Enforcement.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-309
in effect295-309. Enforcement.
1. COMMISSIONER OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. The commissioner of neighborhood services shall be authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner of neighborhood services shall, on his or her own initiative or on complaint or referral, proceed to the remedy of violations.
2. PERMIT REVOCATION. Any permit issued by the commissioner of neighborhood services under the terms of this chapter may be revoked by the commissioner of neighborhood services whenever any of the conditions under which the permit was issued are not complied with.
3. PERMIT ISSUED IN ERROR. Any permit or approval granted in error or in conflict with any provision of this chapter shall be void.
4. FAILURE TO COMPLY. a. Correction of Violation. In the event of failure to comply with an order issued by the commissioner of neighborhood services to comply with any provision of this chapter, the commissioner of neighborhood services may take appropriate actions to restrain, correct or abate the violation of the order or cause the order to be carried out. The cost of restraining, correcting or abating the violation or of causing the order to be carried out shall be charged against the real estate upon which the violation is located, shall be a lien upon such real estate and shall be assessed and collected as a special charge.
b. Periodic Property Inspection Program. b-1. The commissioner of neighborhood services shall establish a periodic property inspection program to monitor properties to confirm that activities and uses of the properties are in compliance with any variance, special use or limited use, any plan of operation, landscape plan or site plan approved by the board of zoning appeals, and any conditions set forth in the written decisions of the board of zoning appeals.
b-2. Inspection intervals shall be determined by the commissioner of neighborhood services based on the nature of the business or operation and its potential for negative impacts upon the health, safety and welfare of the public and the impacts on the quality of life within the immediate neighborhood and surrounding community. The commissioner of neighborhood services reserves the right to increase inspection intervals at a property in the case of documented non-compliance.
5. REMEDY. If any structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted or maintained, or any premises is used, in violation of this chapter, the proper city officials, in addition to other remedies, may take any appropriate action to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of the premises, to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about the premises, or to petition the proper court to order the removal of any structure erected in violation of this chapter.
6. PENALTIES. Any person, firm or corporation that owns, controls or manages any premises on which there shall be placed or there exists anything in violation of this chapter, assists in the commission of any violation of this chapter, builds contrary to the plans or specifications submitted to and approved by the commissioner of neighborhood services or omits, neglects or refuses to do any act required by this chapter shall be subject to revocation of such person’s permit, certificate of occupancy or previous approval as provided in s. 200-31 and to injunction as provided in s. 200-19-3. In addition, such person shall be subject to penalties as provided in s. 200-19-1 and 2 or a code enforcement fee as provided in s. 200-33-8.8 assessed against the subject property, which may be collected and assessed as a special charge.
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/CH295-sub3.pdf#page=4Fetched: 10/26/2026