Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Ashwaubenon, WI

Ashwaubenon maintains 112 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with sidewalk & pedestrian rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Ashwaubenon falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Encroachment Permits

Anyone digging, placing facilities, or otherwise using the Village right-of-way in Ashwaubenon must register with the Department of Public Works and obtain an excavation permit under Village Code §§ 19-2-77 and 19-2-80 before starting work. The scheme covers utilities, contractors, and other right-of-way users, requires a repair bond and liability insurance, and doubles every fee owed if work starts without one.

Key details: Permit authority: Director of Public Works ('the Department'), § 19-2-77. Registration: Required before any right-of-way construction, repair, or excavation. Bond & insurance: Repair bond and liability insurance required (§ 19-2-81(A)). Permit fee: Cost-recovery: admin cost plus degradation fee (§ 19-2-82). Unpermitted work penalty: Double all fees plus damage deposit (§ 19-2-90(B)).

Excavating or occupying Village right-of-way without registering and obtaining a permit first triggers § 19-2-90(B): the violator must still register, apply retroactively, pay double the normal permit fee and double every other fee the chapter requires, and deposit funds to cover right-of-way damage. A denied follow-up permit means the facilities must be abandoned. The Village's general penalty in § 1-1-13 also applies: forfeitures run $1 to $5,000 per offense, with up to 90 days in jail in default.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Ashwaubenon actively enforces its encroachment permits requirements.

Obstruction Rules

Ashwaubenon bars anyone from encroaching on, obstructing, or encumbering a street, alley, sidewalk, or other public ground adjoining their property under Village Code § 19-2-98. Section 19-2-99 carves out narrow, measured exceptions for building signs, awnings, and short-term loading of goods, and § 19-2-100 lets the Director of Public Works require barricades or lights around construction materials.

Key details: Prohibition: No encroaching on or obstructing streets, sidewalks, public grounds (§ 19-2-98). Sign/clock clearance: Projects ≤6 ft, clears ≥10 ft above sidewalk (§ 19-2-99(A)). Awning clearance: Must clear at least 7 feet above sidewalk (§ 19-2-99(B)). Loading goods: ≤3 feet onto sidewalk, ≤3 hours (§ 19-2-99(D)). Construction materials: Director of Public Works may require barricades/lights (§ 19-2-100).

There is no separate obstruction fine written into Article 2; the Village's Chapter 1 general penalty at § 1-1-13 governs, meaning a citation for blocking a sidewalk or street carries a forfeiture of $1 to $5,000 plus prosecution costs, with jail time up to 90 days in default of payment, and up to six months for a repeat conviction of the same ordinance within a year. Each day the obstruction remains can count as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Ashwaubenon's sidewalk & pedestrian 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.

All of the above reflects Ashwaubenon's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.