Wisconsin Code § 236.34

Recording of certified survey map; use in changing boundaries; use in conveyancing
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(1) DESCRIPTION AND USES. (am) A certified survey map of not more
than 4 parcels of land, or such greater maximum number speci-

fied by an ordinance enacted or resolution adopted under par. (ar)
1., consisting of lots or outlots may be recorded in the office of
the register of deeds of the county in which the land is situated.
(ar) 1. Notwithstanding s. 236.45 (2) (ac) and (am), a municipality, town, or county that has established a planning agency
may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that specifies a maximum number of parcels that is greater than 4 into which land that
is situated in the municipality, town, or county and zoned for
commercial, multifamily dwelling, as defined in s. 101.01 (8m),
industrial, or mixed-use development may be divided by certified
survey map.
2. Before the enactment of an ordinance or the adoption of a
resolution under subd. 1., the governing body of the municipality,
town, or county shall receive the recommendation of its planning
agency and shall hold a public hearing on the ordinance or resolution. Notice of the hearing shall be given by publication of a class
2 notice, under ch. 985. Any ordinance enacted or resolution
adopted shall be published in a form suitable for public
distribution.
3. Notwithstanding subd. 1., an ordinance enacted or resolution adopted under subd. 1. by a municipality may specify the
number of parcels into which land within the extraterritorial plat
approval jurisdiction of the municipality, as well as land within
the corporate limits of the municipality, may be divided by certified survey map if the municipality has the right to approve or object to plats within that area under s. 236.10 (1) (b) 2. and (2).
4. If more than one governing body has authority to enact an
ordinance or adopt a resolution under subd. 1. with respect to the
same land and those governing bodies enact ordinances or adopt
resolutions with conflicting provisions, any certified survey map
affecting that land must comply with the most restrictive
provisions.
(bm) A certified survey map may be used to change the
boundaries of lots and outlots within a recorded plat, recorded assessor’s plat under s. 70.27, or recorded certified survey map if
the reconfiguration does not result in a subdivision or violate a local ordinance or resolution.
(cm) A certified survey map may not alter areas previously
dedicated to the public or a restriction placed on the platted land
by covenant, by grant of an easement, or by any other manner.
(dm) A certified survey map that crosses the exterior boundary of a recorded plat or assessor’s plat shall apply to the reconfiguration of not more than 4 parcels, or such greater maximum
number specified by an ordinance enacted or resolution adopted
under par. (ar) 1., by a single owner, or if no additional parcels are
created. Subject to sub. (2m), such a certified survey map must
be approved in the same manner as a final plat of a subdivision
must be approved under s. 236.10, must be monumented in accordance with s. 236.15 (1) , and shall contain owners’ and mortgagees’ certificates that are in substantially the same form as required under s. 236.21 (2) (a).
(1m) PREPARATION. A certified survey must meet the following requirements:
(a) The survey shall be performed and the map prepared by a
professional land surveyor. The error in the latitude and departure closure of the survey may not exceed the ratio of one in
3,000.
(b) All corners shall be monumented in accordance with s.
236.15 (1) (ac), (c), (d), and (g).
(c) The map shall be prepared in accordance with ss. 236.16
(4) and 236.20 (2) (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (L)
and (3) (b), (d), and (e) at a graphic scale of not more than 500
feet to an inch, which shall be shown on each sheet showing layout features. The map shall be prepared with a binding margin
1.5 inches wide and a 0.5 inch margin on all other sides on
durable white media that is 8 1/2 inches wide by 14 inches long,
or on other media that is acceptable to the register of deeds, with
a permanent nonfading black image. When more than one sheet
is used for any map, each sheet shall be numbered consecutively
and shall contain a notation giving the total number of sheets in
the map and showing the relationship of that sheet to the other
sheets. “CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP” shall be printed on the
map in prominent letters with the location of the land by government lot, recorded private claim, quarter-quarter section, section,
township, range and county noted. Seals or signatures reproduced on images complying with this paragraph shall be given
the force and effect of original signatures and seals.
(d) The map shall include a certificate of the professional land
surveyor who surveyed, divided, and mapped the land which has
the same force and effect as an affidavit and which gives all of the
following information:
1. By whose direction the professional land surveyor made
the survey, division, and map of the land described on the certified survey map.
2. A clear and concise description of the land surveyed, divided, and mapped by government lot, recorded private claim,
quarter-quarter section, section, township, range and county; and
by metes and bounds commencing with a monument at a section
or quarter section corner of the quarter section that is not the center of a section, or commencing with a monument at the end of a
boundary line of a recorded private claim or federal reservation in
which the land is located. If, however, the land is shown in a
recorded subdivision plat, recorded addition to a recorded subdivision plat, or recorded certified survey map that has previously
been tied to the monumented line of a quarter section, government lot, recorded private claim, or federal reservation in which
the land is located, the land shall be described by the subdivision
name or certified survey map number and the description of the
lot and block thereof.
3. A statement that the map is a correct representation of all
of the exterior boundaries of the land surveyed and the division of
that land.
4. A statement that the professional land surveyor has fully
complied with the provisions of this section in surveying, dividing, and mapping the land.
(e) A certified survey map may be used for dedication of
streets and other public areas, and for granting easements to the
public or any person, society, or corporation marked or noted on
the map, when owners’ certificates and mortgagees’ certificates
which are in substantially the same form as required by s. 236.21
(2) (a) have been executed and the city council or village or town
board involved have approved such dedication or grant. Approval
and recording of such certified surveys shall have the force and
effect provided by s. 236.29.
(em) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the certified survey
map divides land into more than 4 parcels in accordance with an
ordinance enacted or resolution adopted under sub. (1) (ar) 1. ,
notwithstanding pars. (b) and (c), the survey and the map shall
comply with ss. 236.15, 236.20, and 236.21 (1) and (2) and the
map shall be submitted to the department of administration for a
review of the compliance with those sections.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if any of the following
applies:
a. The certified survey map is only changing the boundaries
of lots and outlots in a recorded plat, recorded assessor’s plat under s. 70.27, or recorded certified survey map, regardless of
whether the certified survey map crosses the exterior boundary of
the recorded plat, assessor’s plat, or certified survey map.
b. The certified survey map is dividing land that is wholly
situated in a 1st class city.

c. The certified survey map is dividing unincorporated land
in a county with a population of 750,000 or more.
(er) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the certified survey
map and survey shall comply with the rules of the department of
transportation described in s. 236.13 (1) (e) and the map shall be
submitted to the department of transportation for a review of the
compliance with those rules if all of the following apply:
a. The certified survey map divides land into more than 4
parcels in accordance with an ordinance enacted or resolution
adopted under sub. (1) (ar) 1.
b. The certified survey map is changing the external boundary of a recorded plat, recorded assessor’s plat, or recorded certified survey map.
c. The certified survey map or recorded plat, recorded assessor’s plat, or recorded certified survey map shows lots that abut or
adjoin a state trunk highway or connecting highway.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if any of the following
applies:
a. The certified survey map is dividing land that is wholly
situated in a 1st class city.
b. The certified survey map is dividing unincorporated land
in a county with a population of 750,000 or more.
(f) Within 90 days of submitting a certified survey map for
approval, the approving authority, or its agent authorized to approve certified survey maps, shall take action to approve, approve
conditionally, or reject the certified survey map and shall state in
writing any conditions of approval or reasons for rejection, unless
the time is extended by agreement with the subdivider. Failure of
the approving authority or its agent to act within the 90 days, or
any extension of that period, constitutes an approval of the certified survey map and, upon demand, a certificate to that effect
shall be made on the face of the map by the clerk of the authority
that has failed to act.
(2) RECORDING. (a) Certified survey maps prepared in accordance with subs. (1) and (1m) shall be numbered consecutively by the register of deeds and shall be recorded in a bound
volume kept in the register of deeds’ office, known as the “Certified Survey Maps of .... County”, or stored electronically in the
register of deeds office.
(b) If the certified survey map is approved by a local unit of
government, the register of deeds may not accept the certified
survey map for record unless all of the following apply:
1. The certified survey map is offered for record within 12
months after the date of the last approval of the map and within
36 months after the date of the first approval of the map.
2. The certified survey map shows on its face all of the certificates and affidavits required under subs. (1) and (1m).
(2m) COUNTY APPROVAL AUTHORITY. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a county planning agency under s. 236.10 (1) (b)
3. or (c) 2. has no authority to approve or object to a certified survey map that divides land that is located in a town that has, before
the certified survey map is submitted for approval, enacted an ordinance under s. 60.23 (34) or (35) withdrawing the town from
county zoning and the county development plan.
(b) A county planning agency under s. 236.10 (1) (b) 3. or (c)
2. may object to any of the following portions of a certified survey map that divides land located in a town described in par. (a):
1. Any land shown on and subject to the certified survey map
that is shoreland, as defined in s. 59.692 (1) (b), in the county.
2. Any land shown on and subject to the certified survey map
that is in a 100-year floodplain in the county.
(3) USE IN CONVEYANCING. When a certified survey map has
been recorded in accordance with this section, the parcels of land
in the map shall be, for all purposes, including assessment, taxation, devise, descent, and conveyance, as defined in s. 706.01 (4),
described by reference to all of the following:
(a) The number of the map.
(b) The lot or outlot number of the parcel.
(c) If the map is assigned a document number, the document
number assigned to the map.
(d) If the map is assigned a volume and page number, the volume and page where the map is recorded.
(e) The name of the county.
(4) VACATION. A certified survey map may be vacated by the
circuit court of the county in which the parcels of land are located
in the same manner and with like effect as provided in ss. 236.40
to 236.44, except that application for vacation of the certified survey map may be made by any of the following:
(a) The owner of any lot or outlot in the land that is the subject
of the certified survey map.
(b) The county board if the county has acquired an interest by
tax deed in any lot or outlot in the land that is the subject of the
certified survey map.

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