Environmental Rules in Milwaukee, WI (2026)
6 verified environmental rules for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Milwaukee requires a storm water management plan before any development disturbing one acre or more, or adding a half-acre of impervious surface, under Chapter 120.
Milwaukee Stormwater Management Plan Rules
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 120-7 (Volume 1, General Ordinances, Ch. 120 Storm Water Management Regulations)
No person shall proceed with any residential, commercial, industrial or institutional improvement or subdivision of property without having provided for appropriate storm water measures that control or manage runoff from such development or redevelopment... A storm water management plan is required if any of the following criteria are met: a. The development or redevelopment causes a land distu...
Erosion Control
Milwaukee requires a city permit before filling or grading any lot beyond 100 cubic yards, and bars blocking natural drainage ways or swales during the work.
Milwaukee Grading and Filling Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 289-3, § 289-5 (Volume 2, Building and Zoning Code)
289-3. Filling Permits. 1. PERMIT REQUIRED. No person may fill or grade any lot, tract or parcel of land without first obtaining a permit from the commissioner of city development. However, no permit shall be required whenever excavation, filling or grading is performed in conjunction with a construction project for which the department has issued a permit... Further, no permit shall be require...
Flood Zones
Milwaukee requires a floodplain development permit for any new construction, fill, or substantial improvement within a mapped 100-year floodplain, with elevation and flood-resistant construction standards enforced by the commissioner of neighborhood services.
Milwaukee Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-1119(2) (Building and Zoning Code, Volume 2, Ch. 295, Subch. 11 — Floodplain Overlay Zones)
If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements shall be: a. Designed and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy; b. Constructed with flood-resistant materials; c. Constructed ...
Boat Dock Permits
Anyone building, rebuilding, altering or repairing a dock on Milwaukee's navigable waterways must get Board of Harbor Commissioners approval and pay a $615 construction or $310 repair permit fee under city code.
Milwaukee Dock Construction Permit Required
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 118-7 (Volume 1, General Ordinances; see also §§ 81-42, 81-43 fees and § 118-8 penalty)
118-7. Dock Construction. 1. PLANS TO BE FILED WITH BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS. Every person, firm or corporation before proceeding with the construction, erection, rebuilding, alteration or repair of any dock along the banks of any navigable river, public canal or water slip within the corporate limits of the city shall, subject to the approval of the board of harbor commissioners, file wit...
Climate Emergency Mobilization
Milwaukee adopted the Climate and Equity Plan in 2023, committing to 100% renewable city operations by 2030 and community-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with equity-centered investments.
Climate and Equity Plan: Net-Zero by 2050
Some RestrictionsCity of Milwaukee Climate Action, Council Resolution 170337; Climate and Equity Plan (adopted 2023)
Climate and Equity Plan: By 2030, Milwaukee aims to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45%; By 2050, or sooner, Milwaukee aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Paris Climate Accord: Limit global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; Pursue new actions to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 25x25 ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvements in Milwaukee's flood fringe overlay zone must have the lowest floor built to or above the flood protection elevation: 2 feet of freeboard above the regional flood elevation on fill.
Milwaukee Flood Protection Elevation Rule
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-1123-3.a (Flood Fringe Overlay Zone; "flood protection elevation" = 2 ft freeboard defined at § 295-1107)
All new construction, including placement of manufactured homes, and substantial improvement of residential structures shall have the lowest floor elevated to or above the flood protection elevation on fill. The fill around the structure shall be one foot or more above the regional flood elevation extending at least 15 feet beyond the limits of the structure. No area may be removed fro...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milwaukee city rules.
Environmental Rules in Milwaukee County →