Wausau, WI Special Events & Permits: Parklets (2026)
Key Facts
- Per-block limit
- Not more than two Parklets per block
- Operating season
- May 1 through October 31 each year
- Issuing authority
- City Clerk, approved by Public Works Director
- Eligible business
- Full-service restaurant, food >50% of receipts
- Building permit
- Not required for Parklet installation
- Late removal
- City removes and bills cost after Oct. 31
Summary
Wausau caps street-side parklets, platforms built into on-street parking spaces for restaurant seating, at two per block and only during the May 1 to October 31 warm-weather window. A full-service restaurant needs a City Clerk permit approved by the Director of Public Works and Utilities before installing one under Municipal Code § 12.44.070.
The Common Council further finds that because of the need to balance these competing needs, approval of Parklets will necessarily need to be limited to not more than two per block. ... (4)Parklet means a platform that is located in the parking lane of a street, is at the same level as the abutting sidewalk, and is intended to provide additional space and amenities for the adjacent full-service restaurant and its patrons. ... (d)Duration of permit. A permit is valid only for the period of May 1, to October 31, of the calendar year in which it is issued. The permit automatically expires on October 31, at 11:59 p.m. each year.
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
070 lets the Common Council authorize Parklets, defined as platforms set into the parking lane at sidewalk level, so full-service restaurants (establishments where patrons order and are served seated, then pay after eating) can add outdoor dining space. Because the city must balance parklet space against public parking for other retailers, approval is capped at not more than two Parklets per block, with "block" meaning the distance between two consecutive intersections. 010(a), and a site plan meeting the city's Parklet Policy. The Director of Public Works and Utilities approves the permit, which stands in place of an ordinary street privilege permit, and may attach additional conditions for public health and safety. 020. on October 31; no building permit is required to install one, and a permit cannot be transferred between businesses or owners.
Violations & Fines
A Parklet left in place past 11:59 p.m. on October 31 is removed by the City, and the reasonable cost of removal, storage, or disposal is charged to the permit holder or any co-applicant. A permit may be suspended or revoked under § 5.63.100 for noncompliance with conditions. An applicant denied a permit, or given conditions they object to, can appeal to the Public Health and Safety Committee, which makes a recommendation to the Common Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many parklets can one block in Wausau have?
Can any restaurant in Wausau install a parklet?
What happens if a Wausau parklet isn't taken down by November?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
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