8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
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 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.
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.
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.
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 382 plumbing review.
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 native plantings.
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 installed and maintained.
4 cities in Dane County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Dane County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Dane County Ordinance Hub →