Okauchee Lake, WI

Wisconsin Statute 167.10 governs fireworks statewide and requires a local user's permit issued by the mayor, village president, or town chair to possess or use most consumer fireworks. Many Waukesha County municipalities (including the City of Waukesha and City of Brookfield) tightly restrict or prohibit consumer fireworks use through stricter local ordinances. Wis. Stat. §167.10(5)(b) lets local rules be more restrictive but never less restrictive than state law.

Wisconsin Statute 66.1014 preempts any local ban on residential rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer. Anyone operating a short-term rental more than 10 nights per year must hold a Tourist Rooming House (TRH) license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72. Waukesha County does not issue countywide STR permits; municipalities such as the City of Waukesha, City of Pewaukee, and Village of Mukwonago may add their own license and zoning requirements.

Waukesha County charges a $204 annual Tourist Rooming House (TRH) license fee plus $102 pre-licensing inspection fee through Environmental Health. State 5% sales tax applies under Wis. Stat. §77.52, plus any local room tax under Wis. Stat. §66.0615 levied by the host municipality (rates vary 0–8%).

A Waukesha County Tourist Rooming House license covers 1–4 sleeping units per Wisconsin ATCP 72. Wis. Stat. §66.1014 protects rentals of 7+ days from outright prohibition, but the host town may set reasonable occupancy and minimum-stay limits.

Waukesha County does not set STR-specific parking standards. Off-street parking for Tourist Rooming Houses in unincorporated towns follows the county zoning code's residential parking requirements and any town-level rules permitted by Wis. Stat. §66.1014.

Waukesha County exercises county zoning under Wis. Stat. §59.69 over unincorporated towns that have adopted the county code, while incorporated cities and villages (Waukesha, Brookfield, New Berlin, Pewaukee, Mukwonago, etc.) regulate ADUs locally under Wis. Stat. §62.23(7) and §61.35. Wisconsin has no statewide ADU mandate. The Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A, effective 12/11/2024) treats secondary residential units as accessory uses subject to district size, setback, and family-engagement standards.

Residential pool barriers in Waukesha County are governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (Wis. Admin. Code chs. SPS 320-325), which incorporates IRC Appendix G/AG105. Outdoor pools deeper than 24 inches must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. The Waukesha County Shoreland Protection Ordinance also requires a zoning permit for pools on shoreland parcels within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or stream.

Waukesha County's Basic Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A to the County Code, effective 12/11/2024) administers zoning in towns that elect county zoning, but does not classify fences as 'structures' - so fence heights are governed by the local town, village or city. The City of Waukesha caps residential fences at 6 feet under Municipal Code sec. 22.58, with a 3-foot maximum inside the vision triangle and no fences in required front yards. The Waukesha County Shoreland Protection Ordinance (Appendix B) applies within 1,000 feet of a navigable lake or 300 feet of a navigable river or stream and can affect fence placement. Most municipalities in the county follow a 4-foot front yard / 6-foot side and rear yard pattern.

Waukesha County does not have a countywide residential quiet-hours rule - the County Code (Chapters 1-18 plus Appendices A-E) addresses zoning, parks, public works and law enforcement, not nightly noise standards. Noise is regulated by each city, village and town under home-rule authority granted by Wis. Stat. sec. 62.23, sec. 61.35 and sec. 60.61. The City of Waukesha treats unreasonable noise as a public nuisance under its Code of Ordinances Chapter 26. Village of Elm Grove restricts construction, demolition and power equipment to 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturdays, with no use Sundays or federal holidays. Wis. Stat. sec. 947.01 (disorderly conduct) is the statewide backstop for unreasonably loud or disturbing conduct.

Waukesha County requires dogs to be leashed on a non-retractable leash no longer than 6 feet in all county parks, except inside designated Dog Exercise Areas (DEAs) and Dog Swim Areas at Minooka Park and other county parks. Electronic leashes or e-collars are not considered a leash. The City of Waukesha (Code Chapter 6) and the Town of Waukesha both prohibit dogs at large; owners must keep dogs leashed and pick up pet waste, with violations enforced under City ordinances 33.01(5)(a) and 33.02(6). Stray dogs in nearly all municipalities are taken to HAWS (Humane Animal Welfare Society) in Waukesha. Wis. Stat. ch. 174 governs licensing, vaccination, and impoundment statewide, with strict liability for dog-bite injuries under sec. 174.02.

Wisconsin Statute 87.30 requires every county and municipality with FEMA-mapped floodplain to adopt a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 116 and 44 CFR 59-72 (NFIP). Waukesha County administers the Floodland Protection Ordinance (EO-17838) for unincorporated areas, regulating the Fox River, Bark River, Pewaukee River, Oconomowoc River, and other mapped waterways. Wisconsin requires the lowest floor at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation - stricter than the FEMA NFIP minimum.