The Town of Catawba has lowered its minimum residential lot size from 5 acres to 3 acres, a change local officials say could open the door to new home construction in the rural Price County community.
The Catawba Plan Commission approved the ordinance change on February 10, 2026, and the revised zoning rule was read at the Annual Town Meeting on April 21. The new ordinance goes into effect once it is formally published, as required under Wisconsin town governance procedures.
Under the previous zoning rules, property owners in Catawba could not subdivide land into parcels smaller than 5 acres. The updated ordinance reduces that minimum to 3 acres, with a 4-to-1 depth-to-width ratio requirement and design standards that mandate either 40 feet of road frontage or a 66-foot driveway easement for any new lot.
The push for the change began in October 2025, when Catawba resident Larry Makovsky told the town board he wanted to sell a portion of his property but could not subdivide it below the 5-acre threshold. Makovsky requested that the Plan Commission meet to discuss amending the zoning ordinance, setting in motion a process that took roughly four months from initial request to board vote.
The Plan Commission reviewed the proposal and voted on February 10 to recommend the change. The board approved the ordinance with the 4-to-1 ratio and design standards as conditions intended to preserve rural character while allowing smaller parcels. The ordinance was then read at the Annual Town Meeting in April, a standard step in the Wisconsin town legislative process.
In Wisconsin, towns are units of general-purpose local government with powers granted by the state legislature. Unlike cities and villages, which have home rule authority, towns operate under powers delegated by the state. Zoning is one of those delegated powers, and Wisconsin towns may adopt local zoning ordinances subject to county and state review procedures.
The lot size reduction reflects a broader conversation happening in rural Wisconsin communities, where aging populations, declining school enrollments, and a shortage of affordable housing have prompted some towns to revisit land use regulations. Large minimum lot sizes, often set decades ago, can function as a barrier to new construction by making it financially impractical to divide land into buildable parcels.
A 3-acre minimum remains larger than what many Wisconsin cities and villages require for residential lots, where minimums of a quarter acre or less are common. But the change represents a significant shift for Catawba, where the 5-acre rule had limited subdivision opportunities for property owners who wanted to sell portions of their land or build additional homes for family members.
The 4-to-1 ratio requirement means that a new lot cannot be more than four times as deep as it is wide. This standard is intended to prevent long, narrow lots that are difficult to develop and can create access problems for emergency vehicles. The design standards give property owners two options for access: a minimum of 40 feet of frontage on an existing road, or a 66-foot driveway easement that provides a wider private access corridor.
Catawba is an unincorporated community in southern Price County, situated along U.S. Highway 8 between Prentice and Phillips. The town has a small population and is surrounded by forested land, farms, and scattered residential properties. Like many rural Wisconsin towns, it relies on a part-time board and plan commission to handle zoning and land use decisions.
The zoning change could make it easier for property owners like Makovsky to divide and sell portions of their land, potentially attracting new residents to an area that has seen limited residential growth. However, the actual impact will depend on market demand, the availability of building sites that meet the new standards, and the cost of extending utilities to new lots.
Rural zoning reform has drawn attention across Wisconsin in recent years as communities grapple with population trends that threaten the long-term viability of small towns. Some counties and towns have explored reducing minimum lot sizes, streamlining permitting processes, or creating new zoning districts to encourage residential development. Others have moved in the opposite direction, increasing lot sizes or adding restrictions to preserve agricultural land and natural areas.
The Catawba decision follows a measured approach: the town did not eliminate minimum lot sizes or adopt a sweeping overhaul of its zoning code. Instead, it reduced the threshold by 2 acres while adding design standards intended to maintain rural character and ensure safe access to new lots.
Property owners in Catawba who wish to subdivide under the new rules will still need to go through the town’s review process, which includes submitting a survey and obtaining approval from the Plan Commission. The 4-to-1 ratio and frontage or easement requirements apply to all new lots created under the ordinance.
The ordinance takes effect upon publication, a step that formally notifies the public of the change. Once published, the new 3-acre minimum replaces the previous 5-acre requirement for all new subdivisions in the town.
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