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Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 91.01 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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91.0191.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

91.01(1)(1) “Accessory use” means any of the following land uses on a farm:

91.01(1)(a)(a) A building, structure, or improvement that is an integral part of, or is incidental to, an agricultural use.

91.01(1)(b)(b) An activity or business operation that is an integral part of, or incidental to, an agricultural use.

91.01(1)(c)(c) A farm residence.

91.01(1)(d)(d) A business, activity, or enterprise, whether or not associated with an agricultural use, that is conducted by the owner or operator of a farm, that requires no buildings, structures, or improvements other than those described in par. (a) or (c), that employs no more than 4 full-time employees annually, and that does not impair or limit the current or future agricultural use of the farm or of other protected farmland.

91.01(1)(e)(e) Any other use that the department, by rule, identifies as an accessory use.

91.01(1m)(1m) “Agricultural enterprise area” means an area designated in accordance with s. 91.84.

91.01(2)(2) “Agricultural use” means any of the following:

91.01(2)(a)(a) Any of the following activities conducted for the purpose of producing an income or livelihood:

91.01(2)(a)1.1. Crop or forage production.

91.01(2)(a)2.2. Keeping livestock.

91.01(2)(a)3.3. Beekeeping.

91.01(2)(a)4.4. Nursery, sod, or Christmas tree production.

91.01(2)(a)4m.4m. Floriculture.

91.01(2)(a)5.5. Aquaculture.

91.01(2)(a)6.6. Fur farming.

91.01(2)(a)7.7. Forest management.

91.01(2)(a)8.8. Enrolling land in a federal agricultural commodity payment program or a federal or state agricultural land conservation payment program.

91.01(2)(b)(b) Any other use that the department, by rule, identifies as an agricultural use.

91.01(3)(3) “Agriculture-related use” means any of the following:

91.01(3)(a)(a) An agricultural equipment dealership, facility providing agricultural supplies, facility for storing or processing agricultural products, or facility for processing agricultural wastes.

91.01(3)(b)(b) Any other use that the department, by rule, identifies as an agriculture-related use.

91.01(5)(5) “Base farm tract” means one of the following:

91.01(5)(a)(a) All land, whether one parcel or 2 or more contiguous parcels, that is in a farmland preservation zoning district and that is part of a single farm on the date that the department under s. 91.36 (1) first certifies the farmland preservation zoning ordinance covering the land or on an earlier date specified in the farmland preservation zoning ordinance, regardless of any subsequent changes in the size of the farm.

91.01(5)(b)(b) Any other tract that the department by rule defines as a base farm tract.

91.01(6)(6) “Certified farmland preservation plan” means a farmland preservation plan that is certified as determined under s. 91.12.

91.01(7)(7) “Certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance” means a zoning ordinance that is certified as determined under s. 91.32.

91.01(8)(8) “Chief elected official” means the mayor of a city or, if the city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, the village president of a village, the town board chairperson of a town, or the county executive of a county, or, if the county does not have a county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors.

91.01(9)(9) “Comprehensive plan” has the meaning given in s. 66.1001 (1) (a).

91.01(10)(10) “Conditional use” means a use allowed under a conditional use permit, special exception, or other special zoning permission issued by a political subdivision.

91.01(11)(11) “County land conservation committee” means a committee created under s. 92.06 (1).

91.01(12)(12) “Department” means the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

91.01(13)(13) “Farm” means all land under common ownership that is primarily devoted to agricultural use.

91.01(14)(14) “Farm acreage” means size of a farm in acres.

91.01(15)(15) “Farmland preservation agreement” means any of the following agreements between an owner of land and the department under which the owner agrees to restrict the use of land in return for tax credits:

91.01(15)(a)(a) A farmland preservation agreement or transition area agreement entered into under s. 91.13, 2007 stats., or s. 91.14, 2007 stats.

91.01(15)(b)(b) An agreement entered into under s. 91.60 (1).

91.01(16)(16) “Farmland preservation area” means an area that is planned primarily for agricultural use or agriculture-related use, or both, and that is one of the following:

91.01(16)(a)(a) Identified as an agricultural preservation area or transition area in a farmland preservation plan described in s. 91.12 (1).

91.01(16)(b)(b) Identified under s. 91.10 (1) (d) in a farmland preservation plan described in s. 91.12 (2).

91.01(17)(17) “Farmland preservation plan” means a plan for the preservation of farmland in a county, including an agricultural preservation plan under subch. IV of ch. 91, 2007 stats.

91.01(18)(18) “Farmland preservation zoning district” means any of the following:

91.01(18)(a)(a) An area zoned for exclusive agricultural use under an ordinance described in s. 91.32 (1).

91.01(18)(b)(b) A farmland preservation zoning district designated under s. 91.38 (1) (c) in an ordinance described in s. 91.32 (2).

91.01(19)(19) “Farm residence” means any of the following structures that is located on a farm:

91.01(19)(a)(a) A single-family or duplex residence that is the only residential structure on the farm or is occupied by any of the following:

91.01(19)(a)1.1. An owner or operator of the farm.

91.01(19)(a)2.2. A parent or child of an owner or operator of the farm.

91.01(19)(a)3.3. An individual who earns more than 50 percent of his or her gross income from the farm.

91.01(19)(b)(b) A migrant labor camp that is certified under s. 103.92.

91.01(20)(20) “Gross farm revenues” has the meaning given in s. 71.613 (1) (g).

91.01(20m)(20m) “Livestock” means bovine animals, equine animals, goats, poultry, sheep, swine, farm-raised deer, farm-raised game birds, camelids, ratites, and farm-raised fish.

91.01(21)(21) “Nonfarm residence” means a single-family or multi-family residence other than a farm residence.

91.01(22)(22) “Nonfarm residential acreage” means the total number of acres of all parcels on which nonfarm residences are located.

91.01(22m)(22m) “Overlay district” means a zoning district that is superimposed on one or more other zoning districts and imposes additional restrictions on the underlying districts.

91.01(23)(23) “Owner” means a person who has an ownership interest in land.

91.01(23m)(23m) “Permitted use” means a use that is allowed without a conditional use permit, special exception, or other special zoning permission.

91.01(24)(24) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county.

91.01(25)(25) “Prime farmland” means any of the following:

91.01(25)(a)(a) An area with a class I or class II land capability classification as identified by the natural resources conservation service of the federal department of agriculture.

91.01(25)(b)(b) Land, other than land described in par. (a), that is identified as prime farmland in a certified farmland preservation plan.

91.01(26)(26) “Prior nonconforming use” means a land use that does not conform with a farmland preservation zoning ordinance, but that existed lawfully before the farmland preservation zoning ordinance was enacted.

91.01(27)(27) “Protected farmland” means land that is located in a farmland preservation zoning district, is covered by a farmland preservation agreement, or is otherwise legally protected from nonagricultural development.

91.01(28)(28) “Taxable year” has the meaning given in s. 71.01 (12).

91.01 HistoryHistory: 2009 a. 28.

91.01 AnnotationWisconsin’s Working Lands: Securing Our Future. Matson. Wis. Law. Dec. 2009.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1988–2025 · leading case: Pauline Buchholz, as Tr. of the Trust Agreement v. Steven K. Schmidt, 2024 WI App 47 (Wis. Ct. App. 2024).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Pauline Buchholz, as Tr. of the Trust Agreement v. Steven K. Schmidt, 2024 WI App 47 (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 3× “08(2)(a), and with its definition of an agricultural use as any of the activities listed in § 91.01(2) when done “for the purpose of producing an income or livelihood.”

Timm v. Portage Cnty. Drainage Dist., 429 N.W.2d 512 (Wis. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “Section 91.01(1), Stats., defines "agricultural use” to include "vegetable raising.”

Zink v. Khwaja, 2000 WI App 58 (Wis. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “5 "Agricultural practice" is defined as "any activity associated with an agricultural use," and the "raising of fruits, nuts and berries" is considered to be an "agricultural use.”

In Re Schneider, 162 B.R. 199 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1993). “(1), on any delinquent general property taxes, special assessments, special charges and special taxes included in the tax roll.”

Dyersville Ready Mix Inc. d/b/a BARD Materials v. Iowa Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors (Wis. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 4× “01(2); rental of farm residences no longer used as farm dwellings; “[h]ousehold occupations” consistent with § 91.01(1); certain roadside stands; and residential kennels if on a parcel larger than 40 acres.”

Gehl v. Conrad, 722 N.W.2d 400 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 3× “§ 91.01(10)]." WISCONSIN STAT. § 91.01(10) (2003-04), [2] in turn, provides: "Use consistent with agricultural use" means any activity that meets all of the following conditions: (a) The activity will not convert land that has been devoted primarily to agricultural use.”

Defend Town Plans, U.A. v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 91.01(24); that the farmland preservation zoning ordinance at issue was certified by DATCP; that the Brunson parcel was located within a farmland preservation zoning district; and that changing the zoning classification of 7.”

— Wis. Stat. § 91.01(1) — 2 cases

Timm v. Portage Cnty. Drainage Dist., 429 N.W.2d 512 (Wis. Ct. App. 1988). “Section 91.01(1), Stats., defines "agricultural use” to include "vegetable raising.”

Dyersville Ready Mix Inc. d/b/a BARD Materials v. Iowa Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors (Wis. Ct. App. 2025). “01(2); rental of farm residences no longer used as farm dwellings; “[h]ousehold occupations” consistent with § 91.01(1); certain roadside stands; and residential kennels if on a parcel larger than 40 acres.”

— Wis. Stat. § 91.01(10) — 1 case

Gehl v. Conrad, 722 N.W.2d 400 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 91.01(10)]." WISCONSIN STAT. § 91.01(10) (2003-04), [2] in turn, provides: "Use consistent with agricultural use" means any activity that meets all of the following conditions: (a) The activity will not convert land that has been devoted primarily to agricultural use.”

— Wis. Stat. § 91.01(10)(b) — 1 case

Gehl v. Conrad, 722 N.W.2d 400 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 91.01(10)]." WISCONSIN STAT. § 91.01(10) (2003-04), [2] in turn, provides: "Use consistent with agricultural use" means any activity that meets all of the following conditions: (a) The activity will not convert land that has been devoted primarily to agricultural use.”

— Wis. Stat. § 91.01(2) — 2 cases

Pauline Buchholz, as Tr. of the Trust Agreement v. Steven K. Schmidt, 2024 WI App 47 (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “08(2)(a), and with its definition of an agricultural use as any of the activities listed in § 91.01(2) when done “for the purpose of producing an income or livelihood.”

Dyersville Ready Mix Inc. d/b/a BARD Materials v. Iowa Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors (Wis. Ct. App. 2025). “01(2); rental of farm residences no longer used as farm dwellings; “[h]ousehold occupations” consistent with § 91.01(1); certain roadside stands; and residential kennels if on a parcel larger than 40 acres.”

— Wis. Stat. § 91.01(2)(a) — 1 case

Pauline Buchholz, as Tr. of the Trust Agreement v. Steven K. Schmidt, 2024 WI App 47 (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “08(2)(a), and with its definition of an agricultural use as any of the activities listed in § 91.01(2) when done “for the purpose of producing an income or livelihood.”

— Wis. Stat. § 91.01(24) — 1 case

Defend Town Plans, U.A. v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 91.01(24); that the farmland preservation zoning ordinance at issue was certified by DATCP; that the Brunson parcel was located within a farmland preservation zoning district; and that changing the zoning classification of 7.”

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