What is the Housing Zoning Code Tune-Up?

The Housing Zoning Code Tune-Up is putting Milwaukee’s Housing Element into action. This “tune-up” builds on our two years of collaborative community engagement to adopt the Housing Element. The Housing Element is the chapter of our Comprehensive Plan that sets a shared vision for how Milwaukee can support the housing needs of residents. The Housing Element laid the blueprint; this zoning tune-up is how we begin turning that blueprint into rules that make sense for our neighborhoods.

What is Zoning?

Zoning is the set of local rules that guide how land can be used and how buildings can be designed. Every property in Milwaukee is a part of a zoning district. These districts determine what kinds of homes or businesses can be built, how large buildings can be, and where they can sit on a lot.

This update won’t change the Zoning Map. Instead, it will focus on making sure the rules themselves reflect how Milwaukee neighborhoods function today, and how they can continue to thrive in the future.

What is Changing?

We’re updating selected housing-related portions of the zoning code to improve clarity and make it easier to support the types of homes that already define Milwaukee: single-family, duplexes, neighborhood apartment buildings, and mixed uses along our busier corridors.

These updates will focus on clearer standards, more predictable processes, and rules that support the Housing Element vision without changing district boundaries.

What are the Goals?

The Tune-Up has two main goals: increase housing choices in more neighborhoods and reduce unnecessary barriers to housing development.

That could mean clearer rules for homes like duplexes, townhouses, small multi-family buildings, and other neighborhood-scale housing types. It also means looking at standards for lots, building height, design, and how new housing can fit with existing homes.

What Does the Process Look Like?

The City is currently working on the implementation phase of the Housing Element, including this Zoning Code Tune-Up. This fall, we encourage public input on the Draft Housing Zoning Code text edits. We invite the public to attend a community meeting, review materials online, and provide comment.

1. Setting the Direction: The Housing Element – Completed Summer 2025
2. Translating Policy into Draft Regulations – Completed Fall 2026
3. Public Consideration and Input on Draft Housing Zoning Code text edits – Fall 2026
• Code Week
• Community Dinner & Learns
• Drop-in Hours
• Online Comment
4. Adoption Process - Late 2026 into Early 2027
• City Plan Commission
• Zoning, Neighborhoods, & Development Committee
• Common Council

Once we are ready, these Zoning Code updates will begin the formal review and adoption process before both the City Plan Commission and Common Council. To learn more and follow the process, visit engage.milwaukee.gov/housing-zoning-code-tune-up.