades resulting in alternating changes in light intensity.

Shared driveway (new) A driveway that serves two adjoining parcels and that is generally centered on the shared lot line.

Shared parking (new) One or more parking spaces that partially or entirely meet the parking requirements of two or more land uses.

Sheltered workshops (current) Sheltered workshop means a building where supervised instruction and training in a work environment is provided to disabled or disadvantaged individuals. In addition, vocational and personal development services are provided. The work may include assembly, packaging and other related production or servicing activities.

Shielded luminaire (new) See luminaire, shielded

Shore yard See yard, shore

Shoreland (new) Those lands lying within the following distances from the ordinary high-water mark of navigable waters: 1,000 feet from a lake, pond, or flowage; and 300 feet from a river or stream or to the landward side of the 100-year floodplain, whichever distance is greater. The term does not include those lands adjacent to farm drainage ditches where (1) such lands are not adjacent to a navigable stream or river; (2) those parts of such drainage ditches adjacent to such lands were non-navigable streams before streams before ditching or had no previous stream history; and (3) such lands are maintained in non-structural agricultural use.

Shoreline buffer zone (new) An area extending from the ordinary high-water mark of navigable water bodies landward for a horizontal distance of 35 feet.

Shoreline setback (new) A building setback requirement extending from the ordinary high-water mark of navigable waterbodies landward for a horizontal distance specified in ____.

Side yard (new) See yard, side

Sign A name, identification, description, display or illustration, which is affixed to, painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building or other outdoor surface which directs attention to or is designed or intended to direct attention to the sign face or to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business.

Sign, awning A sign that is mounted or painted on, or attached to an awning, canopy, or marquee. (See sign type illustration)

Sign, copy The message or advertisement, and any other symbols on the face of a sign. (See sign type illustration)

Sign, face The area or display surface used for the message.

Sign, ground Any sign placed upon or supported by the ground independent of any other structure. (See sign type illustration)

Sign, portable A sign that is not permanent, affixed to a building, structure, or to the ground. Such sign may be mounted on wheels to make it transportable. (See sign type illustration)

Sign, projecting A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from such building. (See sign type illustration)

Sign, roof A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or which is wholly dependent upon a building for support and which projects above a point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel, or hip roof, or the deck line of a building with a mansard roof. (See sign type illustration).

Sign, wall A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the sign and does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure. (See sign type illustration)

Sign, window A sign that is applied or attached to the exterior or interior of a window or located in such manner within the building that it can readily be seen from the exterior of the building through a window. (See sign type illustration)

Site (current) Site means any parcel of real estate whether improved or unimproved.

Site plan (new) A scaled drawing of a subject property that shows existing and proposed conditions and other features required by the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Site Plan Review Coordinator (new) The individual so designated by the City Manager (verify).

Site visit (new) A walking tour of a property that is subject to a pending application. Participants may include members of the review authority, City staff, the applicant and his/her agents, and members of the public. A site visit must be conducted in compliance with Wisconsins open meeting requirements, other state and federal requirements, and the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Site-built home (new) A dwelling unit that meets the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code standards and which was largely constructed on-site. Also known as a conventional home or stick-built home.

Sky glow (new) The brightening of the nighttime sky that results from scattering and reflection of artificial light by moisture and dust particles in the atmosphere. Sky glow is caused by light directed or reflected upwards or sideways and reduces ones ability to view the night sky.

Slope (new) An incline from the horizontal expressed in an arithmetic ratio of horizontal magnitude to vertical magnitude. For example, a 3:1 slope is 3 feet horizontal and 1 foot vertical.

Small wind energy system A wind energy system that has a total installed nameplate capacity of 300 kilowatts or less and that consists of individual wind turbines that have an installed nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts.

Solar chimney A vertical shaft in a building designed to capture sunlight and warm the air inside. As the air heats up, it becomes less dense and rises, creating a natural draft that draws in cooler outside air. This airflow aids in ventilating the building, lowering indoor temperatures, and enhancing energy efficiency. Often incorporated into sustainable architecture, solar chimneys serve as an effective means to improve passive cooling systems.

Solar collector A device, structure or part of a device or structure a substantial purpose of which is to transform solar energy into thermal, mechanical, chemical or electrical energy.

Solar glare The effect produced by light reflecting from a solar panel with an intensity sufficient to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.

Solar panel A group of photovoltaic cells are assembled on a panel. Panels are assembled on-site into solar arrays.

Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (new) The airport owned and operated by Rock County, Wisconsin, in the City of Janesville.

Special exception (new) An approval that may be granted by the Plan Commission (verify) to deviate from otherwise applicable provisions of the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) when certain circumstances apply. (Also see variance)

Special exception (new) forthcoming....

Special purpose zoning district (new) A base zoning district so designated in § 46-921. (Also see commercial zoning district, manufacturing zoning district, and residential zoning district)

Special tent sale (current) Special tent sale means a marketing activity where product not meeting the definition of "seasonal merchandise" may be displayed and/or offered for sale.

Specified anatomical areas (new) The human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered; or less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals, pubic region, vulva, anus, or the nipple and areola of the human female breast.

Specified sexual activity (new) Any of the following (1) showing of human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; (2) the fondling or erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, anus, or female breasts; (3) the act of masturbation, sexual intercourse, sodomy, bestiality, necrophilia, sadomasochistic abuse, fellatio, cunnilingus, or anilingus; or (4) excretory functions as part of, or in connection with, a live performance, display, or dance of any type.

Start of construction (model flood regs) The date the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement, or other improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond initial excavation, or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling, nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways, nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms, nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure. For an alteration, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Stoop (new) A raised platform in front of an entrance to a building with one or more steps. (In contrast see deck, which is intended for outdoor living.

Storage capacity of a floodplain (current) Storage capacity of a floodplain means the volume of space above an area of floodplain land that can be occupied by floodwater of a given stage at a given time, regardless of whether the water is moving.

Stormwater (new) Water from a rainfall event or melting snow or ice.

Street A public right-of-way not less than 50 feet wide providing primary access to abutting properties.

Street terrace (new) The area between the back of a curb or the edge of pavement where there is no curb and the closest property boundary line.

Street yard See yard, street

Structural alteration (current) Structural alteration means any change other than incidental repairs, which would prolong the life of the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or foundations.

Structural alterations Any change in the supporting members of a structure, such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.

Structure (based in part on model flood regs) Any manmade object with form, shape and utility, either permanently or temporarily attached to, placed upon or set into the ground, stream bed or lake bed, including, but not limited to, enclosed and unenclosed buildings, decks, fences, retaining walls, towers, masts, poles, booms, ground-mounted signs, ground-mounted solar arrays, piers, gas or liquid storage tanks, bridges, dams, and culverts.

Subdivision (model flood regs) The term has the meaning given in § 236.02 (12), Wis. Stats.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Substandard lot (new) See lot, nonconforming

Substantial damage (model flood regs) Damage of any origin sustained by a structure, whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its pre-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the equalized assessed value of the structure before the damage occurred.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Substantial evidence (new) Facts and information, other than merely personal preferences or speculation, directly pertaining to the requirements and conditions an applicant must meet to obtain a conditional use permit and that reasonable persons would accept in support of a conclusion.
Note: This definition is based on the definition in § 62.23 (7)(de), Wis. Stats.

Substantial improvement (model flood regs) Any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the equalized assessed value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the work performed. The term does not, however, include either any project for the improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary, or safety code violations identified by the building official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structures continued designation as a historic structure.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Substantial modification (new) The modification of a mobile service support structure, including the mounting of an antenna on such a structure, that does any of the following: (1) or structures with an overall height of 200 feet or less, increases the overall height of the structure by more than 20 feet, except as provided below; (2) for structures with an overall height of more than 200 feet, increases the overall height of the structure by 10 percent or more, except as provided below; (3) measured at the level of the appurtenance added to the structure as a result of the modification, increases the width of the support structure by 20 feet or more, unless a larger area is necessary for collocation, except as provided below; and (4) increases the square footage of an existing equipment compound to a total area of more than 2,500 square feet.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of telecommunication facilties.

Sunrise The astronomical time when the upper limb of the Sun appears above the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth. As used in the zoning code, the time of such event is calculated for Janesville. (In contrast see sunset)

Sunset The astronomical time when the upper limb of the Sun disappears below the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth. As used in the zoning code, the time of such event is calculated for Janesville. (In contrast see sunrise)

Sunshade (new) A fixture, consisting of fixed panels or louvers, that is permanently mounted to the exterior of a building to shade a window.

Support structure (new) An existing or new structure that supports or can support a mobile service facility, including a mobile service support structure, utility pole, water tower, building, or other structure.
Note: (1) Definition derived from § 66.0404, Wis. Stats. (2) This definition is only used in the context of telecommunication facilties.

Tattoo (new) To insert pigment under the surface of the skin of an individual by pricking with a needle or other instrument or technique so as to produce an indelible mark or figure through the skin
Note: Definition derived from DHS 173.03, Wis. Admin. Code.

Tattooist (new) An individual who tattoos another upon his or her request.
Note: Definition derived from DHS 173.03, Wis. Admin. Code.

Temporary structure (current) Temporary structure means a structure which is built of such materials and in such a way that it would commonly be expected to have a relatively short useful life, or is built for a purpose that would commonly be expected to be relatively short term.

Temporary use (new) See land use, temporary

Thirty-day time of travel The land area around a well, within which water and any contaminants would reach a pumping well within thirty days, based on a determination or an estimate.

Thirty-day time of travel (needed ?) The recharge area upgradient of a well, or its cone of depression, the outer boundary of which it is determined or estimated that groundwater will take 30 days to reach a pumping well.

Through lot (current) For a definition of the term "through lot," see Lot, through.

Through lot (new) See lot, through

TIA An abbreviation for traffic impact analysis

Time of travel (current-wellhead s. 42-__) The determined or estimated time required for a contaminant to move in the saturated zone from a specific point to a well.

TND (new) An abbreviation for traditional neighborhood development

Traditional neighborhood development (TND) (new) A development that is characterized by a grid street pattern with alleys, buildings oriented to the street, front porches on houses, a focus on pedestrian facilities, a mix of compatible land uses, and village squares or greens. (Also see cottage housing development)

Traffic impact analysis (new) A written report that must be prepared for certain development projects that exceed specified traffic levels as more fully set forth in Article 6 of the zoning code.

Travel trailer (current) Travel trailer means a vehicular portable structure designated as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, and vacation use. Such travel trailer does not exceed eight feet in width. The definition of the term "travel trailer" includes motor homes.

Travel trailer camp (current) Travel trailer camp means any plot of ground which two or more travel trailers occupy for temporary dwelling regardless of whether or not a charge is made for such accommodations.

Truck route map (new - needed?) A map adopted by the City of Janesville that shows those streets so designated as a truck route.

Turbine host property Real property on which at least one wind turbine is located.

Unnecessary hardship (model flood regs) Where special conditions affecting a particular property, which were not self-created, have made strict conformity with restrictions governing areas, setbacks, frontage, height or density unnecessarily burdensome or unreasonable in light of the purposes of the regulations.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Use (a) Any purpose for which a building or other structure or a tract of land may be designed, arranged, intended, maintained, or occupied; or, (b) Any activity, occupation, business, or operation carried on, or intended to be carried on, in a building or other structure or on a tract of land.

Use (current) Use means the purpose or activity for which the land or building thereon is occupied or maintained.

Use, conditional (current) For a definition of the term "use, conditional," see Conditional use.

Utilities (current) Utilities means any public or private water supply, or waste collection and/or disposal system, including, but not limited to, septic systems, private and public wells, and their attendant facilities, and public sewage collection systems.

Utilities (needed ?) Public and private facilities such as water wells, water and sewage pumping stations, water storage tanks, power and communication transmission lines, electrical power substations, static transformer stations, telephone and telegraph exchanges, microwave radio relays, and gas regulator stations, but not including sewage disposal plants, municipal incinerators, warehouses, shops and storage yards.

Utility pole (new) A structure owned or operated by an alternative telecommunications utility, as defined in § 196.01 (1d), Wis. Stats.; a public utility, as defined in § 196.01 (5), Wis. Stats.; a telecommunications utility, as defined in § 196.01 (10), Wis. Stats.; a city, village, town, or county; or a cooperative association organized under ch. 185, Wis. Stats.; and that is designed specifically for and used to carry lines, cables, or wires for telecommunications service, as defined in § 182.017 (1g)(cq), Wis. Stats.; for video service, as defined in § 66.0420 (2)(y), Wis. Stats.; for electricity; or to provide light.
Note: (1) Definition derived from § 66.0404, Wis. Stats. (2) This definition is only used in the context of telecommunication facilities.

Variance (model flood regs with edits) A grant of relief, as approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals, from the strict application of a rule or regulation that would permit development in a manner otherwise prohibited. A variance may not permit the use of a property that is otherwise prohibited by the floodplain regulations or allow flood land construction that is not protected to the flood protection elevation. (Also see special exception)

Vertical-lift drone An unmanned aerial vehicle designed to take off, hover, and land vertically. Also known as vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone.

Violation (model flood regs) The failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the floodplain regulations. A structure or other development without required permits, lowest floor elevation documentation, floodproofing certificates or required floodway encroachment calculations is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.
Note: This definition is only used in the context of the floodplain regulations.

Water surface profile (model flood regs) A graphical representation showing the elevation of the water surface of a watercourse for each position along a reach of river or stream at a certain flood flow. A water surface profile of the regional flood is used in regulating floodplain areas.

Watercraft (new) Any device used and designed for navigation on water.

Watershed (model flood regs) The entire region contributing runoff or surface water to a watercourse or body of water.

Watt (new) A measure of power consumption.

Well An excavation opening in the ground made by digging, boring, drilling, driving, or other methods, to obtain groundwater regardless of its intended use.

Well (model flood regs) An excavation opening in the ground made by digging, boring, drilling, driving, or other methods, to obtain groundwater regardless of its intended use.

Well field (new) A piece of land used primarily for the purpose of locating wells to supply a municipal water system.

Wetland (current w/ minor edits) An area where water is at, near or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and which have soils indicative of wet conditions.

Wetland (revised) The area where water is at, near or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and which have soils indicative of wet conditions.

Wetland alteration (current) Wetland alteration means any filling, flooding, draining, dredging, ditching, tiling, excavating, temporary water level stabilization measures or dike and dam construction in a wetland area.

Wetland alteration (new) Any filling, flooding, draining, dredging, ditching, tiling, excavating, temporary water level stabilization measures, or dike and dam construction in a wetland area.

Wetland vegetation (new) Plants of all types typically growing in and associated with a wetland.

Wharf (new) A structure in navigable waters extending along the shore and generally connected with the uplands throughout its length, built or maintained for the purpose of providing a berth for watercraft or for loading or unloading cargo or passengers onto or from watercraft. Such a structure may include a boat hoist or boat lift, and the hoist or lift may be permanent or may be removed. (Also see pier)

Wind energy system A system as defined in Chapter 66.0403 (1)(m), Wis. Stats., used to convert wind energy to electrical energy.

Wind energy system emergency A condition or situation at a wind energy system that presents a significant threat of physical danger to human life or a significant threat to property or a natural event that causes damage to wind energy system facilities.

Wind energy system facility Any component of a wind energy system, such as a wind turbine, collector circuit, access road, electric system interconnection facility or operation and maintenance facility.

Wind energy system lease (needed ?) A written agreement between a landowner and the owner that establishes the terms and conditions associated with the placement, construction or operation of a wind turbine or other wind energy system facility on a landowner's property.

Wind tower The monopole, freestanding, or guyed structure that supports a wind turbine generator.

Wis. Admin. Code A reference to Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Wis. Stats. A reference to Wisconsin Statutes.

Wisconsin Administrative Code A compilation of regulations adopted by state agencies in Wisconsin pursuant to the authority granted by the Wisconsin Statutes.

Wisconsin Administrative Code (new) The rules of administrative agencies having rule-making authority in the state, published in a looseleaf, continual revision system as directed by § 35.93, Wis. Stats., and ch. 227, Wis. Stats., including subsequent amendments to those rules.

Wisconsin Statutes A compilation of the general laws adopted by the state of Wisconsin.

Woody vegetation (new) Perennial plants having hard lignified tissues or woody parts, especially stems.

Yard An open space on the same lot with a structure, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward except for vegetation

Yard (new) The area of a lot that is required to be unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except by trees, shrubbery, or as otherwise allowed in the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Yard, primary street A yard associated with the primary mailing address or fire number for the Principal Structure extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the street right-of-way of a public street or road or the paving edge of a private roads and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. (See yard type illustration).

Yard, rear A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. This yard shall be opposite the primary street yard on a corner lot. (See yard type illustration).

Yard, rear (Verify) A yard extending across the full width of a lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. This yard is opposite the street yard or one of the street yards on a corner lot. Where two side lot lines narrow to the point that the rear lot line is less than 10 feet in length, then for purposes of measuring the rear setback, the rear lot line shall be considered a line 10 feet in length between the side lot lines as parallel as possible to the street frontage.

Yard, secondary street A yard that abuts an existing or proposed street or highway not otherwise defined as a primary street yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the street right-of-way of a public street or road or the paving edge of a private roads and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. (See yard type illustration).

Yard, shore A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the ordinary high-water mark of a navigable body of water and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. (See yard type illustration).

Yard, side A yard extending from the street yard to the rear yard or shore yard of the lot, the width of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the side lot line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. (See yard type illustration).

Yard, side (Verify) A yard extending from the street yard to the rear yard of the lot, the width of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the side lot line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure.

Yard, street (Verify) A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the existing or proposed street or highway line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. Corner lots shall have two such yards.

Yard, street A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the street right-of-way of a public street or road or the paving edge of a private roads and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. Corner lots shall have two such yards. The primary street yard on a double frontage lot or corner lot shall be that associated with the mailing address or fire number, as applicable. (See yard type illustration).

ZBA An abbreviation for Zoning Board of Appeals

Zoning administrator (new) The individual so designated by the Common Council chairman to perform those duties enumerated in the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) and as authorized by state law. (Also see building inspector) (Verify means of appointment)

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) (new) A board created by the Common Council to render decisions relating to variances and administrative appeals and other matters enumerated in the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46) and in state law.

Zoning district (new) An area on the zoning map within which the zoning regualtions are uniformly applied to all properties. Zoning districts can be classified as base zoning districts or overlay zoning districts.

Zoning district, base (new) A type of zoning district that establishes uniform regulations for the use and development of land.

Zoning district, overlay (new) A type of zoning district that is superimposed over one or more base districts, or parts of districts, and that modifies the requirements of the base district or imposes additional requirements, or both.

Zoning map amendment (new) An amendment to the zoning map adopted as part of the City's zoning regulations (Chapter 46).

Zoning permit (new) A written permit issued for a specified parcel of land prior to the issuance of a building permit to ensure that the proposed use is consistent with the zoning requirements of the zoning district in which it is to be located.

Zoning regulations (new) All of the provisions set forth in Chapter ___of the municipal code.

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City of Janesville (Proposed) Zoning Code | General Definitions