FAQ

Any division of land within the incorporated area of the City or its extraterritorial platting jurisdiction which results in a land division as defined by this ordinance shall be surveyed and a Certified Survey Map (CSM) or Plat of such division approved and recorded as required by the State Statutes and this ordinance. View the ordinance (PDF).

Whether an existing lot or parcel can be divided depends on several factors including:

• Compliance with the Official Map (PDF)
• Compliance with the Subdivision and Platting Code (PDF)
• Compliance with the Zoning Code and Zoning Map
• Can city streets be extended

Only a licensed and professional surveyor can prepare a certified survey map, subdivision plat, or other dividing instruments.

The standards for constructing in a floodplain can be reviewed in the following:

• City of Green Bay Floodplain Brochure (PDF)
• Article XIII - Floodplain Overlay District - Code of Ordinances

The requirements for existing structures within the floodplain can be viewed in the following:

• City of Green Bay Floodplain Brochure (PDF)
• Article XIII - Floodplain Overlay District - Code of Ordinances

If a map has an error or needs to be modified, contact a FEMA representative.

Some buildings, for the first time, may be included in the high-risk area, known as the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). 

• If, based on the new maps, the building is in the SFHA (flood zones beginning with “A”, “AE”, “V,” or “VE”) and is mortgaged through a federally regulated and insured lender, the property owner will be required to carry flood insurance after the new maps go into effect. 
• Some buildings will be shown in the new maps as being in a different high-risk zone (e.g., from Zone AE to Zone VE) or may have their Base Flood Elevation (BFE) increase or decrease. 
• Premiums are generally higher in areas that are at greater risk of flooding than in those at moderate or minimal risk of flooding. Therefore, changes in the BFE will affect flood insurance rates.

However, some buildings may be removed from the mapped SFHA.

• If the building is currently mapped in an SFHA, but on the new FIRM it is mapped into a moderate-to-low-risk flood area, flood insurance is no longer federally required. 
• However, the mortgage holder/lender may still require flood insurance. 
• Homeowners and renters, at their discretion, may maintain flood insurance at the lower rates offered for buildings outside the SFHA. 

Flood insurance rates are determined by the current effective FIRMs. If, according to the new maps, your property is located in an SFHA and is mortgaged through a federally regulated and insured lender, you are required to purchase flood insurance. The new maps became effective on May 9, 2023. However, flooding can happen wherever it rains, which means purchasing flood insurance is a good idea even for property owners in low-risk areas.

View the interactive parcel map to learn about the zoning of a property. You can search or zoom to parcel and use interactive layers in the top-left corner tool bar. You can also search zoning code use tables found in each district section and those with a “P” are permitted and those contain a “C” are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit.

The process may take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to complete. The following takes place during the process:

• Verify the potential zoning options by reviewing the Zoning Code and zoning map.
  • Use tables are found in each district section and those with a “P” are permitted and those contain a “C” are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit. Identify current district and the desired districted to be rezoned. If questions arise, please contact staff for assistance at 920-448-3400.
• To apply, complete Request for City Action application (PDF) and include the required fee made payable to the City of Green Bay and any supporting documentation.
• Planning staff will notice property owners within 100 feet, the Alderperson and the affected neighborhood association of the Plan Commission meeting at which the applicant should attend.
• A Public Hearing will be held and the staff will provide a report and recommendation at which time the Plan Commission will make a recommendation to the Common Council.
• The Common Council will review the request as part of the Report to Council and a resolution may be prepared for a first reading of the ordinance.
• A final reading would be conducted at the next available Council meeting.

The process may take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to complete and includes the following:

• Verify the potential of a CUP by checking the Zoning Code.
• Use tables found in each district section and those with a “C” are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit.
• To apply, complete the Request for City Action application (PDF) and include a required fee made payable to the City of Green Bay and any supporting documentation such as maps, operating plans support from surrounding neighbors.
• Planning staff will notice property owners within 100’, the Alderperson and the affected neighborhood association of the Plan Commission meeting at which the applicant should attend.
• A Public Hearing will be held and the staff will provide a report and recommendation at which time the Plan Commission will make a recommendation to the Common Council.
• The Common Council will review the request as part of the Report to Council and a resolution may be prepared for adoption at the same time.

A Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a type of building development and also a regulatory process. As a building development, it is a designed grouping of both varied and compatible land uses, such as housing, recreation, commercial centers, and industrial parks, all within one contained development or subdivision. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) as a regulatory process is a means of land regulation which promotes large scale, unified land development by means of mid-range, realistic programs in chase of physically curable, social and economic deficiencies in land and city-scapes. Where appropriate, this development control promotes:

• A mixture of both land uses and dwelling types with at least one of the land uses being regional in nature
• The clustering of residential land uses providing public and common open space
• Increased administrative discretion to a local professional planning staff while setting aside present land use regulations and rigid plat approval processes
• The enhancement of the bargaining process between the developer and government municipalities which in turn strengthens the municipality’s site plan review and control over development for potentially increased profits due to land efficiency, multiple land uses, and increased densities

For details about PUD requirements, see the following:  Article XX - Planned Unit Development Standards - Code of Ordinances