Chapter 61 — VILLAGES
50 sections in this chapter.
Wis. Stat. § 61.187 Dissolution
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61.187 Dissolution. (1) PROCEDURE. Whenever a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40, signed by at least onethird as many electors of any village as voted for village officers at the next preceding election for village officers in that village, shall be presented to t…
Wis. Stat. § 61.188 Certain villages may become cities by charter ordinance
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61.188 Certain villages may become cities by charter ordinance. Any village having a population of 1,000 or more may proceed under s. 66.0101 to organize as a city of the appropriate class. The village may by charter or charter ordinance adopted under s. 66.0101 elect not to be g…
Wis. Stat. § 61.189 Villages of 1,000 may become cities
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61.189 Villages of 1,000 may become cities. (1) Whenever the resident population of any village exceeds 1,000 as shown by the last federal census or by a census provided for under sub. (3), the village may become a 4th class city, and the trustees of the village may at a regular …
Wis. Stat. § 61.19 Annual elections; appointments
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61.19 Annual elections; appointments. At the annual spring election in each village in odd-numbered years, except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be chosen: A president, a clerk, a treasurer, an assessor if election of the assessor is provided and a constable. In villag…
Wis. Stat. § 61.191 Population, use of federal census
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61.191 Population, use of federal census. Except as provided in s. 61.189 (3), where the census of a village is required the last federal census, including a special federal census, if any, shall be used.
Wis. Stat. § 61.193 Establishing and changing compensation for elective offices
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61.193 Establishing and changing compensation for elective offices. (1) In this section, “compensation” means a salary, a per diem compensation for each day or part of a day necessarily devoted to the service of the village and the discharge of duties, or a combination of salary …
Wis. Stat. § 61.195 Discontinuance and change of term of offices
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61.195 Discontinuance and change of term of offices. Any village may proceed pursuant to s. 66.0101 to discontinue the office of marshal or constable, to change the method of selection of or tenure of any officer other than members of the village board, to consolidate any such of…
Wis. Stat. § 61.197 Selection of officers
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61.197 Selection of officers. (1) Officers other than members of the village board and municipal judges except as provided in s. 61.65, shall be selected by one of the following methods: (a) Appointment by the village president. (b) Appointment by the village president subject to…
Wis. Stat. § 61.20 Election of trustees; terms; number
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61.20 Election of trustees; terms; number. (1) Villages shall have 6 trustees, except as provided otherwise in sub. (3), whose term of office shall be 2 years, 3 of whom shall be elected each year. (3) Villages having a population of 350 or less shall have 2 trustees, who togethe…
Wis. Stat. § 61.21 Clerk to notify officers-elect; oath of office
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61.21 Clerk to notify officers-elect; oath of office. Within 5 days after the election or appointment of any village of- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 3 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. ficer the village clerk shall notify the person so selected thereof, and…
Wis. Stat. § 61.22 Official bonds; officers not to be sureties
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61.22 Official bonds; officers not to be sureties. Every bond required of a village officer shall be executed with sufficient sureties in a sum fixed by the village board when not otherwise prescribed and be approved by the president. Whenever the village board deems any bond ins…
Wis. Stat. § 61.23 Terms; temporary vacancy
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61.23 Terms; temporary vacancy. (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the term of office of all village officers is 2 years. Persons serving in appointive offices shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and qualify, unless otherwise provided by ordinance. I…
Wis. Stat. § 61.24 President
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61.24 President. The president shall be by virtue of the office a trustee and preside at all meetings of the board and have a vote as trustee, sign all ordinances, rules, bylaws, regulations, commissions, licenses and permits adopted or authorized by the board and all orders draw…
Wis. Stat. § 61.25 Clerk
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61.25 Clerk. If required to do so by the village board, the village clerk shall execute and file an official bond. If the village board does not require the clerk to execute and file an official bond, the board shall obtain a dishonesty insurance policy or other appropriate insur…
Wis. Stat. § 61.26 Treasurer
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61.26 Treasurer. The village treasurer shall: (1) If required to do so by the village board, execute and file an official bond which may be furnished by a surety company as May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 61.26 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. VILLAGES provide…
Wis. Stat. § 61.261 Deputy village treasurer
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61.261 Deputy village treasurer. The village treasurer, subject to approval by a majority of all the members of the village board, may in writing, filed in the office of the clerk, appoint a deputy who shall act under the treasurer’s direction and who during the temporary absence…
Wis. Stat. § 61.27 Assessor
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61.27 Assessor. In all villages not assessed by a county assessor the assessor shall take and file the official oath. The assessor shall begin under s. 70.10 to make an assessment of all of the property in the village liable to taxation, as prescribed by law. The assessor shall r…
Wis. Stat. § 61.28 Marshal
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61.28 Marshal. (1) If required to do so by the village board, the village marshal shall execute and file an official bond. If the village board does not require the marshal to execute and file an official bond, the board shall obtain a dishonesty insurance policy or other appropr…
Wis. Stat. § 61.29 Constable
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61.29 Constable. (1) A constable shall: (a) If required to do so by the village board, execute and file an official bond. If the village board does not require the constable to execute and file an official bond, the board shall obtain a dishonesty insurance policy or other approp…
Wis. Stat. § 61.31 Peace officers, powers
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61.31 Peace officers, powers. Every village police officer shall possess the powers, enjoy the privileges, and be subject to the liabilities conferred and imposed by law upon village marshals. History: 2009 a. 173. May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 5 Upda…
Wis. Stat. § 61.32 Village board; meeting; salaries
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61.32 Village board; meeting; salaries. The trustees of each village shall constitute a board designated the “Village Board of” (name of village) in which shall be vested all the powers of the village not specifically given some other officer. A majority of the members-elect shal…
Wis. Stat. § 61.325 Trustee may be appointed president
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61.325 Trustee may be appointed president. A village trustee shall be eligible for appointment as village president to fill an unexpired term.
Wis. Stat. § 61.327 Village trustees serving as employees
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61.327 Village trustees serving as employees. Notwithstanding s. 66.0501 (2), a trustee of a village who also serves as a village employee may be paid an hourly wage for serving as a village employee, not exceeding a total of $15,000 each year. Amounts that are paid under this se…
Wis. Stat. § 61.34 Powers of village board
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61.34 Powers of village board. (1) GENERAL GRANT. Except as otherwise provided by law, the village board shall have the management and control of the village property, finances, highways, streets, navigable waters, and the public service, and shall have power to act for the gover…
Wis. Stat. § 61.342 Direct legislation
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61.342 Direct legislation. The provisions of s. 9.20, relating to direct legislation, shall be applicable to villages. History: 1989 a. 273.
Wis. Stat. § 61.345 Recycling or resource recovery facilities
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61.345 Recycling or resource recovery facilities. A village may establish and require use of facilities for the recycling of solid waste or for the recovery of resources from solid waste as provided under s. 287.13. History: 1983 a. 27; 1989 a. 335 s. 89; 1995 a. 227.
Wis. Stat. § 61.35 Village planning
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61.35 Village planning. Section 62.23 applies to villages, and the powers and duties conferred and imposed by s. 62.23 upon mayors, councils and specified city officials are hereby conferred upon presidents, village boards, and village officials performing duties similar to the d…
Wis. Stat. § 61.351 Zoning of wetlands in shorelands
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61.351 Zoning of wetlands in shorelands. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section: Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 6 (a) “Shorelands” has the meaning specified under s. 59.692 (1) (b). (b) “Wetlands” has the meaning specified under s. 23.32 (1). (2) FILLED WETLANDS. Any wetlands which …
Wis. Stat. § 61.352 Required notice on certain approvals
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61.352 Required notice on certain approvals. (1) In this section, “wetland” has the meaning given in s. 23.32 (1). (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a village that issues a building permit or other approval for construction activity, shall give the applicant a written notic…
Wis. Stat. § 61.353 Zoning of annexed or incorporated shorelands
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61.353 Zoning of annexed or incorporated shorelands. (1) In this section: (a) “Principal building” means the main building or structure on a single lot or parcel of land and includes any attached garage or attached porch. (b) “Shorelands” has the meaning given in s. 59.692 (1) (b…
Wis. Stat. § 61.354 Construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning
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61.354 Construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning. (1) DEFINITION. As used in this section, “department” means the department of natural resources. (2) AUTHORITY TO ENACT ORDINANCE. To effect the purposes of s. 281.33 and to promote the public health, saf…
Wis. Stat. § 61.36 Streets, sidewalks, sewers and watercourses
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61.36 Streets, sidewalks, sewers and watercourses. Without limitation because of enumeration, the village board may lay out, open, change, widen or extend roads, streets, alleys, sanitary and storm sewers, water mains, parks and other public grounds, and improve, repair or discon…
Wis. Stat. § 61.39 Service pipes and sewers
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61.39 Service pipes and sewers. The provisions of s. 62.16 (2), relating to service pipes, and s. 62.18, relating to sewers, shall be applicable to villages.
Wis. Stat. § 61.44 Railroads, dust prevention
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61.44 Railroads, dust prevention. The village board may require any railroad company to cause its roadbed within the limits of the village, to a distance of one foot outside each rail, to be sprinkled with water or to be oiled in such manner as to prevent dust from arising theref…
Wis. Stat. § 61.46 Village taxes
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61.46 Village taxes. (1) GENERAL; LIMITATION. The village board shall, on or before December 15 in each year, by resolution to be entered of record, determine the amount of corporation taxes to be levied and assessed on the taxable property in such village for the current year. B…
Wis. Stat. § 61.47 Street and sidewalk improvement tax
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61.47 Street and sidewalk improvement tax. For the purpose of improving the streets, making and improving sidewalks and crosswalks and setting out shade and ornamental trees in such village, the board may levy a tax in addition to the highway tax provided for in s. 61.46 (2), and…
Wis. Stat. § 61.48 County aid for construction and repair of bridges and culverts
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61.48 County aid for construction and repair of bridges and culverts. Any village may elect to become subject to all of the provisions of s. 82.08 by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of all of the members of the village board. The election to become subject to s…
Wis. Stat. § 61.50 Ordinances; contracts; other instruments; how executed
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61.50 Ordinances; contracts; other instruments; how executed. (1) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF ORDINANCES. Every contract, conveyance, commission, license or other written instrument shall be executed on the part of the village by the president and clerk, unless otherwise provided by…
Wis. Stat. § 61.51 Auditing accounts
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61.51 Auditing accounts. (1) No account or demand against the village shall be paid until it has been audited and allowed and an order drawn on the treasurer therefor. Every such account shall be made out in items. After auditing, which, at the option of the board, may be done by…
Wis. Stat. § 61.54 Public works
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61.54 Public works. All contracts for public construction shall be let by a village board in accordance with s. 62.15. The village board, or a person or body designated by the village board, shall exercise the powers and duties of the board of public works under s. 62.15. Section…
Wis. Stat. § 61.57 Acquisition of facilities without bids
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61.57 Acquisition of facilities without bids. A village may contract for the acquisition of any element of the following without submitting the contract for bids as required under s. 61.54 if the village invites developers to submit proposals to provide a completed project and ev…
Wis. Stat. § 61.61 Village orders; borrowing money
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61.61 Village orders; borrowing money. No village or any officer thereof shall have power to issue any time or negotiable order, or borrow money, except in the manner and for the purposes expressly declared by statute.
Wis. Stat. § 61.64 Ambulance service
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61.64 Ambulance service. The village board may purchase, equip, operate and maintain ambulances and contract for ambulance service with one or more providers for conveyance of the sick or injured. The village board may determine and charge a reasonable fee for ambulance service p…
Wis. Stat. § 61.65 Police and fire departments; pension funds
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61.65 Police and fire departments; pension funds. (1) (a) Except as provided under s. 61.66, each village with a population of 5,000 or more shall, and each village with a population of under 5,000 may, provide police protection services by one of the following methods: 1. Creati…
Wis. Stat. § 61.66 Combined protective services
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61.66 Combined protective services. (1) Notwithstanding s. 61.65 (1) (a), (2) (a) and (3g) (d) 2., any village may provide police and fire protection services by any of the following: (a) A combined protective services department which is neither a police department under s. 61.6…
Wis. Stat. § 61.71 Consolidated plats; numbering of buildings
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61.71 Consolidated plats; numbering of buildings. The village board may cause a revised and consolidated plat of the lots and blocks of the village to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds, and may compel the owners and occupants of all buildings within the village t…
Wis. Stat. § 61.72 Pest and disease prevention
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61.72 Pest and disease prevention. When a village board shall appropriate money for the control of insect pests, weeds, or plant or animal diseases, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection upon request of the village board shall cooperate with the village and…
Wis. Stat. § 61.73 Village housing authorities
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61.73 Village housing authorities. The provisions of ss. VILLAGES 61.75 66.1201 to 66.1329 apply to villages, and the powers and duties conferred and imposed by ss. 66.1201 to 66.1329 upon mayors, councils and specified city officials are conferred upon presidents, village boards…
Wis. Stat. § 61.74 Detachment of farm lands from villages
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61.74 Detachment of farm lands from villages. Land of an area of 200 acres or more contiguous to the boundary of any village which has been within the corporate limits of such village for 20 years or more and which during all of said time has been used exclusively for agricultura…
Wis. Stat. § 61.75 Rewards
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61.75 Rewards. Section 62.26 (4) shall apply to villages. As used in that section: (1) “Alderpersons” means village trustees. (2) “Mayor” means village president. History: 1971 c. 116; 1983 a. 189; 1993 a. 184, 491. May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)