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Milwaukee

Milwaukee Zoning Map & Districts 2026

Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Milwaukee, WI. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.

Live records updated through September 22, 2026

Key facts: Milwaukee land-use record

  • Milwaukee approved 95% of 118 land-use decisions in the last 24 months.
  • Milwaukee has 14 rezoning-related records across 10 recent public meetings tracked by ZoneWire.
  • The most recent tracked meeting in Milwaukee was on September 22, 2026.

Updated with meetings through September 22, 2026.

Recent Rezoning Activity in Milwaukee

Meetings
10
Rezoning Mentions
14
Last Detected
Aug 17, 2026

Zoning Districts in Milwaukee

Zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction, from the adopted local code.

RS1-RS6Single-Family Residential Districts

Districts for detached single-family homes, with the number indicating different lot-size and density standards.

RT1-RT4Two-Family Residential Districts

Districts allowing duplexes and two-family homes across four variants of lot and density standards.

RM1-RM7Multi-Family Residential Districts

Districts for apartment and multifamily housing, ranging across seven density and scale variants.

RO1-RO2Residential and Office Districts

Mixed districts permitting residential uses alongside offices, typically along transitional corridors.

NS1-NS2Neighborhood Shopping Districts

Small-scale commercial districts for shops serving the immediately surrounding residential neighborhood.

LB1-LB3Local Business Districts

Commercial districts for local-serving businesses on neighborhood commercial streets.

RB1-RB2Regional Business Districts

Commercial districts for larger businesses drawing customers from across the region.

CSCommercial Service District

District for service-oriented commercial uses such as repair shops and businesses needing outdoor operations.

IO1-IO2Industrial-Office Districts

Industrial districts emphasizing office, research, and clean industrial uses in campus-like settings.

IL1-IL2Industrial-Light Districts

Districts for light manufacturing, warehousing, and similar lower-impact industrial operations.

IMIndustrial-Mixed District

Industrial district allowing a mix of industrial activity with some commercial uses.

IHIndustrial-Heavy District

District for the city's heaviest industrial uses with the greatest potential off-site impacts.

C9A-C9HDowntown Districts

Downtown zoning series covering high-density residential, retail, office, civic, mixed-activity, and warehousing areas in the city center.

PKParks District

Special district reserving land for public parks and recreation.

TLInstitutional District

Special district for large institutional campuses such as hospitals, universities, and civic facilities.

Recent rezoning decisions in Milwaukee

These parcels came up for a zoning decision in Milwaukee in the last 30 days, often before they hit the market. See what changed, how the vote went, and hear the moment it happened. According to ZoneWire's analysis of official public meeting records, each decision below links to its timestamped source.

Milwaukee · Sep 15, 2026

Approved · Unanimous

Rezoned RT3 to NS2

2600 and 2606 North 38th Street, east side of North 38th Street north of West Clark Street

RT3 to NS2

Zoning change from RT3 to NS2, approved unanimously on Sep 15, 2026 in Milwaukee.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

Milwaukee · Sep 22, 2026

Approved · 15-0

TID No. 137 (310 East Tower) in 4th District (Item 69)

TID No. 137 (310 East Tower) in 4th District (Item 69), approved by a 15-0 vote on Sep 22, 2026 in Milwaukee.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

Milwaukee · Sep 22, 2026

Approved · 15-0

Climate and equity plan update to comprehensive plan (Item 63)

Climate and equity plan update to comprehensive plan (Item 63), approved by a 15-0 vote on Sep 22, 2026 in Milwaukee.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

Milwaukee · Sep 15, 2026

Approved · Unanimous

Climate and Equity Plan update / citywide policy plan amendment

Climate and Equity Plan update / citywide policy plan amendment, approved unanimously on Sep 15, 2026 in Milwaukee.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

Milwaukee · Sep 15, 2026

Approved · Unanimous

TID No. 137 and development agreement for 310 West Wisconsin Avenue East Tower

TID No. 137 and development agreement for 310 West Wisconsin Avenue East Tower, approved unanimously on Sep 15, 2026 in Milwaukee.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

What gets approved in Milwaukee

In Milwaukee, 95% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Commercial / office / retail clear 93%, Land use / comp-plan amendment 100%. ZoneWire analyzed 118 land-use board decisions in Milwaukee over the last 24 months. Here are the most active project types and how often each one clears.

Project typeDecisionsApproval rate
Commercial / office / retail3093%
Land use / comp-plan amendment25100%
Multifamily / attached housing21100%
Single-family homes1283%
Industrial / warehouse10100%
Mixed-use8100%

4 decisions that went against the odds

These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The official Milwaukee zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://city.milwaukee.gov/DCD/Planning/PlanningAdministration/ZoningMap. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.

Zoning districts in Milwaukee include RS1-RS6 (Single-Family Residential Districts), RT1-RT4 (Two-Family Residential Districts), RM1-RM7 (Multi-Family Residential Districts), RO1-RO2 (Residential and Office Districts), NS1-NS2 (Neighborhood Shopping Districts), LB1-LB3 (Local Business Districts), RB1-RB2 (Regional Business Districts), CS (Commercial Service District). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements set by the local code.

ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Milwaukee to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.

The Milwaukee Common Council, City Plan Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals are monitored by ZoneWire for rezoning, PDD (Planned Development District) applications, special use permits, variances, and detailed planned development amendments across Milwaukee.

Milwaukee has approximately 7 zoning-related meetings per month across the Common Council, City Plan Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals. The Common Council meets twice per month, while the City Plan Commission meets biweekly.

A PDD (Planned Development District) in Milwaukee is a flexible zoning designation that allows custom development standards for large projects. PDD applications are common for mixed-use developments in the Third Ward, Deer District, and the water technology corridor along the inner harbor.

The highest volume of zoning activity in Milwaukee occurs in the Third Ward and Deer District for entertainment and mixed-use development, the water technology corridor along the inner harbor for industrial-to-commercial conversions, and Opportunity Zone areas in the Bronzeville and Lindsay Heights neighborhoods.

Key zoning terms for Milwaukee include PDD (Planned Development District), rezoning, special use permit, variance, Opportunity Zone, TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district, detailed planned development, and conditional use. ZoneWire tracks all of these automatically across every Milwaukee governing body.

Yes. ZoneWire Free sends New Meeting Alerts for Milwaukee at no cost, with the agenda for each meeting. ZoneWire Pro adds full transcripts, zoning and development analysis, and keyword alerts for $39 per market per month.

A zoning map shows today. This shows what the board changed.

Our Milwaukee record holds 15 land-use decisions heard in the last 60 days, with the vote where one was recorded.

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