March 23, 2026
LA FARGE, Wis. — As spring cleanup season gets underway, the La Farge Police Department is reminding property owners to clear their yards of junked vehicles, appliances, and other debris or face potential enforcement actions.
The push is part of an ongoing, systematic initiative to enforce local ordinances by moving sector by sector through the village. The department aims to improve neighborhood appearance, deter crime, and protect public health while ensuring residents are not caught off guard by the rules.
Police Chief Steven Palmer emphasized that the primary objective is cooperation, not punishment. “Our goal is to give property owners a chance to correct these issues,” Palmer said.
Understanding the Ordinances Enforcement efforts will primarily focus on two areas of the village code. Under Title 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), Ordinance 10-5 restricts abandoned, junked, inoperable, unlicensed, or unregistered vehicles and appliances from being kept in public view. Palmer noted that simply having a current registration does not automatically make a vehicle compliant if it is otherwise wrecked, inoperable, or illegally stored.
Additionally, the department is enforcing Title 8 (Health and Sanitation), which prohibits the accumulation of junk, rubbish, and materials that are unsightly or could harbor insects and rodents.
What This Means for Residents Property owners who are found in violation will receive a notice from the police department and will be granted a grace period to resolve the issue. To better track these notices, monitor deadlines, and handle follow-ups, the police department recently added an administrative assistant to streamline the enforcement process.
If you receive a notice, or want to proactively address a violation on your property, there are several ways to comply:
- Repair and Register: Make necessary repairs to inoperable vehicles and ensure their registration is up to date.
- Relocate or Screen: Move the non-compliant vehicles or appliances inside a building, or properly screen them from public view using village-approved materials.
- Apply for a Permit: Residents who wish to keep one noncompliant vehicle on their property can apply for a Temporary Storage Permit. This waiver costs $50, must be applied for in person at the Village Hall, and legally allows one junked or unregistered vehicle to remain on the property for up to one year.
- Remove the Items: Dispose of the junk, appliances, or vehicles entirely.
To assist residents with the disposal of yard debris and junk, the Village of La Farge is hosting a Clean Up Day on April 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. The drop-off site will be located at the Quonset Hut on South Mill Street by Sandmire Park. The event is open exclusively to village residents, and while it serves as a great opportunity to get properties into compliance, fees will apply for certain items like tires, mattresses, and appliances. Hazardous materials, paint, and building materials will not be accepted.
While the department hopes for voluntary compliance, repeated or ignored violations will lead to formal enforcement action. Recent court-ordered abatements in the village have resulted in the forced removal of vehicles, scrap metal, and debris by hired contractors, demonstrating the severe consequences for chronic nuisance properties that refuse to comply.
Residents with questions about the ordinances, the sector enforcement map, or the permit process are encouraged to contact the La Farge Police Department at (608) 625-4500 or visit the Village Hall.
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