Landscaping Rules in Brown County, WI (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Brown County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
When a Brown County shoreland permit requires mitigation, restoring the shoreline buffer's tree and shrub layer earns the full three points; a grass-only buffer without trees earns only two.
Brown County WI Shoreland Mitigation Points
Some RestrictionsBrown County Code § 22.52(1)(a)-(b)
(1) Mitigation Options -Maintenance of Existing or Establishment of Buffers. (a) Primary Active Buffer Zone - Shore buffer zone within 35 feet of the ordinary high-water mark, including trees, shrubbery, ground cover and other natural vegetation, and subject to no mowing is permitted other than the allowable viewing corridor. 3 points. (b) Passive B...
Native Plants
When Brown County landowners restore a shoreland vegetative buffer, every plant species must come from the county's approved Native Plant List, with substitutions requiring sign-off from the Zoning Administrator.
Brown County WI Native Plant List Rule
Some RestrictionsBrown County Code § 22.33(3)
(3) Brown County Native Plant List. Species of plants must be selected from the Brown County Native Plant List and approved for shoreline buffers by the Brown County Zoning Administrator. Substitutions must be approved by the Brown County Zoning Administrator. Substitutions to the list will be allowed in the event of lack of plant stock or seed availability on a case-by-cas...
Landscaping Rules by City in Brown County
3 cities in Brown County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Brown County ordinances
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