Security Barriers in Commercial Districts.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 252-76
in effect252-76. Security Barriers in Commercial Districts.
1. DEFINITIONS. In this section:
a. “Facade” means any exterior wall that faces a public street or streets.
b. “Security barrier” means any device intended to limit or block access to individual doors or windows on a building facade, or to an entire building facade. This term shall include, but not be limited to, window bars, fixed metal grilles, and side-mounted or overhead-mounted retractable metal security gates or grilles, regardless of whether such devices are solid or semi-transparent. It shall not include strengthened vision glass, non-glass transparent materials, electronic alarms or security cameras.
2. APPLICABILITY. This section shall not apply to any security barrier placed on the exterior or interior of the facade of any dwelling unit.
3. EXTERIOR SECURITY BARRIERS. No security barrier shall be placed on the exterior of any portion of any facade of any enclosed building located in a residential and office, neighborhood shopping, local business, commercial service, regional shopping or downtown zoning district. Any security barrier in place on the exterior of the facade of an enclosed building in one of the specified zoning districts on July 1, 1998, may remain in place until a new certificate of occupancy is issued for the premises on which the barrier is located. The security barrier shall be removed within 180 days of the date of issuance of the new certificate of occupancy.
4. INTERIOR SECURITY BARRIERS.
a. Standards. All security barriers placed on the interiors of facades of enclosed buildings located in a residential and office, neighborhood shopping, local business, commercial service, regional shopping or downtown zoning district shall conform with the following standards:
a-1. If the security barrier was manufactured to be retractable, it shall remain retracted for the duration of the building occupant’s normal business hours or hours of operation.
a-2. The opacity to light of the security barrier shall not exceed 25% at any time.
a-3. The security barrier and any associated enclosures or casings shall be of a color that matches, or painted to match, the mullion pattern or window or door surrounds.
a-4. The security barrier shall comply with all applicable regulations of the Wisconsin statutes and the Wisconsin administrative code.
b. Business Improvement Districts. Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted as precluding the board of a business improvement district created by the city from prohibiting non-retractable security barriers on the interiors of facades in the district.
5. BLOCKAGE OF DOORS OR WINDOWS. No person may replace a security barrier with any opaque materials, including but not limited to wood, masonry products and plastic-type materials, that completely and permanently block, fill in or otherwise cover up any door or window opening on any facade of a building located in a residential and office, neighborhood shopping, local business, commercial service, regional shopping or downtown zoning district. This subsection shall not apply to any boarding of structures required by s. 275-32-7 or ordered by the commissioner pursuant to this code.
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-2/CH252.pdf#page=6Fetched: 10/26/2026