Wausau, WI Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Who's liable
- Adults controlling the property, present or not
- Lookback period
- 30 months from each violation date
- First-tier forfeiture
- Up to $500.00 plus costs
- Repeat-tier forfeiture
- Up to $1,000.00 plus costs
- License risk
- Suspension under Wis. Stats. § 125.07(1)(b)3
Summary
Wausau holds adults civilly responsible for hosting parties where anyone under 21 drinks, even without supplying the alcohol. A host who knowingly permits underage drinking on property they control faces a forfeiture up to $1,000.00 for repeat violations under Municipal Code § 9.04.028.
(b)Prohibited acts. No adult may knowingly permit or fail to take action to prevent the illegal consumption of alcohol beverages by an underage person on property, including any premises, owned and occupied by the adult or occupied by the adult and under the adult's control. ... (1)A person who commits a violation may be required to forfeit not more than $500.00, plus costs, if the person has committed not more than one previous violation within 30 months of the violation.(2)A person who commits two or more previous violations within 30 months of the violation may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.00, plus costs.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
028, adopted to deter underage drinking gatherings, makes it unlawful for an adult to knowingly permit, or fail to take action to prevent, illegal alcohol consumption by an underage person on property the adult owns, occupies, or controls, including a rented lodging room if the adult paid for it. The host does not need to be present at the gathering to be held responsible, and anyone who intentionally aids, advises, hires, counsels or conspires to bring about the violation is treated the same as the host.
Two exceptions apply: conduct solely between an underage person and a present, controlling parent, and alcohol lawfully possessed by an underage worker during the course of employment. 00 plus costs. If the responsible person holds a Wisconsin alcohol beverage license or permit under Wis. ch. 125, that license is also subject to suspension under Wis. 07(1)(b)3. The ordinance was most recently amended in 2018, File No. 11-1008.
Violations & Fines
A first social-host violation within 30 months forfeits up to $500.00 plus court costs; a second or subsequent violation in the same 30-month window forfeits up to $1,000.00 plus costs. All violations occurring at the same event count as a single violation for lookback purposes, and a licensed alcohol seller found liable also risks having that Wisconsin license suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be fined if I wasn't home during the party?
Does it matter whether I bought the alcohol myself?
What's the penalty for a repeat social-host violation in Wausau?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
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Loud Party Ordinance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marathon County handle loud party ordinance.