Aug. 1, 2026

Byline Local government and housing policy

VIROQUA Wis. – The Viroqua Housing Advisory Board is charting a new course to expand local residential options after successfully guiding its first major ordinances through the city council.

Sonya Newenhouse, who serves as the chair of the newer city committee, explained during their recent July 30 meeting that the board was formed about two and a half years ago. She noted the group was established to find proactive solutions for all types of residential pressures, rather than just focusing on affordable housing. The board recently welcomed two new members to its ranks, including Ward 1 Alderperson Seth McClurg, who brings 25 years of construction experience, and Amanda Hautanen, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in public health.

Tanja Birke, the other city council representative on the board, noted that the group has faced a long journey. Birke explained that the board began its work just as Viroqua was initiating its comprehensive planning process, which heavily influenced their early discussions.

The board has spent the last year developing policies to increase housing inventory in Viroqua, which has struggled with a severe shortage of both rentals and homes for families. Earlier this year, the board successfully developed a new accessory dwelling unit ordinance to allow homeowners to construct small secondary residential structures on their lots. The Viroqua Common Council advanced the draft on May 26 and sent it to the city attorneys for formal legal review.

The housing board also drafted a short-term rental ordinance, which was reviewed by the city council on June 9. After extensive debate, the council sent the draft back to the board to incorporate several changes, such as raising the annual occupancy limit for rentals to 220 days, exempting owner occupied properties from the citywide permit cap, and extending discounted application fees to any property owner residing in Vernon County.

At the July 30 meeting, Newenhouse reported on the housing chapter of the city’s upcoming comprehensive plan. She noted that after hard work by the board and public input at the plan commission, the section was fully revised to restore the goals the board had agreed on. Newenhouse summarized that the updated plan sets three primary goals which include increasing housing inventory, ensuring affordable housing opportunities, and protecting community character.

“The first goal is to increase housing inventory,” said Newenhouse. “That sounds so simple, but that wasn’t earmarked as a primary goal before.”

She added that the updated draft is expected to be presented to the Common Council on August 18. The board then turned to the accessory dwelling unit ordinance. Board member Shauna Anderson presented a draft guide she created to help residents understand what accessory dwelling units are and how to build them. Anderson explained that the guide is intended to answer common questions and make the concept accessible to the general public.

“We recognized that we had a lot of very outstanding questions,” said Anderson. “And we also wanted to put a package together for people in Viroqua to get a better understanding of what is this.”

The board discussed the logistical challenges of these units, such as safety requirements and utility meters. Birke explained that the primary reason the city is spending so much time on the ordinance is to address public safety and utility integration.

“Ultimately, the reason why this is even a something that we’re spending a lot of time mulling over is for is for fire and EMS,” said Birke. “That’s the main reason, public safety and utilities.”

Anderson added that utility companies like Madison Gas and Electric require separate mailing addresses for separate meters, though Newenhouse cautioned that separate meters are rarely economical. Newenhouse suggested that the fire chief look into how other communities regulate the structures.

“Hopefully, Chad (Viroqua Fire Chief and Building Inspector Chad Buros) or somebody could look into other cities that have ADUs,” said Newenhouse. “And just ask how they do it, so he doesn’t feel like he needs to reinvent the wheel.”

With the accessory dwelling unit and short term rental ordinances moving forward, Newenhouse announced that the board will focus on tiny homes and ultra affordable housing over the coming year. She noted that both city staff and board members have received numerous inquiries from residents who want to put tiny homes on local lots.

Newenhouse explained that tiny homes on wheels do not have permanent foundations but are in high demand from residents who want to rent space on existing lots.

“I think that’s a lower priority than tiny house discussion,” said Newenhouse. “Because Chad gets a lot of calls, and so do I.”

She noted that Viroqua currently has no plan to regulate them. Seth McClurg emphasized that tiny homes could provide realistic homeownership opportunities for residents on limited budgets.

“I was thinking you were maybe talking tiny houses, as in we can get this structure and parcel it’s on and everything in for under $100,000,” said McClurg. “That makes it a somewhat affordable.”

He noted that ownership offers stability that renting cannot match. Anderson suggested that the city could leverage state grants and loans to build the necessary infrastructure for a small tiny home neighborhood, pointing to other workforce housing successes like the Main Street Apartments. Anderson explained that several state programs exist to assist rural communities with low and moderate income projects.

“There are a lot of grant and loan programs available in the state of Wisconsin,” said Anderson. “If a city or a municipality is willing to apply for them.”

Birke agreed that such programs are critical to building workforce housing in the region.

“It’s the grant money, and they’re restricted to affordable or low income housing, I think it’s low income.” She agreed that moderate income housing is desperately needed in the city.

The proposed tiny home concept could follow similar municipal developments in Viroqua, such as the 22 acre Hanson Farm project on the north side, which was purchased in 2023 for $650,000. The city has partnered with multiple developers to construct over 100 housing units on that site, while also utilizing tax increment financing to pay for streets and utilities.

McClurg volunteered to research how other Wisconsin communities regulate tiny home and he will investigate the regulatory paths other cities have taken and report his findings to the board.

Newenhouse concluded by suggesting they eventually meet with Public Works Director Sarah Grainger to identify potential city lots for a tiny home community. Newenhouse explained that meeting with the public works director is a necessary step to see if any public or private parcels would be suitable.

The Viroqua Housing Advisory Board plans to continue its discussions on tiny homes and accessory dwellings at its next regular meeting.

Draft Accessory Dwelling Unit FAQ

• What is an accessory dwelling unit An accessory dwelling unit is a small secondary residential space built on the same lot as an existing home. These units can be detached structures built in the backyard, attached additions bumped out from the main house, converted garages, or internal apartments like a renovated second story.
• Who is allowed to build a unit Property owners in the residential r1 zone who want to add a secondary unit can do so under the new rules. However, Viroqua does not allow mobile homes to be utilized as accessory dwelling units.
• Can an accessory dwelling unit be sold separately No, these secondary units are permanently tied to the main property. Owners are strictly prohibited from subdividing the lot to sell the secondary structure independently.
• How small or large can the unit be Viroqua has set a minimum size limit of 250 square feet. The maximum size of the secondary home is dictated by existing lot coverage standards and setback rules for each individual parcel.
• Will building a unit increase property taxes Yes, adding a detached secondary dwelling is viewed as a property improvement that increases the assessed value of the parcel. Property owners should expect a corresponding increase in their property taxes.
• Are separate utility hookups required There is no single rule for every utility hookup because it depends on individual property factors. While some property owners may choose to share lines with their primary home for family members, landlords renting to tenants often prefer separate meters to protect themselves from unpaid bills. Madison Gas and Electric requires a separate mailing address to set up separate electric or gas meters.
• Are composting toilets allowed No, any accessory dwelling built on a city block with access to city sewer lines must be connected directly to the municipal sewer system. Composting toilets are currently prohibited by local ordinances.
• Is additional on site parking required No, the city intentionally chose not to require homeowners to pour expensive new concrete parking pads to accommodate extra vehicles. However, all residents must still comply with standard city parking rules including winter snow emergency street clearing.
• Do these units require commercial fire sprinklers No, the city does not require expensive fire sprinklers to be installed in standard residential accessory dwellings. However, if a property owner attempts to put more than two units inside a single structure, commercial building codes will trigger a sprinkler requirement.