Wausau, WI Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- One foot for grass, weeds, brush
- Enforcement notice
- 5 days' written notice
- City mowing cost
- Billed as special tax
- Citation forfeiture
- $10 to $200 (deposit $30)
- Exempt land
- Golf courses, public parkland
Summary
Wausau caps grass, weeds and brush at one foot on every property in the City. Section 6.48.010 requires owners and occupants to mow anything taller, folds in the state noxious-weed statute, Wis. Stat. Section 66.0407, by reference, and exempts golf courses and public parkland located wholly within the City.
No person owning property or occupant of property within the City shall permit to grow or pollinate upon the premises any weeds, grasses or brush which cause or produce hay fever in human beings, exhale unpleasant or noxious odors or may conceal filthy deposits or provide a place for the accumulation of trash or litter. In order to prevent such growth and pollination, it shall be the duty of every property owner or occupant of property to mow or cause to be mowed upon the premises all grasses, weeds and brush exceeding one foot in height. The provisions of Wis. Stats. § 66.0407 are incorporated herein by reference. Any golf course or public parkland located wholly within the City of Wausau shall be exempt from the mowing requirement of this provision.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
010 targets weeds, grasses and brush that cause hay fever, exhale unpleasant or noxious odors, or conceal filthy deposits or trash, and sets the trigger at anything exceeding one foot in height on the premises. The duty falls on every property owner or occupant, not just homeowners, so it reaches rental properties and vacant improved lots the same way. 030. 020 requires five days' written notice before the City has the premises mowed itself; the cost of that mowing is then reported to the City Clerk and spread onto the property's tax roll as a special tax, collected the same way as other property taxes unless the land is exempt. 010 exempts outright from the mowing requirement.
Violations & Fines
Letting grass, weeds or brush exceed one foot in height violates Section 6.48.010 and can draw a citation under Section 6.48.040, with a forfeiture of not less than $10.00 nor more than $200.00 for each violation; the municipal cash deposit schedule sets the standard deposit for a failure-to-mow citation at $30.00. Ignoring the Weed Commissioner's five-day notice under Section 6.48.020 adds the City's mowing cost to the property tax bill as a special charge on top of any citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass legally get in Wausau?
What happens if I ignore a mowing notice?
Is a city park or golf course exempt from the mowing rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
How Wausau compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Wausau 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.
Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marathon County handle weed ordinances.