Waukesha County, WI Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Destroying weeds
- Mandatory statewide
- Listed noxious weeds
- Canada thistle, leafy spurge, bindweed
- Enforcer
- Municipal weed commissioner
- Annual notice deadline
- On or before May 15
- Governing law
- Wis. Stat. 66.0407
Summary
Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. 66.0407) makes destroying noxious weeds MANDATORY. Every landowner must destroy Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed and any locally-declared noxious weed. Weed commissioners enforce it, and municipalities must publish an annual notice by May 15.
A person owning, occupying or controlling land shall destroy all noxious weeds on the land. ... 'Noxious weeds' means Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed ... and any other weed the governing body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries.
Full Breakdown
This is a real, quotable statewide duty, not optional lawn care. Wis. Stat. 66.0407 requires 'a person owning, occupying or controlling land' to destroy all noxious weeds on that land. Destruction means killing the plants (chemically, by cutting, tillage, cropping, or grazing) before they reach bloom or flower. Towns, villages and cities appoint a weed commissioner who can enter land and destroy weeds if the owner fails to, then charge the cost back. The county's Land Conservation program administers erosion and noxious-weed duties for unincorporated areas.
Violations & Fines
If an owner does not comply, the weed commissioner may destroy the weeds and the cost is assessed against the property as a special tax/charge under Wis. Stat. 66.0407.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to remove weeds from my property?
What happens if I ignore noxious weeds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukesha County
How Waukesha County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Waukesha County to another location·View the Wisconsin landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.