Neenah, WI Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Offender unidentified or 2 complaints/12mo
- Defense
- Name/address/phone of offender
- First offense
- $10-$500 forfeiture
- Repeat offense
- $25-$1,000 forfeiture
- Adopted
- Ord. 2019-14, 6-19-2019
Summary
Neenah holds the property owner or legal tenant liable for a noise-complaint violation whenever police cannot identify the actual offender, or once a property has drawn two separate noise-complaint investigations within 12 months and the owner has been notified in writing.
(b)Owner/tenant responsibility.(1)The owner and/or legal tenant of a property that is the subject of a noise complaint under this division shall be liable for the violation in the event that the police have been unable to identify the person responsible for the noise;(2)The owner and/or legal tenant of a property that is the subject of a noise complaint under this division shall be liable for the violation in the event that a property has been the subject of two noise complaint investigations within the previous 12 months and the police have notified in writing the owner;(3)It shall be an affirmative defense for the owner and/or legal tenant charged under Subsection (a)(1) of this section if the owner and/or legal tenant provide police with the name, address and current telephone number of the person responsible for creating the offending noise, or in the case of a property owner, the name, address and current telephone number of the tenant who has control of the property. (Code 1977, § 8.06; Ord. No. 2019-14, §§ 1, 2, 6-19-2019)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Under City of Neenah Municipal Code § 11-145(b), the property owner or legal tenant is liable for a noise-division violation if police cannot identify who actually made the noise, or if the property has been the subject of two noise-complaint investigations within the previous 12 months and police have given the owner written notice. The owner or tenant can raise an affirmative defense by giving police the name, address, and current phone number of the person actually responsible for the noise, or of the tenant in control of the property. This liability rule sits inside the City's general noise-prohibition section, adopted by Ord. No. 2019-14, §§ 1, 2 (6-19-2019).
Violations & Fines
First offense: forfeiture of $10 to $500 plus prosecution costs. Repeat violations of the same provision: $25 to $1,000 plus costs, under the City's general penalty, § 1-20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Neenah cite the property owner for a loud party even if the guests are gone?
Is there a defense against host liability in Neenah?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Neenah
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