Operating Regulations for Recycling, Salvaging or Towing Vehicles.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 93-45
in effect93-45. Operating Regulations for Recycling, Salvaging or Towing Vehicles.
1. LICENSE STICKERS AND SIGNAGE. a. Each motor vehicle used by a licensed recycling, salvaging or towing business shall have affixed to it, in a prominent place, a sticker issued by the city clerk with the words “recycling, salvaging or towing” stamped on it. Whenever a sticker has been defaced, lost, stolen or destroyed, the licensee shall immediately apply to the city clerk for a duplicate sticker. A request for a duplicate sticker shall be accompanied by the fee specified in s. 81-1-4.
b. Each motor vehicle used for business purposes by a licensed recycling, salvaging or towing business shall bear identifying signs printed or affixed to both sides of the vehicle. Identifying signs shall include the name of the business or person operating the vehicle, a valid telephone number for the business or person operating the vehicle, and the phrase, “RST License No.” together with the number of the license, all located in a prominent position in letters not less than 2 inches in height. Except for a tow truck performing non-consensual towing, a commercial motor vehicle bearing a U.S. department of transportation number filed and registered with the federal motor carrier safety administration shall be exempt from the signage requirements of this paragraph.
c. Photographs of vehicles and signage shall be submitted to the city clerk in the following manner:
c-1. If not already on file, one or more photographs of each motor vehicle used in the business of recycling, salvaging or towing shall be submitted to the city clerk in a form and manner acceptable to the city clerk prior to issuance of a license.
c-2. Photographs submitted to the city clerk under this paragraph shall clearly display all elements of signage required under par. b.
c-3. Changes in signage and replacement photographs shall be subject to reporting as provided in s. 93-29, and failure to provide required photographs may be considered upon application for renewal or in suspension or revocation proceedings, as provided in s. 93-25-4.
2. CARRYING BY OPERATORS. An operator of a vehicle licensed under this chapter shall at all times carry the license on his or her person or post the license in the vehicle while engaged in activities related to recycling, salvaging or towing, and shall present the license for inspection upon request made by any person.
3. NOT TO CREATE NUISANCE.
a. No goods or materials associated with recycling, salvaging or towing vehicles shall be stored, sorted, assembled, disassembled, displayed or otherwise kept on any public right-of-way, public street, alley, sidewalk, or public parking area. All goods and materials shall be kept within a building, enclosure or site approved on a licensee’s application.
b. No person shall store salvage materials on any residential premises or vacant lot in a residential zoning district.
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/CH93.pdf#page=11Fetched: 10/26/2026