Excavation Fees and Deposits.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 115-7
in effect115-7. Excavation Fees and Deposits.
1. PERMIT FEES. No permit shall be issued to any person other than city forces except upon payment of the excavation permit fees required in s. 81-50, and the deposit fees required in sub. 3.
2. INSPECTION FEES. See s. 81-50-5 for the fees required for inspection services, or the exemptions therefrom, for each excavation permit.
3. DEPOSITS. a. Public utilities owned or operated by a municipality shall be billed for the cost of restoration of the public way or public place and all installations and facilities thereon on each permit after such restoration is completed. If payment is not made within 30 days after the issuance of the bill, no further permit shall be issued to such utility until after such bill or bills are paid.
b. All other persons shall deposit a sum estimated as sufficient to pay the cost of restoration of the public way or public place and all installation and facilities thereon in accordance with a schedule provided by the commissioner. After the repair is made, if the actual cost exceeds the deposit, such person will be billed for the balance. If the actual cost is Work On Public Ways less than the deposit, the excess shall be refunded. Any person failing to pay any bill issued under this section within 30 days after its issuance shall not be granted any additional permits until such bill is paid.
c. If any person shall file with the commissioner satisfactory proof that he has paid or contracted with a reputable person for restoration, the commissioner may at his discretion accept the same in lieu of the aforesaid deposits for restoring the public way or public place.
d. Whenever during an installation in a public way or public place, it becomes necessary to construct, reconstruct, alter, remove or protect any structure and/or facility owned by the city, such work shall be done at the expense of the applicant for such permit and under the direction and supervision of the commissioner. The commissioner may require a deposit to cover such cost. After the work is done, if the actual cost exceeds the deposit, such person will be billed for the balance. If the actual cost is less than the deposit, the excess shall be refunded. Any person failing to pay any bill issued under this section within 30 days after its issuance shall not be granted any additional permits until such bill is paid. This section shall specifically exclude interim wood poles under jurisdiction and control of the city, which may be relocated at no cost to the applicant when such pole is in direct conflict with a proposed driveway. Applications for removal of a pole in close proximity to a driveway or for convenience shall not be deemed a direct conflict.
4. EMERGENCY SERVICES. In addition to the fees and deposits hereinbefore set forth, any person who fails to keep the location for which the permit is issued in a safe condition at any time shall be billed for any emergency work performed by city forces in order to make the location safe. If such person fails to pay any such charge within 30 days after being billed for the same, no further permits shall be granted until the same is 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/CH115.pdf#page=5Fetched: 10/26/2026