Wauwatosa's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Wauwatosa Municipal Code Section 7.46.030 bars using or operating any voice-amplification or sound-reproducing device on a public street or from an aircraft, and separately bans excessive vocal, bell, gong or horn use to advertise a trade or sale. Churches, government functions, emergency vehicles and permitted parades are carved out, but ordinary amplified music on a city street has no exception.

Key details: Governing section: Section 7.46.030, Chapter 7.46 Noise. Covered locations: Public streets and aircraft. Exemptions: Churches, government, emergency, parade permits. Penalty: $1 to $5,000 forfeiture, Section 1.12.010. Adopted: Ord. O-03-9, 2003.

Unless a chapter section sets its own penalty, Section 7.46.150 routes violations of Chapter 7.46 to the general penalty at Section 1.12.010: a forfeiture of not less than one dollar nor more than five thousand dollars per offense, rising to a minimum of twenty-five dollars for a repeat conviction, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense. If the amplification occurs in connection with a city license or permit, Section 7.46.030 also allows the city to revoke that license or permit.

Barking Dogs

Wauwatosa Municipal Code Section 7.46.040 Animals bars keeping any animal or bird that habitually disturbs the peace and quiet of neighbors by noise, which is the operative nuisance-barking-dog rule in the city's noise chapter; it covers every animal or bird, not dogs alone, and has no fixed duration or decibel test.

Key details: Governing section: Section 7.46.040 Animals, Chapter 7.46 Noise. Scope: Any animal or bird, not dogs only. Standard: Habitually disturbs peace and quiet by noise. No fixed threshold: No decibel or minutes-of-barking rule printed. Penalty: $1 to $5,000 forfeiture, Section 1.12.010.

Section 7.46.150 routes a Section 7.46.040 violation to the general penalty in Section 1.12.010: a forfeiture of one to five thousand dollars for a first offense, at least twenty-five dollars for a repeat conviction, with each day the habitual disturbance continues chargeable as a separate offense.

Vehicle Noise

Wauwatosa Municipal Code Section 7.48.040 bars any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound from an automobile horn or other warning device, and separately bars loud, excessive or unusual noise from operating any motor vehicle, motorcycle, mini-bike or other motor-propelled vehicle, in both cases where it disturbs nearby residents' comfort and repose.

Key details: Governing section: Section 7.48.040, Chapter 7.48 Disorderly Conduct. Covered sources: Automobile horns and motor vehicle operation noise. Standard: Disturbs comfort, quiet or repose nearby. Origin: Prior code § 9.02(4); Ord. 72-13, 1972. Penalty: $1 to $5,000 forfeiture, Section 1.12.010.

Section 7.48.160 sends a Section 7.48.040 violation to the general penalty in Section 1.12.010: a forfeiture of one to five thousand dollars for a first offense, at least twenty-five dollars for a repeat conviction, with each day of continued excessive vehicle or horn noise chargeable as a separate offense.

Construction Hours

Wauwatosa bars loud or disturbing construction noise between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at any hour on Sunday, under Wauwatosa Municipal Code Section 15.02.100. The board of public works can grant a variance to modify those hours for exceptional circumstances.

Key details: Weekday/Saturday window: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. Sunday: No loud construction noise, any hour. Variance authority: Board of Public Works. Governing section: Section 15.02.100. First-offense penalty: $100, +$50 each additional offense.

A Section 15.02.100 violation is enforced under Section 15.02.190, which routes Title 15 violations to Section 15.34.080's penalty schedule: a forfeiture of one hundred dollars for a first offense, increasing by fifty dollars for each additional offense, and one thousand dollars for each offense creating imminent danger to life, health or safety.

The Bottom Line

Wauwatosa's noise ordinances 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 Wauwatosa is broadly strict or permissive.

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