City Ordinances

  • Animals: The Department of Neighborhood Services has the following two informative brochures regarding animals:
    • ACTION FOR ANIMAL BITES: A guide to help determine the best course of action after an animal bite. Test your knowledge of rabies and how to avoid a greater risk of becoming infected.
    • ANIMALS-PROBLEMS OR PLEASURE: You own a cat or dog...do you know what the rules say? This brochure contains valuable information about licensing, leashing, and maintenance requirements related to most domestic animals. If you want to be legal, you'll want to read this brochure or give it to someone who has a pet.
  • Grass Cutting & Snow Removal: Check with your landlord to find out who is responsible for cutting the grass and shoveling the snow. Residents with long grass or sidewalks that have not been shoveled within 24 hours of a snowfall, could receive fines from the Department of Neighborhood Services.
  • Garbage/Waste Collection: Watch for the tags on your garbage containers that explain garbage pickup dates. Sanitation will pick up large trash items as long as items are neatly placed in the alley or at the curb and a call for service has been made at (414) 286-8282. Properties with scattered debris left in the yard or in the alley can be subject to fines from the Department of Neighborhood Services.
  • Housing Occupancy: Under the city's occupancy ordinance, no more than three unrelated individuals can live in one unit. Landlords who violate the ordinance can be fined and tenants could be forced to immediately vacate. In order to legally rent to more than three unrelated persons, the landlord has to have a rooming house license. If your landlord has rented to more than three unrelated tenants without a rooming house license, contact DNS at (414) 286-3441 or the UWM University Legal Clinic at (414) 229-4140 for assistance.
  • Street/Overnight Parking: If you live within the UWM Neighborhoods and do not have off-street parking, you may be eligible to park on the street in excess of the limits posted with a Commuter Impacted daytime permit. Daytime permits are limited to one per unit and can be obtained at the 5th District Police Station. Parking restrictions surrounding the UWM campus vary from less than one hour to three hours. Therefore, if you are a commuter and plan to be on campus for more than one class, commuter lots (UPark) are strongly recommended to avoid a parking ticket.
    • Day Parking: 2920 N. 4th Street (4th and Locust) Your driver's license and registration must match your Milwaukee address in order to prove you live in the Commuter Impacted area
    • Night Parking: Permission is required in order to park on the street. Night parking permits can also be obtained at the 5th District Police Station. If you have overnight guests who park on the street, permission may be obtained by calling (414) 286-8300 or going to www.mpw.net
  • Street Sweeping/Winter Parking: Because of the limited parking on the East Side, there are various restrictions on each street. Watch the signs carefully, particularly for winter parking regulations and street sweeping days when parking is prohibited on one side of the street. Residents can sign up for street sweeping email reminders by going to www.milwaukee.gov and clicking on E-Notify .
  • Noise: If you're having friends over, introduce yourself to your neighbors and give them your phone number in case there may be noise complaints. Generally, if noise can be heard within 50 feet, it is subject to a noise nuisance violation by the Milwaukee Police Department. Noise nuisance fines are $226. Please also review the DNS brochure on the Noise Ordinance.