Moving Buildings on Streets.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 116-19
in effect116-19. Moving Buildings on Streets.
1. LICENSE REQUIRED. No person, firm or corporation may remove or cause or permit to be removed or may aid or assist in removing any building into, along or across any street in the city without first obtaining the license therefor. Licenses shall be obtained from the commissioner of public works. No license shall be granted until the person applying shall be given a bond in the sum of $10,000 with good sufficient sureties, which shall run to the city of Milwaukee for the use and benefit of any person or persons intended to be protected thereby, and which shall be conditioned, among other things, that the person shall pay any and all damages which may happen to any tree, pavement, street or sidewalk or to any telephone pole or to any other public or private property, whether the damage shall be caused or inflicted by the person or by the person's employees or workers, and conditioned also that the person shall save and indemnify and keep harmless the city against all liabilities, judgments, damages, costs and expenses which may in any wise accrue against the city in consequence of the granting of the license or any permit hereunder. The licensee will comply with the conditions of any permit which may be issued. Upon execution of the bond and payment of the license fee provided for in s. 81-14 to the city treasurer, a license shall be issued.
2. PERMIT FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
a. Application. Whenever any licensed building mover shall desire to move any building into, along or across any street in the city, application for a permit to do so shall be made in writing to the commissioner of public works. Such application shall be signed by the owner of the building or by his authorized agent or attorney, and such application shall also be signed by the licensed mover who is to do the work. No person shall move or cause to be moved any building through any street without securing a permit therefor from the commissioner of public works. Any licensed building mover who shall remove or cause to be removed any building into, along or across any street in the city without first having secured a permit therefor, or who after securing a permit shall keep a building on any street longer than the permit calls for, or who shall use any water hydrant or concrete electric pole in any manner in the moving of buildings shall upon proof thereof be deprived of his license; and such license shall not be reissued to such person for a period of 6 months, and such penalty may be imposed for each separate offense.
b. Permit fees. See s. 81-15 for the required permit fees.
3. APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER. The commissioner of public works shall grant all permits for the moving of buildings across or along any street, and he shall have authority to refuse any permit where in his opinion the interruption to traffic or the damage which might be done to trees or other public property would not warrant the granting of such permit.
4. PENALTY. Any person violating this section shall forfeit to the city a penalty of not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each such offense, and in default of payment thereof shall be imprisoned in the house of correction or county jail of Milwaukee for a period not to exceed 60 days, or until such penalty and costs shall be paid.
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/CH116.pdf#page=4Fetched: 10/26/2026