5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Milwaukee County does not zone home businesses. The county is fully incorporated, so home-occupation zoning rules come from your city or village. Each municipality defines allowed uses, customer traffic, and employee limits.
Milwaukee County does not regulate home business signs. Sign size, lighting, and whether any sign is allowed at a residence are set by your city or village zoning and sign ordinance, not the county.
Milwaukee County does not regulate cottage food. Selling homemade foods is governed by Wisconsin state law and DATCP, including the Wis. Stat. 97.29 'pickle bill' exemption for home-canned high-acid foods sold under $5,000 per year.
Wis. Stat. sec. 97.29(2)(b)3.
The person sells only pickles or other processed vegetables or fruits with an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower and receives less than $5,000 per year from the sale of the food products.
Milwaukee County does not license home daycare. Wisconsin's Department of Children and Families licenses providers caring for four or more children under seven, and certifies smaller family providers; your municipality handles any zoning.
Wis. Stat. sec. 48.65(1)
No person may for compensation provide care and supervision for 4 or more children under the age of 7 for less than 24 hours a day unless that person obtains a license to operate a child care center from the department.
Milwaukee County issues no home occupation permits. Whether a permit or license is required is set by your city or village, since the county has no zoning authority over residential property.
4 cities in Milwaukee County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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