Madison requires property owners to clear brush, tall grass, and dead vegetation that create fire or nuisance hazards under MGO 27.05. The Urban Forestry Division and Building Inspection coordinate enforcement in wooded lots and near lakeshores.
MGO 27.05 authorizes the city to order removal of noxious weeds, rank vegetation, and accumulated combustible brush on private property. While Madison is not a traditional wildland-urban interface, dense woodlots along Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and the Yahara River corridor can pose ignition risks from recreational fires or discarded materials. Owners must maintain defensible clearance around structures and remove dead or diseased limbs, particularly ash trees affected by emerald ash borer. Building Inspection issues correction orders with a 10 to 14 day compliance window; unresolved hazards are abated by the city and billed to the property as a special charge on the tax roll. Burning of cleared brush is prohibited within city limits under MGO Chapter 10 - material must be chipped, composted, or hauled to the Madison streets division drop-off sites.
Abatement costs plus administrative fees are added to the property tax bill. Re-inspection fees apply for repeat violations.
Madison, WI
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See how Madison's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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