Dane County enforces property blight standards under Wis. Stat. Ch. 66 police powers; Madison Gen. Ord. Ch. 27 (Building & Property Maintenance Code) addresses deteriorated exteriors, broken windows, junk accumulation, and nuisances across Madison and unincorporated Dane County.
Unincorporated Dane County relies on Wis. Stat. §66.0413 (razing buildings) and §66.0407 (noxious weeds) plus Dane County Code of Ordinances Ch. 46 (Public Health & Nuisances) to abate blighted conditions. Inside the City of Madison, Madison General Ordinances Ch. 27 adopts the International Property Maintenance Code and authorizes the Building Inspection Division to cite peeling paint, broken windows, rodent harborage, accumulated rubbish, and structural deterioration. MGO §27.05 requires exterior surfaces be maintained weather-tight and free from holes, breaks, and loose materials. Notice of violation typically allows 10-30 days to cure; Wis. Stat. §66.0627 allows unpaid abatement costs to be placed on the property tax roll as a special charge. Vacant buildings in Madison must be registered under MGO §27.05(2)(h) within 30 days of becoming vacant, with an annual fee. The Yahara lakes shoreline zoning (Dane County Ch. 11) imposes additional maintenance duties on shoreland properties.
Written notice with 10-30 day compliance window under MGO §27.05. Forfeitures $100-$1,000 per day per Wis. Stat. §66.0109. Unpaid abatement costs become a special charge against the property under §66.0627. Repeat offenders may face raze orders under §66.0413.
Dane County, WI
Dane County municipalities regulate leaf blowers under local noise ordinances. Wisconsin has no statewide gas blower ban. Madison General Ordinance 24.04 imp...
Dane County, WI
Madison enforces a citywide Alternate Side Parking rule (MGO §12.76) from March 15 to March 14 annually between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM. Fitchburg, Middleton, Ve...
Dane County, WI
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Dane County, WI
Dane County municipalities allow wood (cedar, treated pine), vinyl, wrought iron, chain-link, and composite fencing. Madison General Ordinance §28 zoning spe...
Dane County, WI
Wisconsin UDC SPS 390 and the state-adopted ISPSC require all residential pools and spas to be surrounded by a minimum 48-inch barrier with self-closing, sel...
Dane County, WI
Smoke detector requirements in unincorporated Dane County are set by Wisconsin state law, not the county. Wis. Stat. §101.645 requires functional smoke detec...
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