Outagamie County, WI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforced by
- county health officer
- Correction deadline
- 24 hrs to 30+ days
- Repeat nuisance
- new offense each day
- Cost recovery
- special property assessment
- Governing statute
- Wis. Stat. § 254.59
Summary
Outagamie County declares any structure that is unsanitary, unhealthy, or unfit for human habitation a public nuisance, and the health officer can order the owner to abate it or have the county do the work and bill the property.
Unhealthy or unsanitary condition. Any condition or situation which renders a structure or any part thereof unsanitary, unhealthy or unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use or renders any property unsanitary or unhealthy.(16)Other. Any other situation determined to meet the definition of a public nuisance in section 26-210. (Code 1992, § 11.04(2)(d))
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).
Full Breakdown
The county health officer investigates written nuisance complaints and, on confirming a violation of section 26-211, issues a written cleanup or abatement order setting a correction deadline: anywhere from 24 hours to 30 or more days depending on severity. If the owner ignores the order, the county can issue a citation under Wis. Stat. § 66.0113, pursue injunctive relief, or send in crews to abate the condition itself and recover the cost directly from the owner or as a special assessment against the property under Wis. Stat. § 254.59. Repeat violations count as a new offense each day.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring an abatement order draws a citation, injunctive action, or county-performed abatement billed to the owner or assessed against the property; repeated nuisances count as a separate offense each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Appleton or Kaukauna?
Can the county fix the problem itself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Outagamie County
Compare Outagamie County to another location·View the Wisconsin property maintenance overview
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