Business Licensing & Operations in New Berlin, WI (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for New Berlin, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
New Berlin requires any adult bookstore, adult cabaret, or adult motion-picture theater to hold a city license before opening. Under Code Section 152-17, the license covers only one fixed location, the Chief of Police investigates every applicant, and violators face a fine up to $1,000 plus revocation of the operator's license.
New Berlin Adult-Oriented Establishment License
Significant RestrictionsNew Berlin Code of Ordinances § 152-17
B.License.(1)Except as provided in Subsection B(4) below, from and after the effective date of this section, no adult-oriented establishment shall be operated or maintained in the City without first obtaining a license to operate issued by the City.(2)A license may be issued only for one adult-oriented establishment located at a fixed and certain place. Any person who desires to operate more th...
Massage Establishments
New Berlin requires a city license for every massage business and for every therapist working in it. Code Section 152-18 sets minimum training of 100 classroom hours or two years of paid practice, bars operation between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and lets City employees inspect a licensed business without notice during business hours.
New Berlin Massage Business and Therapist License
Significant RestrictionsNew Berlin Code of Ordinances § 152-18
E.License required for massage businesses. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, carry on, or permit to be engaged in, conducted, or carried on, in or upon any premises in the City, the operating of a massage business as herein defined, without first having obtained an occupancy permit or any other permit required under the Code and a license for a massage business from the...
Tattoo & Body Modification
New Berlin allows cosmetic tattoo and permanent cosmetics establishments as a principal use in every commercial and industrial zoning district, but the Department of Community Development will not issue a zoning permit until the applicant hands over a copy of every state license covering the permanent cosmetics work.
New Berlin Cosmetic Tattoo Establishment Rules
Light RestrictionsNew Berlin Code of Ordinances § 275-41 C(17)(a)
(17)Cosmetic tattoo establishments/permanent cosmetics.(a)The applicant shall provide a copy of all state licenses relating to any application for permanent cosmetics prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.
Tobacco Retail License
New Berlin requires a City license to sell cigarettes, tobacco or electronic vaping devices, issued under Section 152-3 by adopting the state licensure statutes for those products by reference. Penalties track the state forfeiture the adopted statute allows, falling back to the City's general $5-$1,000 penalty if the statute sets none.
New Berlin's Cigarette And Vaping Retail License
Significant RestrictionsNew Berlin Code of Ordinances § 152-3
A.License. ... The statutory provisions of § 134.65, with § 66.0433, Wis Stats., describing and defining licensure with respect to cigarettes and electronic vaping devices, exclusive of any provisions therein relating to penalties to be imposed and exclusive of any regulations for which the statutory penalty is a term of imprisonment, are hereby adopted and by reference made a part of this sect...
Secondhand Dealers
Anyone buying or taking secondhand goods on consignment for resale in New Berlin needs a $50 annual license under Code Section 152-22, which adopts Wis. Stat. § 134.71 by reference. Every reportable transaction must be recorded, photographed, and uploaded daily to the RissProp police database, and purchased items must sit unaltered for 15 days before resale.
New Berlin Secondhand Article Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsNew Berlin Code of Ordinances § 152-22
A.State statutes adopted; exceptions.(1)State statutes adopted. The provisions of § 134.71, Wis. Stats., relating to secondhand dealers, are hereby adopted and made a part of this section by reference, with the exceptions set forth in Subsection A(2) and (3). ... C.License required.(1)A person wishing to operate as secondhand article dealer shall apply for a license to the City Clerk. ... The l...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
New Berlin prohibits running an auto repair or paint shop as a home occupation. City Code § 275-42 J(2)(c) lists 'automobile or other motor vehicle repair or paint shops' among the uses barred outright from operating out of a residential property, regardless of the home occupation's other standards.
New Berlin Bars Home Auto Repair Shops
Heavy RestrictionsNew Berlin Code of Ordinances § 275-42 J(2)(c)
(2)Prohibited home occupations. The following uses are prohibited as home occupations:(a)Animal hospitals or pet boarding;(b)Antique shop;(c)Automobile or other motor vehicle repair or paint shops;(d)Dance studios for more than six students;
Looking for Waukesha County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New Berlin city rules.
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