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Environmental Health and
Nuisance Control Sections
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The Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) environmental health and nuisance sections deal with situations related to the use of land or a building that may impact the health of neighbors and the community. They deal with inspectional services from Asbestos removal to Zoologicals in pool water. Among the primary services they deal with are nuisance garbage in yards, noise & light pollution, dangerous or nuisance animals, asbestos removal monitoring, pool inspection and licensing for animals.
For Environmental Health issues check our list arranged by topic. DNS Environmental Topical List.
Listing of ALL DNS ISSUES BY TOPIC
WASTE TIRE 2005 TRANSPORTER LIST
The following services are offered only to City of Milwaukee residents:
ANIMAL CONTROL
Various Animal control activities including licensing dog and cats, reporting dangerous animals dog and cats at large, farm animals in the city, pet shops and fanciers. Animal Bites, Dog/Cat Licensing, Animal Fancier, Animal Noise, Wild Animal Capture, Dangerous Animals, Dogs/Cats running at large and littering, Farm Animals in the City, Pet Shops, Pet Grooming, Kennels, Stables, Animal Keeper Fees and Prohibited Dangerous Animals Wild/Exotic Animals brought into the City
Action to take for Animal Bites.pdf-A guide to help determine the best course of action after an animal bite. Test your knowledge of rabies and how to avoid a greater risk of becoming infected.
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ANIMAL BITES
(excluding birds, reptiles, or small rodents)
Any time an animal, residing in the City of Milwaukee, bites or scratches resulting in the skin being broken, the bite/scratch should be reported to the Department of Neighborhood Services at 286-2268. After normal business hours, contact the Milwaukee Police Department 933-4444. The person reporting the bite/scratch should have the following information available:
Address of Animal, Name and Phone Number of Animal Owner (if known)
Name, Address, Age and Phone Number of Victim
Location of Wound (i.e. hand, leg, face, etc.)
Circumstances surrounding the bite/scratch
Once the inspector receives the bite report, a visit will be made to the animal owner's home. The animal will be quarantined in the home for 10-14 days starting the date of the bite. After this period of time, the inspector will release the animal from quarantine by making another visit to the animal owner's home. At each visit, the animal must be observed by the inspector. During a quarantine period, no animal shall be taken for walks, left unattended outdoors, or be allowed to leave its premises for any reason. All animals are normally quarantined in their home unless the owner requests that the animal be taken to MADACC for quarantine, the animal was loose at the time of bite and apprehended by either the Police, Humane Officers or Health Officers, or the animal's owner does not obey quarantine restrictions and this is brought to the Department of Neighborhood Service's attention.
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ANIMAL FANCIER
Any complaints regarding the number of animal residing in a dwelling unit can be sent to the Department of Neighborhood Services' Environmental Health and Nuisance Control Section at 286-2268.
No more than 3 adult dogs and/or cats are allowed in any one dwelling unit. In single and 2-family dwelling units, a fourth or fifth dog and/or cat can reside if the owner/tenant has an animal fancier permit obtained through our office. There is a cost to obtain the Fancier Permit and an annual inspection of the dwelling unit is required. More frequent inspections may be allowed on a complaint basis. Animal fancier permits are not allowed in multiple dwelling units. Anyone violating this will be subject to prosecution. For a current list of fees for animals, go to www.city.milwaukee.gov/animalfees
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BARKING DOGS OR OTHER ANIMAL NOISES
All animal noise complaints should be referred to the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS). A letter stating the animal's address, the complainant's name, address and phone number and a general description of the problem must be sent to DNS–Nuisance and Environmental Health Division, 4001 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221. After the DNS verifies both addresses, a warning letter will be typed. The letter will be mailed to the animal owner’s home along with literature and a copy of the applicable ordinance. The landlord will also be notified if necessary. The complainant will then be sent a follow-up letter informing him/her of what was sent to the animal owner along with a petition for commencement of prosecution. If the noise problem continues after the complainant receives the petition, the complainant must document dates and times that it is occurring and return it to DNS. He/she should also try to get at least one person from another household, who is bothered by the noise, to sign the petition. Once DNS receives the petition a citation will be issued. A CITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNLESS THE COMPLAINANT IS WILLING TO APPEAR IN COURT. To make further complaints call DNS at 286-2268.
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PROHIBITED AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS (s. 78-23)
Any animal which, when unprovoked, bites or inflicts bodily harm on a person, domestic pet or animal on public or private property can be declared dangerous. Any animal which chases or approaches a person in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack without provocation upon the streets, sidewalks or any public grounds or on private property without the permission of the owner or person in lawful control of the property can be declared dangerous. An animal with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, to cause injury to, or to otherwise threaten the safety of humans or other domestic pets or animals can be declared dangerous. (An animal shall not be deemed dangerous if it bites defending its owner or caretaker, protecting its young or another animal, defends itself against any person or animal which has tormented, assaulted or abused it, or is defending it's owner or caretaker's property against trespassers.) When an animal has been declared dangerous by the Department of Neighborhood Services, a Dangerous Animal Order will be issued to the animal owner or caretaker. Within 7 days, the owner has two options: 1) to comply with Sections 78-23-1 through 7 and 10 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances, or 2) have the animal destroyed by MADACC or a licensed veterinarian as pursuant to Section 78-23-11 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances. Sections 78-23-1 through 7 and 10 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are as follows: Whenever an owner or caretaker wishes to contest an order, he or she shall, within 72 hours after receipt of the order, deliver to DNS a written objection to the order. The Department of Neighborhood Services then convenes the dangerous animal hearing panel.
Special rules for owners of pit bulls and ROTTWEILER have recently been exacted in the City of Milwaukee. Learn more about this ordinance here ->Pit bull Brochure DNS-360.pdf
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DOG/CAT LICENSING
All dogs and cats over the age of 5 months, residing in the City of Milwaukee, must be licensed annually. Lack of a dog/cat license for your pet could result in you receiving a citation for each unlicensed pet. Anyone interested in obtaining a dog/cat license should call the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) 414-649-8640. For a current list of fees for animals, go to www.city.milwaukee.gov/animalfees
Dog and Cat License fees page.
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WILD ANIMAL OR STRAYS CAPTURE
The City no Longer performs animal capture services. All requests for capture of nuisance animals such as skunks, raccoons, stray dogs or cats, etc. should be referred to an animal control service or pest control service. Stray dogs or cats, etc. should be referred to the new Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission MADACC. It can be reached at 414-649-8640.
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DOGS/CATS RUNNING AT LARGE AND LITTERING
All complaints regarding dogs and cats running at large and littering should be phoned in to 286-2268. The exact address of the violating animal and the complainant's name, address and phone number will be needed. After the addresses have been verified by the clerk, a warning letter mailed to the animal owner's home. The complainant will then be mailed a follow-up letter and a petition for commencement of prosecution. If the problem persists after the complainant receives the petition, the complainant must document dates and time get it to DNS. He/she should try to get at least one person from another household bothered by the problem to sign the petition. Once DNS receives the petition a citation will be issued. A CITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNLESS THE COMPLAINANT IS WILLING TO APPEAR IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. To make further complaints call DNS at 286-2268.
If a stray animal is running loose at the present time, call MADACC at 649-8640 or call your local Police District.
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FARM ANIMALS IN THE CITY
The following animals are prohibited within the city either temporarily or permanently: live bees without permit, fowl, cows, cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats, chickens without permit, ducks, turkeys, geese or any other domesticated livestock. Exceptions are places approved by the Commissioner of Health for slaughtering, educational purposes, research purposes and for circuses or similar recreational events.
Information about bees that can be kept with a permit can be found on the Brochures page of Public Information for DNS. Click here-->TO GO TO BEE KEEPING PAGE. Go to the DNS SECTIONS page and then select PUBLIC INFORMATION and then BROCHURES. Scroll down to Environmental and Nuisance Section. and select DNS-309 Bee Keeping brochure.
Information about chickens that can be kept with a permit can be found on the Brochures page of Public Information for DNS. Go to the DNS SECTIONS page and then select PUBLIC INFORMATION and then BROCHURES. Scroll down to Environmental and Nuisance Section. and select DNS-361 Chicken Keeping Brochure.
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PET SHOPS, GROOMING ESTABLISHMENTS, KENNELS, STABLES
Any complaints regarding the above listed establishments should be directed to the Department of Neighborhood Services' Environmental Health and Nuisance Control Section at 286-2268. The above establishments are subject to yearly inspections, or more frequent inspections on a complaint basis. For a current list of fees for animals, go to www.city.milwaukee.gov/animalfees
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An animal that is determined to be a prohibited dangerous animal under s. 78-25 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances include:
Any animal that kills a domestic pet or animal without provocation while off of the owner or caretaker's property.
Any animal that inflicts substantial bodily harm on a person without provocation on public or private property.
Any animal brought into Milwaukee from another Wisconsin city, village, town or county in which it has been declared dangerous or vicious, has been banished from the city, village, town or county or has been ordered to be destroyed.
Any dog that is subject to being destroyed under s. 174.02(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Any dog trained, owned or harbored for the purpose of dog fighting.
When an animal has been declared a prohibited dangerous animal, a Prohibited Dangerous Animal Order will be issued on the animal owner. The animal must either be removed from the City of Milwaukee within 7 days of receipt of order or destroyed. The order may be appealed in writing within 72 hours of receipt of order to the Department of Neighborhood Services.
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WILD/EXOTIC ANIMALS BROUGHT INTO CITY
Any person wanting to bring a horse, cow, wild cat, etc. into the city for a private party, special event, petting zoo, festival, etc. shall submit in writing to the Department of Neighborhood Services' Environmental Health and Nuisance Control Section a letter providing the following information:
How will the animal(s) be brought into the City and who will bring them in?
Where is the animal(s) usually kept?
How long will the animal(s) be here?
How will the animal(s) be held?
How will they take the animal(s) back?
When is the animal to enter and leave the City Limits?
They must guarantee us that the animal(s) will have food, water and shelter. Animal(s) must be kept 100 feet from a food service area or where food is being prepared. Feces must be picked up routinely, kept in covered containers and disposed of properly. If the animal bites, the bite must be reported to Environmental Health Section of DNS and also to the jurisdiction of where the animal resides. For more information call the Department of Neighborhood Services at 286-2268.
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PEST CONTROL
The Department of Neighborhood Services can provide information, assistance and enforcement on pest issues.
COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR REGISTRATION
Any person who applies pesticides within the City of Milwaukee for profit must be registered with the Department of Neighborhood Services' Nuisance and Environmental Health Section. There is an annual registration of $55 plus a $27 late fee per person, if applicable. For more information or for a pre-application call 286-2268. Anyone caught applying pesticides in the City of Milwaukee without the City of Milwaukee's Commercial Pesticide Applicator Registration Certificate will be issued a municipal citation.
Click here and go to the FORMS page of the DNS website to download the Preapplication form for Commercial Pesticide Applicator.
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MIGRATING ROACHES
Migrating roach complaints should be directed to the Department of Neighborhood Service' Nuisance and Environmental Health Section at 286-2268. Migrating roaches are roaches seen moving from one home to another. An exact address must be given to the receptionist at the time of the complaint. The inspector will investigate and if confirmed, a one-time pesticide application will be made to the exterior of the property.
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BEDBUGS
Perhaps the most rapidly growing problem in America is the bedbug. It appears in many locations thanks to the human behaviors that help it move from location to location and its growing ability to avoid extermination. The high cost to throughly elminate it and the common mistakes the human hosts make have created a problem that requires, planning, response and prevention. Read all the details here.
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PIGEONS
All pigeon complaints should be referred to the Department of Neighborhood Services' Nuisance and Environmental Health Section at 286-2268. For information on how to prevent pigeons from roosting on your own property, an instructional pamphlet is available for city of Milwaukee residents. For neighboring problems with roosting pigeons, an exact address is needed before the inspector can investigate and if necessary issue orders to pigeon proof the home. The Department of Neighborhood Services does not abate pigeons.
PROBLEMS WITH PIGEONS?-DNS-305.pdf A review of what problems pigeons create, how they breed, roost and spread other potential problems. Contains diagrams on how to protect your property from the birds, locate bird feeders, and how to minimize their negative impact. Also included is the code about creating harborages for nuisance animals.
RATS
All complaints about exterior rat activity should be called in to the Department of Neighborhood Services at 286-2268. An exact address must be given to the receptionist at the time of the complaint. An inspector will look for active rat infestations at that location and issue an order on the property owner if an infestation is found. The order instructs the property owner to either abate the nuisance themselves or hire an exterminator. When the inspector re-inspects 7 days later, if no abatement has been started, the inspector will place bait. The inspector will continue to place bait until there is no longer any acceptance. The cost of the abatement will then be placed on the property owner's tax bill at the end of the year.
Rats on the interior will be handled by the Residential Building Code Complaint section by calling 286-2268.
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NUISANCE CONTROL
The Department of Neighborhood Services' Vector and Nuisance Control Division provides a number of services for controlling Garbage and Nuisance Vehicles.
Garbage / Rubbish Nuisances
Illegally Parked Vehicles
Nuisance Vehicles
GARBAGE/RUBBISH NUISANCES
All complaints regarding garbage lying on the ground at residential or commercial properties should be called in to the Department of Neighborhood Services' Nuisance and Environmental Health Section at 286-2268. Only exact addresses of complaints will be accepted. If you do not have the exact address, you will be asked to get it and call back or if it is a vacant lot get the address of the house next to it. The inspector will get the complaint the following day and make an inspection. Once verified an order will be issued on the property owner to abate the problem. (If any prima facie evidence is found at the time of the inspection, the persons named will receive a 24-hour emergency order to remove the debris. If they do not comply with the order, a citation for littering will be issued.) A reinspection will be conducted 7 days after the order is mailed. If the garbage has been cleaned up the order will be abated. If the garbage problem still exists, the inspector will take pictures of the problem and send them along with an inspectional copy of the order to the downtown office for placing on a bid list. Private contractors will bid on the problem properties. Once the properties are abated by the winning contractor, the cost of the abatement by the contractor along with DNS administrative fees will be placed on the property owner's tax bill at the end of the year.
For additional help see the DNS-127 brochure on dealing with litter problems in your neighborhood. This pamphlet contains helpful information about City resources that can be used to help clean up a neighborhood and nuisance related problems. The litter brochure can also be used to help form a community group that can partner with DNS to eliminate litter problems and bring tougher enforcement to bear on those who ignore warnings from the neighbors and the community.
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ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES
The parking of any vehicle on an unapproved surface on a residential property should be directed to the Department of Neighborhood Services' Nuisance and Environmental Health Section at 286-2268. Vehicles are not allowed to be parked on grass or dirt. Vehicles can only be parked on cement, asphalt, macadam surfaces or on a gravel driveway which has existed since before 1973. Any violators will be issued a 1-3 day emergency order to park the vehicle on an approved surface. At time of reinspection, if condition has not changed a municipal citation will be issued. The parking of any vehicle on residential property outside of an enclosed garage or shed is prohibited if the vehicle is not currently licensed. Any violations should be reported to 286-2268. (Any unlicensed vehicles parked in the street or alley should be referred to the DPW Tow Desk 286-8350.) Not more than 4 vehicles may be parked outside on a residential single family or duplex property at any one time. Complaints regarding this can be reported to 286-2268. Violators will be warned and prosecuted. Not more than 1 commercial vehicle may be parked on a lot in a single, 2-family or multi-family district. Such vehicle may not exceed 22 feet in length. Complaints regarding this can be reported to 286-2268. Violators will be warned and prosecuted. Not more than 1 recreational vehicle, other than motorcycles and snowmobiles, may be parked on a lot in a single, 2-family or multi-family district. Such vehicle may not exceed 22 feet in length. Complaints regarding this can be reported to 286-2268. Violators will be warned and prosecuted.
All parking complaints on public streets or alleys are handled by the DPW tow desk 286-8350.
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NUISANCE VEHICLES
Nuisance vehicles are classified as vehicles that are damaged, unsecured, partially dismantled, favorable to the harborage or rodents and insects, etc. The exact address of any nuisance vehicles on private property should be referred to the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services' Nuisance and Environmental Health Section at 286-2268. (Any nuisance vehicles located on city streets or in city alleys should be referred to the Department of Public Works at 286-8350.)
When the inspector verifies that the vehicle is a nuisance, the inspector will fill out a Report of Nuisance Vehicle. The original Nuisance Vehicle Order will be sent to the property owner and a Nuisance Vehicle Warning Notice will be sent to the vehicle owner, if known. The inspector will then place a condemned sticker on the car.
Approximately seven days later the car will be reinspected and if the vehicle's condition remains the same the inspector will (if needed reapply the sticker) and take pictures of the car. The vehicle's paperwork will then be referred to the Department of Public Works for towing. The cost of this plus DNS costs will be placed on the property owner's tax bill at the end of the year.
The owner of the property can inform the inspector immediately after receipt of the order that the vehicle has been abandoned on their property and the inspector can then fax or personally meet with the property owner and have the owner fill out an Application for Removal of Vehicle. This form must be signed and in the inspector's possession within 24 hours of receipt of the order by the property owner. This will allow the owner to have the vehicle removed free of charge if it has been abandoned on the property. The vehicle owner also has the option of sending the DNS office a check or money order and the title of the vehicle, free of liens. Contact the inspector for the current cost of this procedure. Applications for removal of a vehicle can be obtained from the inspector who issued the order and must be returned to the inspector via fax or in person within 24 hours.
If the vehicle is on private property without the property owners permission, contact the Department of Public Works TOW DESK 286-8350 and they can make arrangements to have the vehicle towed for free. The vehicle will be towed to a City lot and held for 30 days. If unclaimed, it is sold for salvage. Car owners need to contact the DPW TOWDESK 286-8350 to claim a vehicle.
DEALING WITH NUISANCE VEHICLES.pdf (DNS-14) - A comprehensive guide to identifying the criteria that make a nuisance vehicle, the process of removing them, and common questions and answers about vehicle storage, parking and numbers allowed.
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Last update 02/22/2013