Landscaping Rules in Madison, WI (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Madison, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Madison General Ordinances § 10.101 requires anyone trimming, pruning or removing a tree standing in a public street, alley, highway or greenway to get a permit from the City Forester first. The rule governs clearance work on street trees citywide, with a $50 permit fee, a required tree-trimming plan, and Board of Public Works notice to nearby residents before work begins.
Madison Street Tree Trimming Permit
Some RestrictionsMadison General Ordinances § 10.101(1)(a), (3)(a)
(1)Intent and Purpose.(a)The intent of this ordinance is to regulate the trimming, pruning and removal of trees in an effort to preserve the health and maintain the natural shape of such trees, and to prevent trimming, pruning and removal that is unnecessarily disfiguring and/or destructive... (3)Permit Required for Trimming, Pruning, and Removal of Trees within the Public Right-of-Way of any S...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Madison requires a written Board of Public Works permit before anyone plants, cuts, prunes, removes or chemically treats a tree in a public highway, and separately bans breaking, damaging or injuring any tree, shrub or public planting citywide, under MGO §§ 23.21 and 23.24.
Madison Public Tree Permit & Damage Rules
Some RestrictionsMadison General Ordinances §§ 23.21(1), 23.24(3)
(1)No person, corporation, or association shall plant, cut, prune, or remove any living tree or shrub in a public highway in the City of Madison, or cut, disturb or interfere in any way with the roots of any tree, to the extent of causing serious injury to such tree, in such public highway, or spray any such trees or shrubs with any chemical or insecticides without written permit of the Board o...
Weed Ordinances
Madison caps grass, lawn vegetation and terrace plantings at eight inches tall and requires every property to stay free of noxious weeds, under MGO § 27.05(2)(b), (f). On abandoned lots, the Building Inspection Division can mow the property itself and bill the owner.
Madison's 8-Inch Lawn Height Limit
Some RestrictionsMadison General Ordinances § 27.05(2)(f)
Landscaping, plantings, soil and other decorative surface treatments, including intentionally planted native vegetation or non-native grasses, shall be installed if necessary and maintained to present a safe condition and well-maintained appearance in all court, yard, and terrace areas. Except for plantings in terraces as allowed by Sec. 10.25, and except for natural areas in City parks, all la...
Water Restrictions
Madison doesn't run standing lawn-watering days: instead the Water Utility General Manager can trigger voluntary or mandatory outdoor watering restrictions under § 13.04 when the system is under stress, applying them citywide or by alternate street side. Mandatory-restriction violations carry a $20-$1,000 forfeiture per day.
Madison Water Utility Can Restrict Watering
Light RestrictionsMadison General Ordinances § 13.04
(1)The Water Utility General Manager may impose voluntary or mandatory outdoor water usage restrictions on all water users in the Utility's service area under the criteria set forth below in order to avoid undue stress upon the resources and reserve capacity of the Water Utility. The restrictions may apply to all properties or to alternate sides of the street as the Water Utility General Manage...
Composting
Madison caps home compost piles at 125 cubic feet and 5 feet tall unless they hold only yard waste, and any bin has to sit at least 3 feet from a property line or building, in the rear yard only. Rodent problems near a pile let Public Health Madison & Dane County step in and order abatement.
Madison Backyard Compost Bin Standards
Some RestrictionsMadison General Ordinances § 7.361
(3)Maintenance. All compost piles shall be maintained using approved composting procedures to comply with the following requirements:(a)All compost piles other than compost piles consisting solely of yard waste, excluding fruit, shall be enclosed in a free standing compost bin. Each compost bin shall be no larger in volume than one hundred twenty-five (125) cubic feet, and shall be no taller th...
Looking for Dane County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Madison city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Dane County →