Dane County, WI Ordinances (2026)

Dane County is not designated as a high wildfire hazard zone; Wisconsin regulates wildfire primarily through DNR burning permits under Wis. Stat. §26.12 and §26.14, with no defensible-space ordinance in Madison or unincorporated Dane County.

Dane County Code Ch. 35 (Weeds) and municipal property maintenance codes require vacant lot and residential brush/weed control. WI DNR manages wildfire risk primarily in central/northern Wisconsin; Dane County focus is urban weed abatement and shoreland buffer rules.

Smoke detector requirements in unincorporated Dane County are set by Wisconsin state law, not the county. Wis. Stat. §101.645 requires functional smoke detectors in the basement and on every floor level (except attic/storage) of one- and two-family dwellings. New construction…

Consumer fireworks are banned throughout Wisconsin under Wis. Stat. §167.10, including in unincorporated Dane County. Only sparklers, caps, and smoke devices are permitted.

Open burning in unincorporated Dane County is regulated by Wisconsin DNR (Wis. Stat. §26.12) and the Dane County Sheriff. Burning permits are required for most open fires during dry conditions.

Recreational fire pits in unincorporated Dane County are generally permitted subject to Wisconsin DNR burning guidelines and common-sense safety practices. No specific county fire pit ordinance exists.

Madison MGO §9.06 (Direct Sellers) requires peddlers and transient merchants to obtain a Direct Seller permit from City Clerk with background check, photo ID badge. WI Stat. §100.65 also regulates direct sellers. Religious, political canvassing exempt under First Amendment.

Madison and Dane County residents can post 'No Soliciting' signs enforceable under MGO §9.06. No formal city-maintained no-knock registry in Madison, but posted signs trigger citations when ignored. Political/religious canvassing remains constitutionally protected regardless of…

Madison MGO §28.140 caps light spillover at 0.5 foot-candle at any residential property line. Dane County enforces similar limits via zoning. Common-law nuisance claims also available. Security and flood lights must be aimed and shielded.

Madison MGO §28.140 and Dane County zoning require full-cutoff fixtures for commercial and multifamily outdoor lighting. Max 0.5 foot-candle spillover at residential property lines. No county-wide dark-sky ordinance, but UW-Madison Washburn Observatory influences local practice.

Wisconsin allows residential rainwater harvesting without state restriction. Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, and other Dane County cities actively encourage rain barrels through rebate programs. MMSD (Madison Metro Sewer) offers subsidies. Large cisterns may need SPS…

Artificial turf is allowed throughout Dane County with no state-level permit, but Madison's Erosion Control Ordinance (MGO §37.05) and Dane County Ch. 14 require stormwater review when impervious coverage changes. HOAs generally cannot ban artificial turf where properly…

Native plantings are encouraged across Dane County. Madison (MGO §23.29) explicitly permits natural lawns with registered plans. Dane County Land and Water Resources offers cost-share for native buffers. Wis. Stat. §66.0407 restricts local weed ordinances targeting intentional…

Dane County enforces weed and vegetation ordinances in unincorporated areas. Prairie restoration and native plantings are encouraged through county conservation programs along the Yahara watershed.

Dane County does not impose county-wide outdoor water use restrictions. Municipal water utilities within the county may impose restrictions during drought. Rural well users are generally unrestricted.

Tree trimming on private property in unincorporated Dane County is generally unregulated at the county level. Trees within the right-of-way of county highways require county highway department coordination.

Dane County has no county-level grass height ordinance for unincorporated areas. Individual towns may adopt their own standards. Agricultural properties are exempt from lawn height rules.

Tree removal in shoreland setback areas and floodplains in Dane County requires a permit under Chapters 11 and 17. Private trees outside these zones generally do not require a county permit.

Madison's Streets Division provides free weekly trash and biweekly recycling pickup (MGO §10.18). Carts must be placed curbside by 7 AM on collection day and retrieved within 24 hours. Between pickups, carts must be stored out of public view. Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun…

Vacant lot owners in Dane County must control noxious weeds under Wis. Stat. §66.0407 and keep grass under 8 inches per Madison Gen. Ord. §27.05(2)(j); failure to comply triggers municipal abatement with costs billed to the owner as a special charge.

Madison MGO 10.28 requires sidewalk snow/ice clearance by noon the day after snowfall ends. Sun Prairie Ch. 7 requires 24 hours. Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Stoughton, Monona impose 24 to 48 hour deadlines. Dane County snowbelt averages 50 inches annually. City will clear and…

Dane County municipalities enforce blight and property maintenance codes against messy garage sales. Madison MGO 27 (Property Maintenance) requires tidy display and same-day cleanup. Items left curbside after sale hours trigger nuisance abatement. Unsold goods cannot remain…

Dane County enforces property blight standards under Wis. Stat. Ch. 66 police powers; Madison Gen. Ord. Ch. 27 (Building & Property Maintenance Code) addresses deteriorated exteriors, broken windows, junk accumulation, and nuisances across Madison and unincorporated Dane County.

Dane County municipalities typically allow garage sales from 7 or 8 AM to 7 or 8 PM. Sun Prairie limits sales to 7 AM to 8 PM (Ch. 8). Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Stoughton, and Monona follow similar daylight windows. Madison has no explicit hour restriction but applies…

Most Dane County municipalities limit residential garage sales to 3 to 4 per calendar year, each 2 to 4 days long. Madison has no explicit frequency cap in MGO 9.13 but enforces through zoning when sales become commercial. Wisconsin DOR requires sales tax registration after 3…

Madison does not require a permit for residential garage sales (MGO 9.13). Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Stoughton, and Monona also do not require permits. All jurisdictions enforce sign placement rules under their sign codes and prohibit commercial resale…

Madison requires 1:1 to 2:1 replacement for removed terrace trees (MGO 10.10). Development projects under MGO 28.142 must meet minimum canopy requirements. Dane County has no private replacement ordinance. Replacement species must follow Madison's approved list emphasizing…

Madison MGO 10.055 allows Landmark Tree designation based on size, species, or historical significance. Listed trees cannot be removed without Landmarks Commission approval. Dane County has no formal heritage tree program. State champion trees are tracked by DNR but lack…

Madison MGO 10.10 regulates trees in the terrace (public right-of-way) and requires City Forestry permits for removal. Private tree removal is generally unregulated. Dane County has no countywide private tree ordinance. Oak wilt restrictions under Wis. Stat. §26.30 ban April 1…

Wisconsin Stat. §342.40 and §349.13 let Dane County and its municipalities tag and tow vehicles left over 48 hours on public ways or stored inoperable in view. Madison (MGO §12.82) gives 48-hour notice. Dane County Code §48.09 covers unincorporated junk vehicles on private…

Madison enforces a citywide Alternate Side Parking rule (MGO §12.76) from March 15 to March 14 annually between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM. Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton each ban overnight street parking during snow/ice operations. Unincorporated Dane County…

EV charger installations in Dane County are governed by the Wisconsin DSPS Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) and state electrical code SPS 316 based on NEC Article 625. Madison, Fitchburg, and Middleton all issue expedited electrical permits. Wisconsin 2023 Act 121 clarifies that…

Driveway construction in unincorporated Dane County requires county highway access permits for driveways accessing county roads. Local town roads may require town permits.

Parking on county roads in unincorporated Dane County is governed by Wisconsin traffic laws (Wis. Stat. §346). There is no specific county residential parking ordinance.

RV and boat storage in unincorporated Dane County is primarily regulated by Dane County Chapter 10 (Zoning). Many rural residential districts allow on-lot storage of RVs and boats.

Dane County has no specific commercial vehicle parking ordinance for unincorporated areas. Wisconsin traffic laws and county zoning restrictions on business activities apply.

Madison requires Mobile Food Vending License under MGO §9.13 plus Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) food service license. Annual vehicle inspection, commissary, liability insurance, and certified food protection manager required per WI Ch. ATCP 75.

Madison Food Cart Review regulates State Street, Library Mall, Capitol Square vending with lottery-assigned spaces (MGO §9.13). Private property vending needs owner consent and zoning compliance. Distance-from-restaurant rules uncommon in Madison but exist in suburbs.

Rent control is illegal in Wisconsin. Wis. Stat. §66.1015 preempts any local rent regulation; Act 67 (2011) and Act 317 (2017) further barred Madison and Dane County from capping rent increases. Market rate applies. Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 governs notice.

Wisconsin has no just-cause eviction law. Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 governs: 5-day cure or quit for nonpayment, 14-day unconditional quit option, 28-day no-cause for month-to-month. 2017 Act 317 preempts local just-cause ordinances. Self-help evictions banned.

Madison requires Certificate of Compliance every 4 years for rentals under MGO §27.05 and operates a Chronic Nuisance program. 2017 Act 317 preempts cities from mandating broader rental registration or inspection fees. Fitchburg and Stoughton run similar limited programs.

Dane County Ch. 14 and Madison MGO Ch. 37 require erosion control permits for land disturbance of 4,000 sq ft (Madison) or 1 acre (county). Implements WI NR 151. Silt fence, tracking pads, and weekly inspections mandatory.

Dane County Chapter 14 and Madison General Ordinance Ch. 37 require stormwater control plans for new development with 4,000+ sq ft of disturbance. Post-construction practices must reduce TSS by 80% and meet Yahara TMDL phosphorus limits.

Dane County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance Ch. 11 enforces WI NR 115 buffers: 75-foot setback from Yahara lakes (Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa) and navigable streams. Impervious surface capped at 15% within 300 feet of OHWM.

Dane County and Madison require grading permits for earthwork exceeding 400 cubic yards or disturbance of 4,000+ sq ft. Fill cannot redirect surface water onto adjoining lots. Retaining walls over 4 feet need engineered plans per WI DSPS UDC.

Dane County enforces floodplain zoning under Chapter 17 for unincorporated areas. Development in FEMA Zones A and AE requires a floodplain development permit. Dane County participates in NFIP.

Dane County municipalities allow wood (cedar, treated pine), vinyl, wrought iron, chain-link, and composite fencing. Madison General Ordinance §28 zoning specifies material rules. Barbed wire prohibited residentially; electric fencing limited to ag zones. Materials must…

Wisconsin UDC SPS 390 and the state-adopted ISPSC require all residential pools and spas to be surrounded by a minimum 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates. Madison (MGO §29.07), Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton enforce these barriers at…

Retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall require a building permit and engineered plans throughout Dane County under the Wisconsin UDC and DSPS SPS 321. Madison (MGO §29.07), Fitchburg, and Middleton require permits at lower thresholds if…

Fence permits in unincorporated Dane County are generally not required for standard agricultural or residential fences, but Zoning Compliance Review may be needed in some districts.

Dane County Chapter 10 regulates fences in unincorporated areas. Residential-transitional (TR) districts typically follow standard height limits (4 ft front, 6 ft rear/side). Agricultural districts are more permissive.

Wisconsin partition fence law (Wis. Stat. §90.01 et seq.) governs fence disputes between adjacent property owners in agricultural areas of Dane County. Neighbors may be required to share fence costs for boundary fences.

Madison MGO §31.043 treats garage sale signs as temporary noncommercial signs, limited to 6 sq ft, with up to 2 off-premises signs allowed for 3 days. No signs on utility poles, street signs, or in the right-of-way per Wis. Stat. §86.19. Must remove within 24 hours of sale.

Holiday decorations on private residential property are permitted in Dane County with minimal restrictions. No permit needed. Must not obstruct public sidewalks or block driver sight lines. Electrical work must meet WI DSPS UDC SPS 316. Noise rules apply after 10pm.

Madison MGO §31.043 and Dane County sign codes allow political signs on private property. First Amendment and Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) bar content-based rules. WI §12.04 prohibits signs on public property. Typical limit 32 sq ft residential. Removal within 7 days…

Recreational drones in Dane County follow FAA rules (49 USC §44809): TRUST test, registration if over 0.55 lbs, 400-ft ceiling, VLOS. Madison/Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) Class C airspace restricts flights. Madison Parks prohibit launches without permit.

Commercial drone operators in Dane County need FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. MSN Airport Class C requires LAANC. Madison film permits (MGO §9.24) may apply for commercial photography. Part 107 waivers needed for night ops and flights over people.

Madison Streets Division provides weekly curbside trash and biweekly recycling (MGO §10.18). Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona contract Pellitteri, Waste Management, or operate municipal service. Carts out by 7 AM; snow delays common with 45+ inch snow belt.

Wisconsin §287.07 mandates residential recycling statewide — Dane County has one of the strongest compliance cultures. Madison MGO §10.18 requires paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics #1-#7. No plastic bags in single-stream. Contaminated carts skipped.

Madison MGO §10.185 requires carts placed at curb lid-closed by 7 AM, returned to storage within 24 hours. Carts must be 3 feet apart and clear of mailboxes, hydrants, parked cars. Winter snow piles complicate placement; carts on plowed path not in street.

Madison Streets offers large item collection by appointment (MGO §10.188) for furniture, mattresses, appliances. Appliances with refrigerant need CFC removal. Dane County Rodefeld Landfill (Verona) handles household hazardous waste drop-off.

Wisconsin prohibits cannabis dispensaries. No medical or recreational retail is authorized under Wis. Stat. Ch. 961. Dane County and all municipalities follow state law. CBD hemp retail under Wis. Stat. §94.55 is legal for products under 0.3% THC. Dispensary signage or operation…

Wisconsin prohibits ALL cannabis cultivation under Wis. Stat. Ch. 961 (Uniform Controlled Substances Act). No medical or recreational program exists. Growing any cannabis plant is a felony if 4+ plants, misdemeanor if fewer. Madison MGO 23.20 decriminalizes small-quantity…

Dane County municipalities regulate leaf blowers under local noise ordinances. Wisconsin has no statewide gas blower ban. Madison General Ordinance 24.04 imposes decibel limits; quiet hours typically 10 PM to 7 AM across Dane County cities.

Dane County regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. WI Stat. §947.01 applies.

Dane County does not have specific construction hour restrictions for unincorporated areas. Wisconsin's general noise laws apply. Individual towns may set stricter standards.

Dane County does not have a dedicated county-wide noise ordinance for quiet hours. Unincorporated areas rely on Wisconsin's disorderly conduct statute (Wis. Stat. §947.01) as a fallback. Incorporated municipalities set their own quiet hours.

Dane County Chapter 47 (Animal Control) addresses nuisance animals including dogs that habitually bark or disturb neighbors in unincorporated areas.

Dane County and its municipalities (Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Stoughton) do not mandate a specific STR liability minimum, but Wisconsin tourist rooming house licensing under Wis. Stat. §97.605 and Madison General Ordinances (MGO) Ch. 32 expect hosts to…

Madison MGO §28.151 caps tourist rooming house occupancy at 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests. Wis. Stat. §66.1014 preempts outright STR bans but allows reasonable occupancy limits. Dane County unincorporated areas apply Ch. 10 standards.

Dane County does not impose a county-wide annual night cap on short-term rentals. Wis. Stat. §66.1014 (the right-to-rent law) bars local governments from prohibiting rentals of 7+ consecutive days and forbids capping 6-29 day rentals below 180 days per year. State licensing…

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Dane County are regulated under the county zoning ordinance (Chapter 10). Tourist Rooming Houses require a Public Health license from Public Health of Madison and Dane County.

No STR-specific parking rules exist in unincorporated Dane County. Standard county zoning and road rules apply to all vehicles.

STR guests in unincorporated Dane County must comply with general Wisconsin noise laws and Dane County's animal control and nuisance provisions. No STR-specific noise rules exist at the county level.

STR operators in Dane County must collect 5% Wisconsin state sales tax and any applicable Dane County room tax. Unincorporated areas have fewer local tax layers than Madison.

Madison General Ordinance §9.52 allows up to 4 chicken hens per residential property with $10 license; roosters banned. Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton allow backyard hens with permits. Dane County Zoning Ch. 10 reserves larger livestock to ag districts. WI §93.90 Right to…

Wisconsin Stat. §29.335 bans deer baiting and feeding statewide in counties with CWD positives, including Dane County. Madison (MGO §9.22) prohibits feeding deer, turkeys, and waterfowl on public land. Dane County Code §46.06 prohibits wildlife feeding that creates nuisance…

Dane County Chapter 47 addresses dangerous animals. Wisconsin DNR licensing is required for most exotic/wild animals. Possessing unregistered exotic wildlife is illegal under state law.

Beekeeping is permitted as an agricultural use in Dane County. Wisconsin DATCP apiary registration (Wis. Stat. §93.45) is required. County zoning (Chapter 10) classifies domestic beekeeping as a distinct land use.

Dane County Chapter 47 requires dogs to be under control of the owner at all times in unincorporated areas. Dogs running at large are prohibited.

Dane County does not have breed-specific legislation. All dog breeds are permitted in unincorporated areas; dangerous dog determinations are made on individual behavior under Chapter 47.

Madison MGO §25.09 sets juvenile curfew for under-17: 11 PM to 5 AM weeknights, midnight to 5 AM weekends. Exceptions: parent accompaniment, work travel, school events, emergency. WI Stat. Ch. 938 Juvenile Justice Code provides state framework. Parental liability applies.

Dane County Parks close 10 PM to 6 AM per Ord. Ch. 16. City of Madison parks close 10 PM to 4 AM (MGO 8.20). Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Stoughton, Monona parks close 10 or 11 PM. After-hours presence is a municipal citation.

Dane County Zoning Ord. Ch. 10 requires minimum setbacks: 30 ft front, 10 ft side, 25 ft rear in SFR-08 district. Madison Zoning Code (MGO 28) sets TR-C1 setbacks at 20 ft front, 6 ft side, 30 ft rear. Shoreland-zoned parcels along Yahara lakes require 75 ft ordinary high-water…

Madison Zoning Code (MGO 28) caps single-family residential at 35 ft or 2.5 stories. Dane County Ord. Ch. 10 allows 35 ft in SFR-08. Downtown Madison heights vary 6 to 20 stories by district. State Capitol view preservation caps heights within 1 mile of Capitol at 187.5 ft per…

Madison TR-C1 zoning (MGO 28) caps lot coverage at 50%, TR-C2 at 55%. Dane County SFR-08 caps at 30%. Yahara-basin stormwater ordinance (Dane County Ch. 14) requires infiltration BMPs for impervious additions over 1,000 sq ft. NR 151 applies in shoreland districts.

Wis. Stat. §66.0401 extends beyond municipalities to restrictive covenants: HOAs cannot effectively prohibit solar panels. Reasonable placement rules allowed only if they don't significantly increase cost (10%+) or decrease efficiency (10%+).

Solar panel installations require electrical and building permits under WI DSPS UDC (SPS 321, 316). Wis. Stat. §66.0401 limits municipal restrictions on solar collectors. Madison offers expedited MadiSUN permit review. Net metering through Madison Gas & Electric or Alliant…

Carports are regulated as accessory structures under Madison MGO Ch. 28 (Zoning) and the Wisconsin UDC (SPS 321). A building permit is required for any carport in Madison, Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton. Dane County Ch. 10 Zoning governs unincorporated…

Foundation-built tiny homes in Dane County are treated as standard dwellings under Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320-325 (UDC). Tiny homes on wheels are classified as RVs/mobile homes under Wis. Stat. §101.91. 2017 Wisconsin Act 67 and Act 317 expanded ADU flexibility. Minimum habitable…

ADUs in unincorporated Dane County are permitted in appropriate zoning districts under Chapter 10. ADUs must be accessory to the principal dwelling and cannot be sold separately.

Sheds and accessory structures in unincorporated Dane County require a building permit and must comply with Chapter 10 setback requirements for the zoning district.

Garage conversions to living space in unincorporated Dane County require building permits and must meet habitable space standards under Wisconsin building code. Converting to an ADU is permitted in appropriate zoning districts.

Wisconsin's 'Pickle Bill' (Wis. Stat. §97.29(2)(b)) and the 2017 Court-ordered expansion allow home baking and canning sales without a license up to $5,000/year (baked goods) with no cap on pickled items. Madison, Fitchburg, and Dane County farmers markets all host cottage food…

Wisconsin DCF licenses family childcare under Wis. Stat. Ch. 48 and DCF 250/251. Madison (MGO §28.151) treats licensed family daycare up to 8 children as a permitted home occupation. Group daycare (9-15) requires a conditional use permit. Dane County follows the same tiers in…

Home occupations in unincorporated Dane County are regulated under Chapter 10 (Zoning Ordinance). Most rural-residential and farmland-preservation districts list home occupations as a conditional use, requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Zoning and Land Regulation…

Signage for home businesses in unincorporated Dane County is regulated through Chapter 10 zoning. Residential districts typically allow small, non-illuminated signs only.

Home occupations in unincorporated Dane County are regulated through Chapter 10 (Zoning Ordinance). Agricultural districts are generally permissive; residential-transitional districts have stricter standards.

Home occupation customer traffic standards in unincorporated Dane County vary by zoning district. Rural and agricultural zones are more permissive; residential-transitional zones restrict visible business activity.

Hot tubs and spas in Dane County are regulated under Wis. Admin. Code SPS 390 (ISPSC) and state electrical code SPS 316. A 240V dedicated GFCI circuit requires an electrical permit in Madison (MGO §29.07). Locking safety covers meeting ASTM F1346 can satisfy the UDC barrier…

Dane County requires building permits for pools, spas, and hot tubs. WI Uniform Dwelling Code governs. Inspections required.

Residential pool safety in unincorporated Dane County follows Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 390 and requires a building permit. Anti-entrapment drain covers and GFCI electrical protection are required.

Residential swimming pools in unincorporated Dane County must meet Wisconsin building code barrier requirements (48-inch minimum fencing) and local building permit requirements.

Above-ground pools over 24 inches deep in unincorporated Dane County require a building permit and must meet the same fencing requirements as in-ground pools.