10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Milwaukee County itself sets no general quiet-hours ordinance for homes or businesses. It is nearly fully incorporated, so nighttime noise limits are set by each of its 19 cities or villages and by Wisconsin's disorderly-conduct statute. The county's only direct noise rule is a 50-foot sound limit in its parks.
Milwaukee County sets no countywide construction-hours ordinance. Because the county is nearly fully incorporated, allowable construction times are set by each municipality's noise and building codes. The county regulates construction noise only on its own parkland and county facilities.
Milwaukee County has no countywide barking-dog noise ordinance for residences. Animal-noise complaints are handled under each municipality's animal or nuisance code. The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) handles strays countywide, but barking enforcement remains municipal.
Milwaukee County has no countywide leaf-blower ordinance and no gas-blower ban. Any time-of-day or noise limits on leaf blowers come from individual municipal codes. On county parkland, blowers fall under the general 50-foot sound limit in Milwaukee County Code Chapter 47.
Milwaukee County has no general amplified-music ordinance for private property; those rules are municipal. The county does set a real amplified-sound limit in its parks: under Code Chapter 47, no radio, instrument or amplification device may be heard more than 50 feet away unless the Parks director permits an event.
Milwaukee County Code of Ordinances Ch. 47 (Parks and Parkways)
No person shall use or operate any radio, phonograph, musical instrument, or other mechanical, electrical sound making, reproducing or amplification device in a park or parkway so as to be heard at a distance greater than fifty (50) feet from the above-described instrument or device.
Milwaukee County owns Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) and Timmerman (MWC) airports, but aircraft operations and flight noise are regulated by the FAA, not the county. The county can only run a noise office and recommend voluntary abatement to the FAA; it cannot set local aircraft-noise limits.
Milwaukee County does not regulate industrial or commercial noise directly; that is handled by municipal zoning and noise codes plus state permitting. The county has no factory-noise ordinance. Statewide, unreasonably loud conduct can be reached under Wis. Stat. sec. 947.01.
Milwaukee County sets no countywide decibel limits. Any numeric dBA thresholds are adopted by individual municipalities. The county's only direct noise metric is a distance test, not decibels: sound devices in county parks may not be heard beyond 50 feet under Code Chapter 47.
Outdoor music at private venues in Milwaukee County is regulated by municipal ordinances, not the county. The county does control outdoor music in its parks: under Code Chapter 47, sound may not carry beyond 50 feet, and larger concerts need authorization from the Parks director or County Board.
Milwaukee County Code of Ordinances Ch. 47 (Parks and Parkways)
The director of parks, recreation and culture, or designee, or the county board, may authorize or permit musical shows, cultural events, public gatherings and exhibitions which are not limited by this section.
Milwaukee County does not set its own vehicle-noise ordinance for streets. Loud vehicles are governed by Wisconsin's statewide muffler statute, Wis. Stat. sec. 347.39, plus each municipality's local noise code. County parkway roads follow state motor-vehicle law and county park rules.
Wis. Stat. sec. 347.39(1)
No person shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle subject to registration unless such motor vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise or annoying smoke.
4 cities in Milwaukee County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
9 verified rules • Aircraft Noise, Amplified Music & Events
3 verified rules • Amplified Music & Events, Barking Dogs
2 verified rules • Barking Dogs, Quiet Hours
3 verified rules • Amplified Music & Events, Barking Dogs
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