Commonly Questioned Ordinances

Please note that this is a partial list of ordinances. The complete ordinances are available in the village office.

BUILDING PERMIT

Building permits are required in Viola.  An application form is available at the Clerks Office located at 106 W. Wisconsin Street.  

A $25.00 building permit fee will be imposed if a permit is needed.  Permits are granted by the Viola Zoning Administrator.

BURNING PERMIT

Burning barrels are allowed without a permit.  No plastics, construction materials, or industrial products are allowed to be burned. Burning permits are not required for a burning pit that is 4 feet in diameter and not located less than 15 feet from any structure.  Clean wood only is permitted to be burned, and the use of burning pits to burn refuse is prohibited.  Recreational burning pits shall be extinguished by 11:00 p.m. A burning permit from the Village Office is required for open burning of brush, Viola Ordinance 5-2-9(e).

DOG LICENSING

Wisconsin Stat. 174.05 requires all dog owners to have a current Dog License for a dog more than 5 months of age.  If you do not have a current year Dog License, your name will appear on the Delinquent Dog list and will be filed with the County District Attorney.  If you no longer have a dog, an Affidavit of Death or Disposal form needs to be filed.  These forms and licensing are available at the Clerks Office located at 106 W. Wisconsin Street in Viola. 

Dog License is $8.00 unless the dog was spayed or neutered, then the license is $3.00.  After April 1, there is an additional LATE FEE of $5.00 that will be imposed.  No license will be issued without proof of current Rabies Vaccination. 

ANIMAL FECES (Ordinance 7-1-11)

Removal of fecal matter: the owner or person in charge of any dog, cat, horse, potbellied pig, or other animal shall not permit solid fecal matter of such animal to deposit on any street, alley, or other public or private property, unless such matter is immediately removed there from by said owner or person in charge. This shall not apply to a person who is visually or physically handicapped.

LAWNS & NOXIOUS WEEDS (Ordinance 8-1-6)

Each person who owns, occupies, or controls land in the Village of Viola, is to destroy all noxious weeds on such property at such times and in such manner as will effectually prevent such plants from maturing to the bloom or flower stage. Anyone failing to do so, will have the weeds destroyed by the Weed Commissioner, and the cost placed as a tax on the property.  The noxious weeds are Canada Thistle, Leafy Spurge, Ragweed, and all other rank growth.

Any lawn on a residential lot or other non-agricultural parcel which exceeds six (6) inches in length is declared to be a public nuisance and the Weed Commissioner shall cause the nuisance to be abated.  The cost of which shall be a minimum $50.00 charge with $50.00 per hour fee to be chargeable to the parcel and placed as a tax on the property. 

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL FROM SIDEWALKS (Ordinance 6-2-7)

Within twenty-four (24) hours after the cessation of any fall of sleet or snow, it shall be the duty of the owners and/or the occupants of any lot or parcel of land in the Village of Viola to remove, or cause to be removed, the snow or sleet from any and all sidewalks adjacent to the premises of the owner or occupant, and to keep the same free and clear of snow and ice for the full width of the sidewalk.  Failure of the property owner to remove the snow or ice, shall result in a penalty by the Village. 

WINTER PARKING RESTRICTIONS (Ordinance 10-1-28)

No person shall park any vehicle on any street or alley in the Village of Viola from November 15 to April 1 between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.  Citations shall be given to vehicles parked during the above times.

UNHEALTHY, HAZARDOUS, OR UNSIGHTLY MATERIALS ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY (Ordinance 8-1-8)

Whenever the Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, Law Enforcement Officer, or other authorized Village official shall, upon inspection of any premises within the Village of Viola find that there is unhealthy, hazardous or unsightly materials or thing which create a fire or health hazard, or which is detrimental to the appearance, neatness and cleanliness of the immediate neighborhood or the Village of Viola in general, such official shall issue his/her written order to the owner and/or occupant of the premises to remove said unhealthy, hazardous or unsightly materials or things.

Said written order shall provide that such removal shall be accomplished within ten (10) days after service of said order upon the owner or occupant of the premises involved.  Prosecution of violators shall be enforced.

R1 Single Family Residential District Setbacks (sec 15-1-23)

(d) MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT Thirty-five (35) feet, and no more than two and one half (2 1/2) stories.

(e) MINIMUM FRONT YARD SETBACK FROM EDGE OF HIGHWAY, STREET, OR FROM BACK OF CURB IF CURB EXISTS Twenty-five (25) feet (Note:More restrictive standards may be imposed by state or county regulations in certain circumstances where lots abut state or county highways. The Ville of Viola may increase setback requirements on narrow streets.)

(f) MINIMUM REAR YARD SETBACK (1) Principal Buildings: Twenty-five (25) feet (2) Accessory Buildings: Eight (8) feet

(g) MINIMUM SIDE YARD SETBACK (1) Principal Buildings: Eight (8) feet on each side (2) Accessory Buildings: Eight (8) feet on each side

(h) MINIMUM LOT WIDTH Sixty-five (65) feet

(i) MINIMUM LOT AREA FOR SINGLE FAMILY Four thousand (4000) square feet

(j) MINIMUM LOT AREA FOR TWO-FAMILY Eight thousand, five hundred (8,500) square feet

(k) MINIMUM FLOOR AREA Nine hundred (900) square feet per family

 

Fireworks (title 7 ch 6) 

Contact Village office for full ordinance requirements

Fireworks permit fee $25

(c) Use.

(1) Permit Required. No person may possess or use fireworks without a user's permit from the Village President or from an official or employee of the Village as designated by the Village Board. No person may use fireworks or a device listed under Subsection (a)(5)-(7) and (9)-(14) while attending a fireworks display for which a permit has been issued to a person listed under Subparagraph (c)(3)a-e or under Subparagraph (c)(3)f if the display is open to the general public. A fee as prescribed by Section 1-3-1 shall be paid at the time of application.

(3) Who May Obtain Permit. A permit under this Subsection may be issued only to the following:

a.       A public authority.

b.       A fair association.

c.       An amusement park.

d.       A park board.

e.       A civic organization.

f.        A group of resident or nonresident individuals.

g.       An agricultural producer for the protection of crops from predatory birds or animals.

(7) Use Restrictions. Permitted fireworks may only be used if such use is a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet away from any structure. Use of fireworks is prohibited after 12:30 a. m.

(8) Copy of Permit. A copy of a permit under this Subsection shall be given to the Fire Chief at least two (2) days before the date of authorized use.

 

 

SEX OFFENDER (ORDINANCE NO: 11-7-5)

AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE 11-7-5 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF VIOLA RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS.

 

The Village Board of the Village of Viola, Richland and Vernon Counties, Wisconsin do ordain as follows:

 

Section I: Section 11-7-5 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Viola is hereby created to read as follows:

 

11-7-5   Sex Offenders: Residency Restrictions

 

(a)          Finding and purpose

 

(1)          The Village of Viola Trustees is empowered by Wis. Stat. § 61.34(1) to enact legislation promoting the health, safety and welfare of the public.

(2)          The Wisconsin Statutes provide for the punishment, treatment and supervision of persons convicted or otherwise responsible for sex crimes against children, including their release into the community. Wisc. Stat. Chapter 980 provides for the civil likelihood to reoffend, and specifically, Wis. Stat. §980.08, provides for the supervised release of such persons into the community.

(3)          The Village of Viola finds and declares that sex offenders who prey upon children are a serious threat to public safety and it is necessary for the Village to enact reasonable measures to minimize the risk of the children in the Village falling prey to sexually violent persons.

(4)          This section is a non-punitive, regulatory measure aimed at protecting the health and safety of children in the Village from the risk that convicted sex offenders may reoffend. It is the intent of this chapter not to impose a criminal penalty but rather to serve the Village’s compelling interest in promoting, protecting and improving the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Village.

 

(b) Definitions

 

As used in the section, and unless the context requires otherwise:

 

(1)          DESIGNATED OFFENDER

“Sex Offender” is any person who is required to register under §301.45, Wis. Stats., and in any sexual offense against a child or any person who is required to register under §301.45 Wis. Stats., and who has been designated special bulletin notification (SBN) sex offender pursuant to §301.45 (2) and (2m), Wis. Stats., and any person who has been convicted of or has been delinquent of or has been found not guilty by reason of disease or mental defect of the offenses set forth within the Wisconsin Statutes, as amended, or the laws of this or any other state or the federal government, having like elements necessary for conviction, respectively:

§ 948.015(10), Wis. Stats.

Solicitation of an intimate or private representation of a child

§ 948.081, Wis. Stats.

Patronizing a child

§ 948.10, Wis. Stats.

Exposing genitals, pubic area, or intimate parts

§ 948.11(2), Wis. Stats.

Exposing a child to harmful material or harmful descriptions or narrations

§ 948.14, Wis. Stats.

Registered sex offender and photographing minors

 

 

(2)          CHILD

A Person who is less than 18 years of age.

 

(3)          MINOR

                A person under the age of 17.

 

(4)          CHILD SAFETY LOCATION

                The site upon which any of the following are located:

a.            A public park, parkway, parkland, or park facility;

b.            A public library;

c.             A recreational trail;

d.            A public playground;

e.            A school for children;

f.             Athletic fields used by children;

g.            A day-care center;

h.            A Community Building

(i)            For-profit children’s play facilities;

(j)           A bus stop

(k)          Any facility for children [which means a public or private school or a group home, as defined in § 48.02(7), Wis. States.; a residential care center for children and youth, as defined in §48.02(15d), Wis. Stats.; a shelter care facility, as defined in § 48.02(17), Wis. Stats.; a foster home, as defined in § 48.02(6), Wis. Stats.; a treatment foster home, as defined in § 48.02(17Q), Wis. Stats.; a day-care center licensed under § 48.65, Wis. Stats.; a day-care program established under §120.13(14), Wis. Stats.; a day-care provider certified under § 48.651, Wis. Stats.; or a youth center, as defined in § 961.01(22), Wis. Stats.

 

(5)          CHILD SAFETY ZONE

                Any place within the Village that is physically located within 1,500 feet of any child safety location.

 

(6)          PERMANENT RESIDENCE

                A place where a person sleeps, abides, lodges, or resides for 14 or more consecutive days.

 

(7)          SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENSE

                Shall have the meaning as set forth in § 980.01(6), Wis. Stats., as amended from time to time.

 

(8)          A “CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN”

                Any of the following offenses set forth within the Wisconsin statutes, as amended, or the laws of this or any other State or the Federal government, having like elements necessary for conviction, where the victim is under the age of 18.

 

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

                A place where a person sleeps, abides, lodges, or resides which may include more than one location, and may be mobile or transitory for a period of 14 or more days in the aggregate during any calendar year and which is not the person’s permanent address or place where the person routinely sleeps, abides, lodges, or resides for a period of 14 or more consecutive or nonconsecutive days in any month and which is not the person’s permanent residence.

 

 

3.) Residency Restriction

A.      A Sex Offender shall not reside within 1500 feet of any real property that supports or upon which there exists any of the following uses:

a.       A school for children

b.      A bike path, hiking trail, public park, park facility or park pathway

c.       Any other place designated by the Village Board as a place where children are known to congregate and as set forth in the Sexual Offender Restriction Map

B.      The distance shall be measured from the closest boundary line of the real property supporting the residence of a Sex Offender to the closest boundary line of the real property that supports or upon which there exists any of the uses enumerated in 3 (A) above.

C.      It is unlawful for a property owner to let or rent any place, structure or part thereof, trailer, or other conveyance, if the property owner knows or should have known that it will be used as a permanent or temporary residence pursuant to this section if such place, structure or part thereof, or trailer, is located within 1500 feet of a child safety zone as described herein.

 

4.) Residency Restriction Exceptions

A.      The Sex Offender physically resides in a residence that was established, reported and registered pursuant to Wisconsin Statute            § 301.45 prior to the effective date of this ordinance.

 

B.      Safety Zone Exceptions

A Sex Offender who enters upon or who is present upon or within a Safety Zone does not commit a violation of this ordinance if any of the following apply:

1)      The property supports a church or any other house of religious worship, subject to all of the following condition:

a.       The Sex Offender’s entrance and presence upon the property occurs only during hours of worship or other religious program/service as posted to the public and

b.      The Sex Offender shall not participate in any religious education programs that include individuals under the age of 18.

2)      The property supports a use lawfully attended by a Sex Offender’s natural or adopted child(ren), which child’s use reasonably requires the attendance of the Sex Offender as the child’s parent upon the property, subject to the following condition:

a.       The Sex Offender’s entrance and presence upon the property occurs only during hours of activity related to the use as posted to the public.

3)      The property also supports a polling location in a local, state or federal election, subject to all of the following conditions:

a.       The Sex Offender is eligible to vote;

b.      The property is the designated polling place for the Sex Offender; and

c.       The Sex Offender enters the polling place property, proceeds to cast a ballot with whatever usual and customary assistance is to any member of the electorate, and vacates the property immediately after voting.

4)      The property also supports a court, government office or room for public governmental meetings, subject to all of the following conditions:

a.       a.    The Sex Offender is on the property only to transact business at the government office or place of business, other than a public library, or attend an official meeting of a governmental body; and

b.      The Sex Offender leaves the property immediately upon completion of the business or meeting.           

 

5.) Original Domicile Restriction

                Residency Prohibited. No offender who has ever been ruled a sexually violent offender by a petition filed under Wis. Stat. Ch. 980 or any offender who has been convicted of a crime against children as defined in subsection (2) “Crime Against Children” of the section shall be permitted to reside in the Village, and no supervised release of such offender shall be established in the Village, unless the offender was domiciled in the Village at the time of an offense resulting in conviction or the person previously resided in the Village for over five years.

 

6.) Child Safety Zone Map

                The Village Clerk’s Office shall maintain an official map showing the child safety zones within the Village. The Village Clerk’s Office shall update the map at least annually to reflect any changes in the location of child safety zones.  The map is to be displayed in the office of the Village Clerk.  In the event of a conflict, the terms of the section shall control. In no event shall a failure to update the map in compliance with this section preclude the persecution or conviction of any designated offender under this section.

 

7.) Appeal

                The residency restriction of the section may be waived upon approval of the Village Board through an appeal by the affected offender.  Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Village Clerk, who shall forward the request to the Public Safety Committee and the Chief of Police.  The Chief of Police shall forward a report on the appeal request to the Public Safety Committee.  The Public Safety Committee will convene within 30 days of the appeal being filed with the Clerk to hear from the Chief of Police and the affected offender or their counsel.  After deliberation, the Public Safety Committee shall forward a recommendation to the Village Board, who shall act on the recommendation at their next regularly scheduled meeting.  A written copy of the decision shall be provided to the affected offender by the Village Clerk.  The Public Safety Committee may reject a waiver request when the request is filed with the Village Clerk within 90 days of denial by the committee of a prior identical waver request of the requester, absent a change in circumstance.

 

8.) Penalties

                Any person found guilty of violating this section shall be penalized by a forfeiture not less than $300.00 and not to exceed $1000.00 each day an offender maintains a residence in the violation of this section constitutes a separate violation.  The Village may also seed equitable relief or any other relief available at law.