Landscaping Rules in Wausau, WI

Wausau maintains 127 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Wausau falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tree Trimming

Wausau requires branches overhanging a public street to be trimmed to a 14-foot clearance and branches over a public sidewalk to a 10-foot clearance, and the rule applies to trees on public or private property alike. Municipal Code § 12.56.150(b) also lets the City Forester waive the rule for newly planted trees that pose no hazard.

Key details: Street clearance: 14 feet minimum over a public street. Sidewalk clearance: 10 feet minimum over a public sidewalk. Applies to: Public and private property trees alike. Waiver available: City Forester may waive for new plantings. Noncompliance cost: Charged to property as special assessment.

A tree or shrub not trimmed to the required 14-foot street or 10-foot sidewalk clearance is treated as an abatable public nuisance under § 12.56.110: on private premises, the City Forester gives the owner or tenant written notice and 30 days to trim or remove it, and if the owner fails to comply the City Forester does the work and charges the cost against the property as a special assessment under Wis. Stat. § 66.0627. No damages are owed to an owner for the removal.

Weed Ordinances

Wausau caps grass, weeds and brush at one foot on every property in the City. Section 6.48.010 requires owners and occupants to mow anything taller, folds in the state noxious-weed statute, Wis. Stat. Section 66.0407, by reference, and exempts golf courses and public parkland located wholly within the City.

Key details: Height limit: One foot for grass, weeds, brush. Enforcement notice: 5 days' written notice. City mowing cost: Billed as special tax. Citation forfeiture: $10 to $200 (deposit $30). Exempt land: Golf courses, public parkland.

Letting grass, weeds or brush exceed one foot in height violates Section 6.48.010 and can draw a citation under Section 6.48.040, with a forfeiture of not less than $10.00 nor more than $200.00 for each violation; the municipal cash deposit schedule sets the standard deposit for a failure-to-mow citation at $30.00. Ignoring the Weed Commissioner's five-day notice under Section 6.48.020 adds the City's mowing cost to the property tax bill as a special charge on top of any citation.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

In Wausau, no one may remove, cut down, or otherwise disturb a tree or shrub growing in a public area, street terrace, park, or other City land without a written permit from the City Forester. Illegal removal in the public way triggers a 1:1 caliper-inch replacement or a City-set per-tree fee under Municipal Code §§ 12.56.040 and 12.56.080.

Key details: Permit issuer: City Forester, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept.. Scope: Trees and shrubs on public areas/ways. Illegal removal remedy: 1:1 caliper inch replacement or set fee. Exempt act: Watering needs no permit. Private-property trees: Outside scope unless a safety nuisance.

Removing or damaging a public tree or shrub without a permit exposes the responsible party to the illegal-removal fee or 1:1 caliper replacement cost the City Forester assesses under § 12.56.040, plus the general City forfeiture of $10.00 to $200.00 per offense under § 1.01.110 where the chapter sets no specific penalty. Interfering with the City Forester's enforcement work is separately prohibited under § 12.56.120.

The Bottom Line

Wausau'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 Wausau is broadly strict or permissive.

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