Landscaping Rules in Burlington, WI (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Burlington, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Burlington City Code § 227-5E declares any tree limb hanging less than nine feet above a public sidewalk, street or other public place a public nuisance affecting peace and safety. Owners must keep branches trimmed above that clearance or face a Chapter 227 abatement order and fine.
Burlington Tree Limb Clearance Over Sidewalks
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 227-5E, 227-12
E. Tree limbs. All limbs of trees which project over and less than nine feet above any public sidewalk, street or other public place. ... Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, or permit or cause a public nuisance, shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-4 of this Municipal Code.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Burlington City Code § 234-4 requires a Department of Public Works permit before anyone plants, removes or transplants a tree or shrub in a City parkway, public way, park or other City-owned land. Unpermitted removal makes the person liable to reimburse the City for the replacement cost.
Burlington Tree & Shrub Removal Permit
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 234-4A, D
A. No person shall plant, remove or transplant any tree or shrub within the parkways, public ways, parks or other land owned or leased by the City without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Public Works. ... Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalty as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-4 of this Municipal Code. Further, any tree or shrub pl...
Weed Ordinances
Burlington City Code caps grass at an average height of 12 inches in residential and business districts. The Mayor or an appointed Weed Commissioner gives five days' written notice by mail before cutting overgrown lots, then bills the cost as a special assessment against the property.
Burlington's 12-Inch Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 227-3F
F. Noxious and other weeds. All noxious weeds and other rank growth of vegetation. (1) No person shall permit the pollination of any noxious weeds as defined in § 66.0407, Wis. Stats. Notice shall be posted by the Mayor, or someone in his behalf, and published in the official paper for the destruction of such noxious weeds as provided in § 66.0407, Wis. Stats. (2) No person shall permit grass t...
Water Restrictions
Burlington's Water Utility can ask the Mayor to impose a citywide ban on lawn sprinkling under City Code § 304-10.I, in place since 1988. The ban never bars residents from watering gardens, shrubs, and trees by hand. A first violation draws only a warning; any later violation brings a penalty under Chapter 1, § 1-4.
Burlington's Lawn Sprinkling Ban Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 304-10.I
Lawn sprinkling ban. ... The Mayor may, upon receiving a request from the Water Utility, impose a ban upon lawn sprinkling upon such terms and conditions as the Mayor would deem necessary and essential. ... Such sprinkling ban shall not prohibit residents and users of the City municipal water system from watering gardens, shrubs and trees. ... Any person violating this Subsection I shall, for t...
Composting
Burlington requires yard waste to be composted, either at home or through the City's compost program, rather than thrown in the trash, and lets property owners without regular garbage service drop material at the City compost site for a Council-set fee under §§ 265-4 and 265-14.
Burlington, WI Yard Waste Composting Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 265-4D(2), 265-14A(4)
All property owners within the City of Burlington not served by regular City garbage collection may drop off yard waste for a fee at the compost site during scheduled hours of operation. The said fee shall be established from time to time by a resolution(s) adopted by the Common Council. ... Yard waste shall be separated for composting either privately or through the City of Burlington compost ...
Looking for Racine County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Burlington city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Racine County →