Vision Triangles.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 105-71
in effect105-71. Vision Triangles.
1. STANDARDS. a. Vision Triangles Established. Vision triangles at grade intersections of streets, streets and alleys and streets and access drives shall be as established in s. 295-405-1-g.
b. Objects Within Vision Triangle. Opaque fences and other opaque objects, such as but not limited to coniferous trees and shrubs and utility boxes, located in the vision triangle shall not exceed 3 feet in height. Semi-opaque and open fences and other semi-opaque objects, such as but not limited to deciduous trees and shrubs, sign and utility poles, traffic standards, and masonry fence piers not exceeding 16 inches in width shall be permitted if they are sufficiently transparent to ensure vehicular and pedestrian safety. Any bushes, hedges, fences, trees or other obstructions, except those permitted as stated in this paragraph, located within the vision triangle are declared to be public nuisances.
d. Within the area established by the vision setback line and the highway lot lines, there shall be no bushes, hedges, fences, trees or other obstructions, except natural lot grade and legally parked vehicles, with a height of more than 3 feet above the elevation of the center of the street, alley or street and alley intersection, excepting necessary highway and traffic signs, public utility lines and open fences through which there is clear vision, and excepting that tall trees shall be permitted in such areas, provided that the lowest branches shall not be lower than 5 feet above the elevation of the center of the intersections, and excepting further that the provisions of this section shall not apply where the building and zoning code permits a principal use building to occupy the area described above. Any bushes, hedges, fences, trees or other obstructions, except those permitted as stated above, located within the area established by the vision setback line and the highway lot lines are hereby declared to be public nuisances.
2. DEFINITIONS. The definitions contained in s. 340.01, Wis. Stats., shall apply to this section.
3. INVESTIGATION. Investigation of violations of this section shall be conducted by the police department.
4. VIOLATIONS. Whenever the safety commission shall find that any bushes, hedges,fences, trees or other obstructions growing or located upon private premises are a public nuisance as defined in this section, or endanger the life, health, safety or property of the public, the commission shall notify the owner or agent in writing or by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city that the nuisance must be removed or otherwise abated as directed in the notice within the time specified, which shall not be less than 10 days, unless the commission shall determine that immediate correction or removal is necessary for the public safety. With respect to fences, the commission shall inform the commissioner of neighborhood services and he or she shall proceed according to the provisions of subch. 3, ch. 200.
5. APPEALS. Appeals relating to violations of sub. 1 and subsequent notification to remove or abate nuisances pursuant to sub. 4 may be made to the administrative review appeals board, pursuant to s. 320-11.
6. COMPLIANCE. If the owner of such premises or his agent shall refuse or neglect to comply with the notice within the time specified, the commissioner of public works, with respect to bushes, hedges and trees, shall cause the nuisance to be removed or otherwise abated at the expense of the owner of the land whereon the same is located.
7. COST ASSESSMENTS. The commissioner of public works shall keep a strict account of the labor expended upon such work and the cost thereof and make a report to the comptroller monthly on the first of each month for each district in the city, stating and certifying the description of the lots, parts of lots, or parcels of land, in front or rear of, or upon which such work shall have been done, and the comptroller shall at the time of making his annual report to the common council of lots or parcels of land subject to a special tax or assessment include therein the said lots or parcels so reported to him by said commissioner of public works with the aggregate amount chargeable thereto according to such report and such amounts shall be levied on the lots or parcels of land respectively to which they are so chargeable in like manner as other special taxes are levied in said city.
8. INTERFERENCE. No person, corporation or association shall prevent, delay or interfere with the employees of the department of public works in the investigation of alleged violations of this section and in the removal of any nuisances as defined in this section herein.
9. PENALTY. Any person, firm or corporation, or any agent or employee thereof, who violates this section shall, upon being found guilty thereof, be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $20 nor more than $100, together with the costs and disbursements of prosecution, and in default of payment thereof, be imprisoned in the county jail or house of correction of Milwaukee county until such fine, costs and disbursements are paid, such imprisonment not to exceed more than 30 days.
10. APPLICABILITY. The provisions of this section shall apply to all presently existing uses of property.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH105.pdf#page=22Fetched: 10/26/2026