Waukesha, WI Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Listed noxious weeds
- Canada thistle, ragweed, leafy spurge, others
- Applies to
- All property, including vacant/unimproved lots
- Abatement notice
- 24-hour notice for immediate danger
- Cost recovery
- Special tax assessment on the property
Summary
Waukesha's public nuisance code bans a named list of noxious weeds, including Canada thistle, ragweed and leafy spurge, on any property in the City, unimproved or not, under Municipal Code § 12.03. Unimproved, recently annexed lots are exempt from the separate 8-inch lawn height rule but not from this ban.
All noxious weeds which include Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed (creeping jenny), ragweed, bull thistle, harmful barberry, sow thistle and nodding thistle. Conservancy and Public Zones as defined in Chapter 22 of this Municipal Code may be excluded from this section upon a resolution to that effect by the Common Council.
Full Breakdown
03 declares "all noxious weeds which include Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed (creeping jenny), ragweed, bull thistle, harmful barberry, sow thistle and nodding thistle" a public health nuisance anywhere in the City, applying to vacant and unimproved land the same as developed lots, unless the Common Council excludes a Conservancy or Public Zone by resolution. 04(4)(e) does not apply where no lawns exist or on territory annexed or attached to the City that consists of unimproved real estate not subject to development plans, site plans or building permits.
04(4)(e). 06: the Chief of Police, Health Department or Building Inspector inspects on complaint, and if the Mayor finds great and immediate danger, notice to abate within 24 hours is served on the owner, with the City empowered to abate the nuisance itself and assess the cost against the property as a special tax if the deadline passes.
Violations & Fines
A vacant lot found harboring listed noxious weeds is a public nuisance under § 12.01, and the Mayor can direct the Chief of Police to serve a 24-hour notice to abate under § 12.06. If the owner cannot be found or the danger is not immediate, the City can instead sue to abate the nuisance in Waukesha County Circuit Court, and any City abatement cost becomes a special tax assessed against the real estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vacant lots have to control noxious weeds in Waukesha?
Is a newly annexed vacant lot exempt from lawn rules?
What can the City do about a weedy vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukesha
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