Environmental Rules in Wauwatosa, WI (2026)
3 verified environmental rules for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Wauwatosa runs a citywide stormwater management system funded by a mandatory quarterly user fee charged to nearly every developed and vacant improved property, established under Municipal Code Section 18.01.030. The council finds in Section 18.01.010 that unmanaged stormwater erodes land, damages property and pollutes waterways, justifying the fee-funded system.
Wauwatosa Stormwater Management System
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code §§ 18.01.010, 18.01.030
18.01.010 Findings And Determinations It is found, determined and declared as follows: The management of stormwater and other surface water discharge within the city of Wauwatosa is a matter that affects the health, safety and welfare of the city, its citizens and businesses. Failure to effectively manage stormwater may create among other things, erosion of lands, damage to homes and businesses...
Erosion Control
Wauwatosa requires an erosion control permit and plan for any land-disturbing construction activity of 4,000 square feet or more, or projects moving 400+ cubic yards of dirt. Best management practices must hold sediment discharge to 5 tons per acre per year. Violators face a forfeiture up to $1,000 per day.
Wauwatosa Erosion and Sediment Control Rules
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.13.030
This section is adopted under the authority granted by Section 62.234, Wisconsin Statutes for cities. ... Any land disturbing construction activity of four thousand square feet or more; ... BMPs that, by design, discharge no more than 5 tons per acre per year, or to the maximum extent practicable, of the sediment load carried in runoff from initial grading to final stabilization. ... Any person...
Flood Zones
Wauwatosa participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces a Floodplain Ordinance that meets FEMA and Wisconsin DNR minimum standards under Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wis. Admin. Code Chapter NR 116. The principal regulated waterways are the Menomonee River and Honey Creek, an 8.7-mile tributary that flows through Greenfield, Milwaukee, West Allis, and Wauwatosa. The currently effective Milwaukee County FEMA Flood Insurance Study and FIRM panels became effective September 26, 2008. FEMA issued a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) in April 2022 reflecting MMSD's County Grounds detention basins, the Hart Park floodwall, and other improvements. Any development inside the mapped 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain requires a Floodplain Development Permit before construction.
Flood Zone Regulations (Wauwatosa, WI)
Heavy RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 87.30 (Floodplain Zoning)
87.30 87.30 Floodplain zoning. 87.30(1) (1) State powers. 87.30(1)(a) (a) If any county, city or village does not adopt a reasonable and effective floodplain zoning ordinance within one year after hydraulic and engineering data adequate to formulate the ordinance becomes available, the department shall, upon petition of an interested state agency or a municipality or upon its own motion as soon...
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