Milwaukee requires a Home Occupation registration with the Department of Neighborhood Services for any business operated from a dwelling. Registration is free and reviewed under Chapter 295.
Any Milwaukee resident operating a business from a home must file a Home Occupation registration with DNS confirming compliance with Chapter 295 zoning standards. The registration is free and reviewed administratively, typically within 2 weeks. The business activity must be secondary to the residential use, occupy no more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor area, generate no exterior evidence (signs, noise, odor, vibration), and comply with customer-traffic and employee limits. Wisconsin state seller's permits and tax registrations are separate. Businesses that require state professional licenses (cosmetology, massage, therapy) must also provide copies of those licenses.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Milwaukee code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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