Landscaping Rules in Wauwatosa, WI (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Every Wauwatosa property owner along a public street or sidewalk must trim overhanging tree limbs to keep at least an eight-foot clear space above the street or sidewalk, and the city can trim the tree itself and bill the owner after 24 hours' notice, under Wauwatosa Municipal Code §§ 12.08.010 and 12.08.020.
Wauwatosa Tree Trimming Clearance Rule
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code §§ 12.08.010, 12.08.020
Every person owning or occupying any premises bounded by a public street or sidewalk, in the city of Wauwatosa, is required to trim off all overhanging boughs of each and every overhanging tree growing on or near such street or sidewalk, and to keep the same trimmed in such a manner that such overhanging boughs or limbs will in no way interfere with public travel on such street or sidewalk, and...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
No one may plant, cut, prune, remove, disturb the roots of, or spray any tree or shrub growing in a Wauwatosa public highway without a written permit from the board of park commissioners, under Wauwatosa Municipal Code § 12.08.030.
Wauwatosa Street Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 12.08.030
No person, corporation, or association shall plant, cut, prune, or remove any tree or shrub in a public highway in the city of Wauwatosa, or cut, disturb, or interfere in any way with the roots of any tree in such public highway or spray any such trees or shrubs with any chemicals or insecticides without written permit of the board of park commissioners.
Weed Ordinances
Wauwatosa enforces maximum grass and weed height, typically 8 to 12 inches. Overgrown properties subject to code compliance action and city abatement.
Wauwatosa Grass Height Limits
Some RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 66.0407 (Noxious Weeds)
66.0407 66.0407 Noxious weeds. 66.0407(1) (1) In this section: 66.0407(1)(a) (a) “Destroy” means the complete killing of weeds or the killing of weed plants above the surface of the ground by the use of chemicals, cutting, tillage, cropping system, pasturing livestock, or any or all of these in effective combination, at a time and in a manner as will effectually prevent the weed plants from mat...
Native Plants
Wauwatosa's landscaping code allows native plants as an approved material for required landscape areas. Under Wauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.12.050, required landscaping may be covered with native plants alongside mulch and other perennial groundcover, and any native or prairie seed mix used to establish a planting area must be identified on the plans with a three-year maintenance commitment.
Wauwatosa Native Plant Landscaping Rules
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.12.050
Required landscaped areas must be covered with biodegradable mulch, ornamental grasses, forbs, native plants or other perennial herbaceous or shrub planting combinations. ... Native perennial and prairie seed mixes. Seed mixes used to establish native planting areas must be clearly identified on the plans. Species, establishment requirements and three-year maintenance plan must be provided at t...
Composting
Backyard compost piles and yard waste holding bins are allowed in Wauwatosa without a permit, as long as they don't smell, attract rodents, or blight the neighborhood, sit at least ten feet from any habitable structure, and stay out of the front yard. The rule is in the property maintenance code, Section 15.32.030(J).
Wauwatosa Backyard Compost Pile Rules
Light RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 15.32.030(J)
Compost piles or yard waste holding bins shall be permitted provided they are maintained in a manner that does not produce an odor, nuisance, nor provide a rodent harborage, nor shall they be allowed to deteriorate to such condition as to be a seriously blighting influence on the surrounding property or neighborhood or the city in general. Compost piles must be located ten feet or more from any...
Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wauwatosa city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Milwaukee County →