Landscaping Rules in De Pere, WI

If you live in De Pere or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. De Pere has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Tree Trimming

Owners and occupants whose trees overhang a De Pere street or public place must keep branches trimmed so the lowest ones sit at least 10 feet above the ground, per City Code Sec. 30-10(a). The city forester oversees the work and can exempt newly planted trees that don't block sidewalks or streetlights.

Key details: Minimum branch clearance: 10 feet above ground. Who must trim: Owner or occupant of the adjacent property. Oversight: City Forester. Exception: Newly planted trees not blocking sidewalk/light. Cost of city-ordered trim: Billed to the neglecting owner.

Section 30-10(b) lets the city forester perform the trim itself when an owner neglects it, with the cost billed to and collected from that owner. Beyond that cost recovery, chapter 30 has no dedicated dollar forfeiture for this section, so noncompliance falls under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-11: $1.00 to $2,000.00 per offense, with each day a separate violation.

Weed Ordinances

De Pere caps grass and noxious weeds at 12 inches under City Code § 74-8, and the weed commissioner can destroy noncompliant growth at the owner's expense under Wis. Stats. § 66.0517. A planned natural landscaping area with a defined edge and a three-foot setback is exempt from any height limit.

Key details: Height limit: 12 inches for grass and noxious weeds. Initial inspection charge: $50.00. Failure-to-mow charge: $75.00 additional. Repeat violation charge: $100.00 per subsequent failure. Exemption: Planned natural landscaping area, 3-ft setback.

Letting weeds or grass exceed 12 inches, outside a properly bordered planned natural landscaping area, draws a municipal citation with a forfeiture set by common council resolution, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. On top of the citation, the weed commissioner assesses a $50.00 charge for the initial investigation, an additional $75.00 if the owner fails to mow or destroy the weeds, $100.00 for each further failure in the same calendar year, and bills the full cost the city actually incurs cutting or destroying the weeds.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

De Pere requires a written permit from the city forester before anyone removes, cuts or destroys a tree growing in a public highway or public place, under City Code Sec. 30-9(a) and (c). The rule covers street trees and other public plantings, not trees on private residential lots.

Key details: Permit required for: Removing/cutting trees in public highways or places. Issuing authority: City Forester, under board of park commissioners. Application content: Number and kind of trees to be removed. Scope: Public right-of-way trees only, not private lots. Enforcement: City Forester under Sec. 30-16.

Section 30-16 tasks the city forester with enforcing the tree provisions in Secs. 30-9 through 30-15. Chapter 30 does not set its own dollar forfeiture for cutting a public tree without a permit, so a violation falls under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-11: $1.00 to $2,000.00 per offense, with each day of continued noncompliance treated as a separate violation.

The Bottom Line

De Pere'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 De Pere is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from De Pere's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.