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.
Dane County Code of Ordinances Ch. 35 establishes the weed commissioner system under WI Stat. §66.0407 (noxious weeds) requiring landowners to destroy noxious weeds and prevent spread. Madison General Ordinance §27.05 sets grass/weed heights at 8 inches. Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Middleton, and Verona enforce similar limits (typically 6 to 12 inches). Vacant lots and foreclosed properties must be maintained or face municipal abatement with costs assessed to the parcel. Wisconsin's highest wildfire risk sits in Adams, Burnett, and Jackson counties to the north; Dane County is low-risk agricultural/urban. WI DNR requires burning permits (§26.12) during spring fire season (typically March 1 to May 31). Shoreland properties on Lake Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa must comply with WI NR 115 shoreland zoning limiting vegetation removal within 35 feet of the ordinary high water mark.
Notice with correction deadline (typically 5 to 10 days). Municipal abatement billed to owner plus administrative fee. Special assessment becomes property lien.
Dane County, WI
Dane County municipalities regulate leaf blowers under local noise ordinances. Wisconsin has no statewide gas blower ban. Madison General Ordinance 24.04 imp...
Dane County, WI
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, Ve...
Dane County, WI
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...
Dane County, WI
Dane County municipalities allow wood (cedar, treated pine), vinyl, wrought iron, chain-link, and composite fencing. Madison General Ordinance §28 zoning spe...
Dane County, WI
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, sel...
Dane County, WI
Native plantings are encouraged across Dane County. Madison (MGO §23.29) explicitly permits natural lawns with registered plans. Dane County Land and Water R...
See how Dane County's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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