Moving to West Allis, WI?

West Allis regulates amplified music under the noise ordinance. Wisconsin State Fair Park events operate under separate state permits. Residential areas near the fairgrounds have heightened enforcement during fair season.

West Allis regulates noise and vibration under Municipal Code §7.035. The West Allis Health Department is the primary enforcement agency; Police Department may also enforce. Noise is measured in dB(A) using slow exponential time weighting.

Animal noise in West Allis falls under the general noise ordinance §7.035 and the city's animal ordinances. Persistent barking disturbing neighbors is subject to citation. Animal Control handles dogs running loose; Health Dept. handles noise complaints.

Short-term rental guests in West Allis must follow citywide on-street parking rules. West Allis prohibits on-street parking from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. without a permit. Tourist rooming houses must be licensed annually through the West Allis Health Department and must satisfy the off-street parking required for the underlying residential use under the West Allis Zoning Code.

Short-term rentals in West Allis must follow Section 7.035 of the West Allis Revised Municipal Code. The ordinance defines 'night' as 10:00 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. and 'day' as 7:00 a.m. to 9:59 p.m. Sound reproduction devices may not be plainly audible across a property line at night, and must not be plainly audible 150 feet beyond the property line during the day.

West Allis STR operators must collect Wisconsin 5% state sales tax, Milwaukee County 0.9% tax (eff. Jan 1, 2024), and applicable room taxes under Wis. Stat. §66.0615.

West Allis requires a Tourist Rooming House permit administered through the West Allis Health Department. Annual inspection required. State DATCP TRH license ($110/year + $300 one-time inspection) also required.

West Allis fireworks are regulated under Fire Prevention Code §5.10, which incorporates §6.03(8) of the Revised Municipal Code. Permitted fireworks displays under Wis. Stat. §167.10 are exempt from noise ordinance restrictions.

West Allis allows only fully enclosed fire pit devices with a metal hood and screen. Must be at least 10 feet from any dwelling, garage, or accessory structure. Not permitted on porches or decks. Use prohibited after 11 PM.

Abandoned vehicles in West Allis are regulated under state law (Wis. Stat. §342.40) and city nuisance ordinances. Inoperable or dismantled vehicles visible from public areas are subject to removal action.

West Allis requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.

Large commercial vehicles are restricted in West Allis residential zones under city zoning code. Contact West Allis Code Enforcement for specific requirements.

RV and recreational vehicle parking in West Allis residential areas is governed by city zoning code. Generally one RV per lot is permitted with setback requirements. Front yard storage restrictions apply.

West Allis caps residential fences at 6 feet in side and rear yards, prohibits fences in the required front yard, and limits fences inside the corner-lot vision triangle to 3 feet. Fence permits are not required citywide, but the standards in Revised Municipal Code §13.31 (Fences and Site Obstructions) and the underlying zoning ordinance must still be met.

West Allis requires the finished side of fences face neighbors. Shared boundary fences follow WI line fence statute. Disputes handled through city mediation or town supervisor process.

Wisconsin does not preempt local breed-specific legislation. Some WI cities have breed bans. WI Stat. §174.042 covers dangerous dogs based on behavior.

West Allis requires dogs on leash at all times in public. Maximum 6-foot leash. Dogs must be licensed per WI Stat. section 174. No off-leash areas within city limits.

West Allis prohibits keeping bees or chickens without a permit, and also prohibits fowl, cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats, ducks, turkeys, geese, and other domesticated livestock without a permit. State law (Wis. Stat. §169) governs wild animals.

West Allis allows beekeeping with a permit under its animal fancier permit system. No beekeeping allowed without a permit. State apiarist program (Wis. Stat. §93.45) also applies.

West Allis enforces maximum grass and weed height, typically 8 to 12 inches. Overgrown properties subject to code compliance action and city abatement.

West Allis allows home occupations as accessory use in residential zones. Home occupation permit required. WI cottage food law applies for home bakers.

West Allis requires building permits for pools, spas, and hot tubs. WI Uniform Dwelling Code governs. Inspections required.

West Allis requires pool barriers to prevent unsupervised child access. Minimum 48-inch height. Self-closing, self-latching gates. WI Stat. §145.17.

West Allis enforces pool safety requirements including anti-entrapment drain covers (VGB Act), barriers, and depth markers. WI Stat. §145.17 governs.

West Allis regulates accessory buildings under Chapter 19 (Zoning) of the Revised Municipal Code, adopted under the city zoning authority of Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Sec. 19.42 (Residential Accessory Buildings) caps detached accessory structures at 50% of the principal building area, not to exceed 800 square feet, with a maximum exterior wall height of 20 feet. Setback minimums include 10 feet from the principal building, 3 feet from side lot lines, and 3-5 feet from rear lot lines depending on alley adjacency. The West Allis Zoning Code does not establish a separate by-right accessory dwelling unit (ADU) class in the manner of cities like Appleton; a habitable second dwelling unit on a single-family lot generally requires zoning interpretation by the Planning and Zoning Department.

Sheds in West Allis are 'Other Accessory Buildings' under Section 19.42 of the West Allis Zoning Code. They are limited to 300 square feet, 15 feet in height, must sit at least 3 feet from any side or rear lot line (5 feet if the rear abuts an alley), at least 10 feet from the principal dwelling, and at least 60 feet from the front lot line.

The City of West Allis participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development in conformance with Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116, plus 44 CFR Parts 59-72. Honey Creek (a tributary of the Menomonee River) and the Kinnickinnic River watershed run through the city and are the principal regulated waterways. The city maintains a public Flooding Tracker GIS service that shows the FEMA 100-year floodplain and floodlines for West Allis. Development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires zoning approval; new residential structures are prohibited in the regulatory floodway, and habitable space in the flood fringe must be elevated to the flood protection elevation.