Landscaping Rules in Ashwaubenon, WI

If you live in Ashwaubenon or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Ashwaubenon has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Tree Trimming

Village of Ashwaubenon Municipal Code § 11-2-77(B) lets the tree board prune, remove or spray any part of a privately owned tree that extends over public property, including streets and sidewalks. Before doing the work, the board must give the owner or occupant ten days written notice, though it may instead let the owner trim the branches under its instructions.

Key details: Notice before Village trims: 10 days written notice. Authority: Village tree board. Per-tree penalty: $25.00 added fine. Continuing violation: Each day a separate offense. Pruning standard: ANSI A300.

Violating any provision of the tree division, including failing to comply with a tree board order to clear branches over a street or sidewalk, is punishable under the general penalty at Ashwaubenon Municipal Code § 1-13, plus an additional $25.00 fine for each tree directly involved in the violation under Section 11-2-124. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, so an uncleared overhang can generate escalating daily penalties.

Weed Ordinances

Improved lots and parcels under one acre in the Village of Ashwaubenon must keep noxious weeds and grass cut to six inches or less. Village Code Section 11-1-21(F)(3)(b) sets that limit, and the director of public works can cite a violation up to $500.00 per offense on top of any abatement cost the Village bills the owner.

Key details: Height limit, improved lots: 6 inches or less. Governing section: Sec. 11-1-21(F)(3)(b). Compliance window: 48 hours after notice. Citation amount: Up to $500.00 per violation. Repeat-notice rule: No further notice after 3 in a year.

Beyond the mowing bill, Section 11-1-21(F)(4)(b) lets the director of public works issue a citation of up to $500.00 for each violation of the six-inch standard. That citation is separate from Chapter 1's general penalty, Section 1-1-13, which can add a forfeiture of $1.00 to $5,000.00 plus court costs if the matter goes to a municipal citation hearing, with each day of overgrowth a distinct offense.

Native Plants

Ashwaubenon lets homeowners plant native grasses, forbs and rain gardens without mowing them to six inches, as long as the planting is a deliberate planned natural landscaping kept entirely on the owner's own lot. Village Code Section 11-1-21(F)(2) defines the term and Section 11-1-21(F)(3)(c)(v) exempts it from the noxious-weed height and destruction rule.

Key details: Definition: Sec. 11-1-21(F)(2), Planned natural landscaping. Exemption: Sec. 11-1-21(F)(3)(c)(v). Condition: Must stay wholly within owner's own parcel. Excludes: Turf grass and gardens. Abatement-cost authority: Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.0517(3)(b)1.

Landscaping that qualifies as planned natural landscaping under Section 11-1-21(F)(2) and stays within the parcel line faces no citation. If it spreads beyond the lot or the Village determines it isn't a genuine planned planting, the standard weed enforcement applies: 48-hour notice, Village abatement billed to the owner, a citation up to $500.00 under Section 11-1-21(F)(4)(b), and the Code's general penalty of $1.00 to $5,000.00 under Section 1-1-13 for a contested violation.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Ashwaubenon gives residents more flexibility on native plants.

Water Restrictions

From June 15 through September 15 each year, the Village of Ashwaubenon bans lawn sprinkling except on an odd/even schedule tied to street address. Even-numbered addresses may water on even-numbered calendar days, odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days. Any exception requires written authorization from the village president.

Key details: Restricted period: June 15 to September 15 annually. Even addresses: May sprinkle on even calendar days. Odd addresses: May sprinkle on odd calendar days. Exception route: Written authorization from village president. First-offense penalty: $1.00 to $5,000.00 forfeiture plus costs.

Sprinkling outside your address parity's assigned day between June 15 and September 15 without written village-president authorization is a Code violation. Because section 22-2-23 sets no penalty of its own, it falls under the general penalty at section 1-1-13: a first offense carries a forfeiture of $1.00 to $5,000.00 plus prosecution costs, with up to 90 days jail if unpaid; a repeat violation within a year can draw the same forfeiture range with up to six months jail in default. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Ashwaubenon's landscaping rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Ashwaubenon is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Ashwaubenon can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.