Waukesha County, WI Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Waukesha County, WI, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- County quiet-hours rule
- None; set by municipality
- State backstop
- Wis. Stat. 947.01 disorderly conduct
- City of Waukesha example
- 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
- County zoning reaches
- Consenting unincorporated towns only
- Who sets your rule
- Your city, village or town
Summary
Waukesha County sets no countywide quiet-hours ordinance; your city, village or town does. In unincorporated towns the county nuisance and Wisconsin disorderly-conduct law apply. As an example, the City of Waukesha treats unreasonably disturbing noise as a public nuisance, effectively 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
Wisconsin is a MIXED state: cities and villages regulate noise inside their limits, and the county's zoning reaches only consenting unincorporated towns. The Waukesha County Code has no dedicated noise chapter, so there is no county decibel or clock-hour rule. Where no local ordinance applies, Wis. Stat. 947.01 disorderly conduct covers unreasonably loud conduct that tends to provoke a disturbance. The City of Waukesha (county seat) defines noise 'tending to unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet' as a public nuisance under Municipal Code 12.05, with quiet hours generally 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Check your own municipality.
Violations & Fines
Disorderly conduct under Wis. Stat. 947.01 is a Class B misdemeanor. Municipal nuisance noise citations carry local forfeitures, typically escalating fines set by your city, village or town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Waukesha County have a noise curfew?
What are Waukesha city quiet hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukesha County
How Waukesha County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Waukesha County to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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