Neenah, WI Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 25 Subdivisions, Article IV
- Max lawn slope near ROW
- 3/4 inch per foot within 5 ft
- Applies to
- New subdivision lots, not existing homes
- Enforcement
- Plat covenant, not a standalone permit
Summary
Neenah requires new subdivision lots to grade so runoff flows to a right-of-way, drainage way or storm sewer, with lawns near sidewalks sloped no more than three-fourths inch per foot: enforced through the subdivision plat and drainage plan, not a standalone grading permit.
Wherever private or public property meets a public street right-of-way, public walkway easement or public walkway right-of-way, the finished grade of the lawn shall meet the sidewalk grade; and from any point within five feet of a public right-of-way or easement, the slope of the finished lawn to the sidewalk grade should not be more than three-fourths inch per foot computed from the top of the property side of such possible sidewalk.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 25's design standards article sets the City's lot-grading rules for new subdivisions: where private or public property meets a street right-of-way or walkway, the finished lawn grade must meet the sidewalk grade, sloping no more than three-fourths inch per foot within five feet of the right-of-way. Builders must also ensure water drains from every point on a lot to a right-of-way, drainage way, easement or storm sewer without ponding, and the approved subdivision drainage plan is enforced through a covenant recorded on the plat rather than a separate permit process. The City Engineering Department sets sidewalk elevations when a street opens.
Violations & Fines
No stated forfeiture in Chapter 25; a plat that doesn't meet the drainage and grading standards can be rejected, and the City's general penalty, a forfeiture of $10 to $500 for a first offense, applies under Sec. 1-20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Neenah require a separate grading permit for a new subdivision lot?
How steep can a lawn slope near the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Neenah
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