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Milwaukee County, WI Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

Governing law
Wis. Stat. 66.0407
Enforcer
Municipal weed commissioner
Owner duty
Destroy noxious weeds
Commissioner authority
Wis. Stat. 66.0517
Cost recovery
Special tax on parcel

Summary

Weed control in Milwaukee County runs on Wisconsin's statewide noxious-weed law, Wis. Stat. sec. 66.0407, enforced by each municipality's weed commissioner. The county does not run a resident weed-enforcement program; landowners must destroy noxious weeds, and the local commissioner can abate and bill.

City-specific rules exist: Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and West Allis have their own weed ordinances rules that differ from Milwaukee County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

A person owning, occupying or controlling land shall destroy all noxious weeds on the land. The person having immediate charge of any public lands shall destroy all noxious weeds on the lands.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Milwaukee County does not operate its own residential weed-enforcement ordinance. Wisconsin's noxious-weed system is statewide under Wis. Stat. 66.0407, which requires a person owning, occupying, or controlling land to destroy all noxious weeds on it. Noxious weeds include Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, weeds designated by the Department of Natural Resources, and any weed a municipality or county board declares noxious. Enforcement runs through the local weed commissioner: under Wis. Stat. 66.0517 each mayor, village president, or town chair may appoint a commissioner who investigates weeds and, if a landowner neglects to destroy them, destroys them and may enter the land without trespass liability, charging the cost as a special tax against the parcel.

Violations & Fines

A landowner who fails to destroy noxious weeds may have them destroyed by the municipal weed commissioner under Wis. Stat. 66.0517, with cost recovered from the owner and, if unpaid, placed on the tax roll as a special charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Milwaukee County enforce weed complaints?
No. Weeds are governed by state law (Wis. Stat. 66.0407) and enforced by your municipality's weed commissioner, not by a county weed program.
What counts as a noxious weed in Wisconsin?
Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, DNR-designated weeds, and any weed your city or county board declares noxious under Wis. Stat. 66.0407.
What if I ignore a weed notice?
Under Wis. Stat. 66.0517 the weed commissioner may destroy the weeds and charge the cost to you, adding it to your property tax bill if unpaid.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Milwaukee County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions

All Milwaukee County rules

How Milwaukee County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Milwaukee County to another location·View the Wisconsin landscaping rules overview

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Weed Ordinances in Cities Across Milwaukee County

Milwaukee, WIWauwatosa, WIWest Allis, WI