Property Maintenance in Waukesha, WI (2026)
3 verified property maintenance rules for Waukesha, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
Any Waukesha building the Building Inspector finds dangerous from bad condition, decay or lack of fire guards must be made safe or removed under Municipal Code §16.18. If repairs would cost more than 50% of the structure's fair value, it must be rebuilt to current code. Ignore the order and the City can do the work and lien the property.
Unsafe Building Abatement in Waukesha
Significant RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 16.18
DESTRUCTION REQUIRED. A building or a structure that may be or shall at any time become dangerous or unsafe shall, unless made safe and secure, be taken down and removed. RESTORATION. A building or structure declared structurally unsafe by the Building Inspector may be restored to safe condition, provided that if the damage or cost of reconstruction or restoration is in excess of 50% of the fai...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Waukesha's public nuisance code bans a named list of noxious weeds, including Canada thistle, ragweed and leafy spurge, on any property in the City, unimproved or not, under Municipal Code § 12.03. Unimproved, recently annexed lots are exempt from the separate 8-inch lawn height rule but not from this ban.
Noxious Weeds on Vacant Lots in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 12.03
All noxious weeds which include Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed (creeping jenny), ragweed, bull thistle, harmful barberry, sow thistle and nodding thistle. Conservancy and Public Zones as defined in Chapter 22 of this Municipal Code may be excluded from this section upon a resolution to that effect by the Common Council.
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Waukesha owners and occupants must clear sidewalk snow and ice to the full walk width within 12 hours after snowfall stops, under Municipal Code Sec. 6.12. The City can clear it for you and bill a Cost Schedule fee, with inspection fees escalating from $25 to $50 for repeat violations.
Sidewalk Snow Removal Deadline in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 6.12
RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNER OR OCCUPANT. ... The owner, occupant, or person in charge of each dwelling or building in the City fronting upon or adjoining any street, and the owner or person in charge of any unoccupied building or lot fronting as aforesaid, shall clean the sidewalk in front of or adjoining such dwelling or building, or unoccupied lot or building, as the case may be, of snow and ice ...
Looking for Waukesha County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Waukesha city rules.
Property Maintenance in Waukesha County →