Cities, villages, and towns in Wisconsin are authorized by state statute to establish a plan commission. These bodies operate under a number of names which may include: plan commission, planning committee, zoning committee, and others. Counties create bodies with similar functions that go by a variety of names including the: plan commission, planning and zoning committee, and other names derived from the functions they perform (i.e. parks, economic development, land records, etc.). The term “plan commission” is used generally to refer to all such bodies.
The following tables describe the authority, appointment, membership and terms of the plan commission.
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City, Village or Town Plan Commission
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| Authority |
- Stat. §§ 60.62(4) (towns), 61.35 (villages) and 62.23 (cities).
- Plan commission is created by ordinance of governing body.
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| Appointment |
- Mayor, village president or town board chair appoints members and selects chair.
- Town appointments are subject to confirmation by town board.
- Mayoral appointments are subject to confirmation of the city council, unless otherwise provided by law (Wis. Stat. § 62.09(3)(e)).
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| Membership |
- Seven members, unless otherwise provided by ordinance.
- Towns with population less than 2,500 may have a five-member commission.
- Must include at least three “citizen” members who are not city officials on a seven-member commission or one “citizen” on a five-member commission.
- May include military base appointee as non-voting member.
- May, by ordinance, increase membership to include building commissioner or building inspector.
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| Terms |
- Three-year terms beginning in April.
- Vacancies are filled for the remainder of a term.
- Initial staggering of terms is not required but may be helpful to avoid complete turnover of members after three years.
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Town Zoning Committee
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| Authority |
- Stat. § 60.61(4)(a).
- Limited to towns located in counties that do not exercise general zoning.
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| Appointment |
- Town board appoints members.
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| Membership |
- Five members.
- May include military base appointee as non-voting member.
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| Terms |
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County Planning Agency
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| Authority |
- Stat. § 59.69(2).
- County board may appoint standing committee of county board, create plan commission composed wholly or partly of non-county board members, or designate an existing body to serve as the planning agency.
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| Appointment |
- County board chair appoints members.
- County executive, if present, appoints commission subject to board approval.
- Members elect chair for 2-year term.
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| Membership |
- Size not specified.
- May include military base appointee as non-voting member.
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| Terms |
- 2-year committee terms coinciding with elected office.
- 3-year staggered commission terms.
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