Washington County, WI Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Section 200-5D of the Code of Washington County lists the places on a County highway where a vehicle cannot be left standing, and a loading zone is the first one named. The prohibition applies unless the vehicle is temporarily engaged in loading or unloading, or receiving or discharging passengers, and is attended by a licensed operator who can move it promptly if an emergency arises or traffic is obstructed. Once those loading activities stop, the vehicle must leave the zone; simply parking there while running an errand or leaving the vehicle unattended is a violation even during posted loading hours.

The same subsection groups the loading zone with several related no-standing locations: alleys within a business district, within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, within four feet of an alley or driveway entrance, and closer than 15 feet to a crosswalk. All are subject to the identical loading-and-unloading exception, so a delivery driver actively moving freight is not in violation, but the same driver parked and stepping away is.

Chapter 200 is enforced by the Sheriff's Office under § 200-8B, which issues citations conforming to § 345.28, Wis. Stats. A driver may pay the forfeiture by mail to the Sheriff's Office within 10 days of the citation instead of appearing in court, per § 200-8D. Violations of § 200-5 carry the general penalty set out in Chapter 1, Article III of the Code of Washington County, in addition to statutory court costs and any applicable penalty assessment.