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Wisconsin Local Historic Preservation — Wis. Stat. § 44.44 (Certified Ordinance) (WI)

Tracked preemption from the Wisconsin overlay bundle.

Overview

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Effective
1987-04-25
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:WI
Other Wisconsin preemptions
Wisconsin Livestock Facility Siting — Wis. Stat. § 93.90 + ATCP 51 (CAFO preemption)Wisconsin Nonmetallic Mining (Frac Sand) Reclamation — Wis. Stat. Ch. 295 + NR 135Lower Wisconsin State Riverway — Wis. Stat. § 30.40 et seq.Fort McCoy / Volk Field AICUZ + Military Influence Area — federal/local coordinationWisconsin Brownfield Response / Spill Law — Wis. Stat. § 292.11 + DNR RR ProgramWisconsin Farmland Preservation — Wis. Stat. Ch. 91Wisconsin Tax Increment Law (TIF) — Wis. Stat. § 66.1105Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway — Wis. Stat. § 30.27

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

AND
  • city.has_local_historic_preservation_commission == True
  • parcel.in_local_historic_district_or_designated_property == True

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
review_typerequirehistoric_preservation_commission_certificate_of_appropriateness§44.44 requires certified local historic preservation ordinances to create a Historic Preservation Commission, adopt designation criteria substantially similar to the National Register, and follow noticed nomination procedures. Demolition and exterior alterations of designated resources require Commission review.
base_districts[*].demolitionrestrictsubject_to_commission_review_and_state_section_44_42_state_owned_consultation_if_applicable

Citation

Authority source
Wis. Stat. § 44.44 (Certified historic preservation ordinances); § 44.45 (locally designated historic places); §§ 44.39, 44.42 (State Historical Society / SHPO consultation)
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/44.44

Research notes

State enabling statute for local historic preservation commissions. Coordinated with the federal Certified Local Government (CLG) program through the State Historical Society of Wisconsin / SHPO. ~70 CLG communities statewide as of 2026 including Milwaukee (Historic Third Ward and ~20 other districts), Madison (Mansion Hill, Third Lake Ridge, University Heights, etc.), Cedarburg, Mineral Point, Sturgeon Bay, Bayfield, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, Racine.