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Disputing a City Tow in Milwaukee: Ticket, Night and Winter Rules, Refund

Answers taken from the rules Towed in Milwaukee uses. Each one gives its official source and the date that source was checked. Which rules apply depends on the facts of each tow; the tool asks about them. Rules current as of October 13, 2026.

We are not a law firm, and we are not your lawyer. This website gives general information and self-help forms that you choose and fill in yourself; it does not give legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Deadlines can end your rights.

How is a City of Milwaukee parking ticket or tow disputed, and by when?

The City's Parking Citations page says a ticket is disputed online (with the citation and plate numbers) within 65 calendar days of issuance, and that within 65 days of the citation date or 10 days from the online decision letter, whichever is later, a new hearing in Milwaukee Municipal Court may be scheduled in person at a Violations Bureau location; missing those dates may result in a default judgment. Its Tow Lot page says the legality of a City tow can be reviewed by calling the Parking Citation Review Manager at 414-286-5085.

Source: City of Milwaukee, Parking Citations; Tow Lot · Checked on October 13, 2026

What does a City tow in Milwaukee cost, and when is it refunded?

For a City tow to the secure impound lot, the reclamation charge is $150 and storage is $25 a day. The car is released on payment of all reclamation charges and proper identification. A notice telling the owner where the car is, how to reclaim it, and that a review before the city attorney is available is mailed to the last known address within 72 hours after the tow.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-25-1-b · Checked on October 13, 2026

If the ticket the tow was based on is released by the chief of police, or by the city attorney after a review, or the charge is dismissed by the court, the City must release the car without the reclamation charges and refund any reclamation or removal charges already paid.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-25-2 · Checked on October 13, 2026

When the City moves a car to a place other than the impound lot (for example for street sweeping, a special event or construction), the car must be immediately retrievable by the owner, the removal charge is no more than $150, and when practical a notice explaining how to find the car is posted near where it was.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-25-1-c · Checked on October 13, 2026

What do Milwaukee's night and winter parking rules say?

No car may park on a City street from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. without a night parking permit (or the City's temporary night parking permission). Cars parked with a permit go on the even-numbered side on nights with an even date and on the odd-numbered side on nights with an odd date (the date before midnight), unless the street is excepted or allows parking on one side only. The rule does not apply on Sunday mornings or on the mornings of and after listed holidays, and up to 90 minutes is allowed in the block of a City-licensed business open at that hour. No car may stay in one place on a street for more than 24 hours.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-27-1, 2, 3, 7 · Checked on October 13, 2026

From December 1 to March 1, night parking permits do not cover through highways or streets with a bus route after 8 p.m. (except snow route tow-away zones and listed exceptions). The City's page says these streets are not individually posted (it lists them online and on a map), and that streets where night parking is allowed on both sides from March 1 to December 1 switch to alternate side parking from December 1 to March 1.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-27-8; City of Milwaukee, Parking Regulations · Checked on October 13, 2026

During a snow emergency declared by the Commissioner of Public Works, no one may park on a street marked with temporary No Parking signs. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., no one may park on a bus route or a through highway (unless it is designated for night parking), and on other streets cars park on the even-numbered side on nights with an even date and on the odd-numbered side on nights with an odd date (the date before midnight). The ordinance says the emergency lasts until plowing is declared complete; the City's page says 72 hours or until plowing is declared complete, if earlier.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-26; City of Milwaukee, Parking Regulations · Checked on October 13, 2026

The City's winter parking page says vehicles not parked in compliance with winter parking rules during the winter season are ticketed $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second, and $150 and tow-eligible for a third or later. The City's citation table lists night parking $25, wrong side $30 and winter night parking $35, each rising by $5, $10 and $15 after 14, 28 and 58 days unpaid.

Source: City of Milwaukee, Parking Regulations; Types and Costs of Parking Citations · Checked on October 13, 2026

When can the City tow a car in Milwaukee for unpaid tickets?

A parking enforcer may tow a car, legally or illegally parked on a street or a City parking facility, whose owner has 5 or more parking tickets more than 60 days old that are neither paid nor scheduled for court, once the City has mailed at least one notice listing them. To get the car back, the owner pays the towing and storage charges and pays, or schedules court for, the counted tickets. The City's page says this began January 1, 2026, and that an active payment plan removes tow eligibility within 3 business days after the first payment and the administrative fee.

Source: Milwaukee Code § 101-25.7; City of Milwaukee, Parking Citations · Checked on October 13, 2026

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