Jefferson County, WI Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Jefferson County Code § 22-1028 designates the land from the ordinary high-water mark to a minimum of 35 feet inland as a vegetative buffer zone and prohibits vegetation removal there except in five circumstances. Routine maintenance of existing vegetation is allowed without a permit. Trees and shrubs may be cut to create an access and viewing corridor, but under Wis. 692(1f)(b) as incorporated, that corridor cannot exceed ten feet or 35 percent of the shoreline frontage, whichever is greater, and never more than 200 feet total.

On parcels with ten or more acres of forested land, cutting consistent with the state's 'Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines' (publication FR-226) and the Wis. Admin. 25(2)(b) definition of generally accepted forestry practices is allowed. Removal to manage exotic or invasive species, diseased vegetation, or an imminent safety hazard is permitted if the owner replants in the same area as soon as practicable. Any other vegetation management inside the buffer needs a county permit that requires an erosion-control plan, replanting to improve the plant community, monitoring of the restored area, and an enforceable restriction to preserve it.

Beyond the 35-foot buffer, § 22-1029 allows cutting out to the shoreland's outer limits using accepted forest management and soil conservation practices. This division is administered by the Jefferson County Planning and Development Department under the shoreland article, § 22-774, adopted under Wis. 692.