Public Conduct in Milwaukee, WI (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Milwaukee bans aggressive panhandling anywhere in the city and separately prohibits ordinary panhandling at bus stops, transit vehicles, parked cars, sidewalk cafes, and within 20 feet of ATMs or bank entrances. Violators face up to a $25 forfeiture.
Milwaukee Aggressive Panhandling Ban
Significant RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 106-1.1
DEFINITIONS. a. "Aggressive behavior" means engaging in any conduct with the intention of intimidating another person into giving away money or goods, including but not limited to, intentionally approaching, speaking to or following a person in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent physical injury or the imminent commission of a criminal act upon ...
Skateboarding Rules
Milwaukee bans skateboards, roller skates and in-line skates on public sidewalks in eight named downtown and commercial districts, from the lakefront to Mitchell Street.
Milwaukee Skateboarding Restricted Zones
Significant RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 105-19 (Volume 1, Chapter 105, Public Safety)
105-19. Roller Skates, In-line Roller Skates and Skateboards Restricted. 1. RESTRICTIONS. No person may ride or otherwise use roller skates, in-line skates or skateboards upon public sidewalks in the following areas: a. The area generally bounded on the north by State Street, south by Polk Street, east by the west side of North Harbor Drive and the west side of Lincoln Memorial Drive and west b...
Loitering Rules
Milwaukee Code Ch. 106 restricts loitering for narrow purposes: prostitution, drug activity, gang gatherings, and obstruction. State law Wis. Stat. §947.013 separately prohibits loitering or prowling in suspicious circumstances.
Loitering and Prowling Provisions
Some RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 947.013
947.013 Harassment. (1) In this section: (a) "Course of conduct" means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose. (b) "Credible threat" means a threat made with the intent and apparent ability to carry out the threat. (c) "Personally identifiable information" has the meaning given in s. 19.62 (5). (d) "Record" has ...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Milwaukee prohibits smoking and holding lit tobacco products within 30 feet of any public building the city owns or leases, and the public works commissioner can designate other unenclosed city property, including parks, as smoke-free.
Milwaukee Bans Smoking Near City Buildings
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 105-49
1. SMOKING PROHIBITED UPON UNENCLOSED CITY PROPERTY. a. The commissioner of public works may designate unenclosed properties owned or leased by the city as areas where smoking is prohibited for the purpose of protecting and preserving the health and comfort of the public. b. Smoking or carrying, possessing, or being in control of any lit tobacco product is prohibit...
Jaywalking
Milwaukee posts signs banning pedestrian crossing at specific hazardous locations; crossing there draws a $2-$50 forfeiture.
Milwaukee Prohibited Pedestrian Crossings
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 101-9 (Volume 1, General Ordinances)
Pedestrian crossings are prohibited at certain locations and the commissioner of public works shall install appropriate signs and, when deemed necessary, erect barricades to indicate that pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at the following locations: Specific locations are to be found in the common council proceedings; the official record on file in the city clerk's office; and the code ...
Public Marijuana Use
Smoking marijuana in public in Milwaukee draws a $250-$500 forfeiture, five times the $0-$50 fine for ordinary possession, under the city's controlled-substances ordinance.
Milwaukee Public Marijuana Smoking Penalty
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 106-38(3)(a-2)
PENALTY. Any person violating this section shall upon conviction: a-1. Forfeit not less than $0 nor more than $50, or, in default of payment, may be imprisoned as provided by law. a-2. Forfeit not less than $250 nor more than $500, or, in default of payment may be imprisoned as provided by law if a person is convicted of smoking marijuana in a public place. b. ...
Public Alcohol Use
Milwaukee bans drinking or carrying open alcohol containers in any public parking structure or surface lot citywide, with narrow exceptions for licensed taverns, permitted events, and stadium lots during games.
Milwaukee Open Container Ban in Parking Areas
Significant RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 106-2.1 (Volume 1, General Ordinances)
It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any alcohol beverage or possess on his or her person any bottle or receptacle containing alcohol beverages if the bottle or receptacle has been opened, the seal has been broken or the contents of the bottle or receptacle have been partially removed while upon any public parking structure or public parking surface lot within the limits of the city.
Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milwaukee city rules.
Public Conduct in Milwaukee County →