Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 755 — MUNICIPAL COURT
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 755.045 (2026)

Jurisdiction

✓ current as of July 2026
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755.045755.045 Jurisdiction.
755.045(1)(1) A municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction over an action in which a municipality seeks to impose forfeitures for violations of municipal ordinances of the municipality that operates the court, except as follows:
755.045(1)(a)(a) If the action is transferred under s. 800.035 (5) (c) or 800.05 (3) to a court of record.
755.045(1)(b)(b) If equitable relief is demanded the plaintiff shall bring the action in a court of record.
755.045(1)(c)(c) Whenever the municipal court of a 1st class city in any county having a population of 750,000 or more is not in session, the circuit court has concurrent jurisdiction to hear municipal court cases.
755.045(2)(2) A municipal judge may issue civil warrants to enforce matters which are under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, as provided in ch. 800. Municipal judges are also authorized to issue inspection warrants under s. 66.0119.
755.045(3)(3) A municipal judge may order the payment of restitution for violations of ordinances that prohibit conduct that is the same as or similar to conduct prohibited by state statute punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. The judge shall use the restitution procedure under s. 800.093.
755.045 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 187 s. 94; 1977 c. 305; Stats. 1977 s. 755.045; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (17); 1985 a. 179; 1989 a. 261; 1991 a. 40; 1999 a. 150; 2009 a. 402; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case: State v. Christopher John Kerr, 913 N.W.2d 787 (Wis. 2018).
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State v. Christopher John Kerr, 913 N.W.2d 787 (Wis. 2018). · cites it 8× “§ 755.045 , a "municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction over an action in which a municipality seeks to impose forfeitures for violations of municipal ordinances of the municipality that operates the court .”
City of Milwaukee v. Wroten, 466 N.W.2d 861 (Wis. 1991). · cites it 8× “[3] Further, the statutes, sec. 755.045, Stats., [4] distinguishes municipal courts from all other courts, because *215 municipal courts, with exceptions for transfer to circuit court, have exclusive jurisdiction over actions to impose forfeitures for ordinance violations.”
City of Milwaukee v. Kilgore, 532 N.W.2d 690 (Wis. 1995). · cites it 3× “800 suspensions; (2) under sec. 755.045, Stats., 5 municipal courts are without jurisdiction to suspend drivers' licenses because jurisdiction is exclusive to actions and proceedings arising under municipal ordinances; (3) ch.”
City of Sun Prairie v. Davis, 595 N.W.2d 635 (Wis. 1999). · cites it 3× “" § 755.045(1). Along with this exclusive jurisdiction over civil forfeiture actions for municipal ordinance violations, the legislature authorized municipal courts to issue civil warrants to enforce issues *756 under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, § 755.”
City of Cedarburg v. Ries B. Hansen, 2020 WI 11 (Wis. 2020). · cites it 2× “§ 755.045(1) further provides that municipal courts have "exclusive jurisdiction" to enforce their ordinances.”
City of Kenosha v. Jensen, 516 N.W.2d 4 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “Section 755.045(l)(a), STATS., implicitly refers to circuit courts as "court[s] of record.”
City of Milwaukee v. Kilgore, 517 N.W.2d 689 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 7× “; (2) § 755.045, Stats., defines municipal court jurisdiction and provides no authority to suspend drivers' licenses; and (3) the legislature, by "enacting § 800.”
City of Cedarburg v. Ries B. Hansen, 2020 WI 11 (Wis. 2020). · cites it 2× “§ 755.045(1) further provides that municipal courts have "exclusive jurisdiction" to enforce their ordinances.”
Hass v. Wisconsin, 241 F. Supp. 2d 922 (E.D. Wis. 2003). · cites it 6× “VII, § 14; Wis. Stat. § 755.045 (1). State law empowers them to enter default judgments, Wis.”
Peter C. Tharp v. Vill. of Roberts (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 4× “§ 755.045(1). 14 No. 2021AP2209 A municipal court created under WIS.”
Mullen v. City of Racine (E.D. Wis. 2023). · cites it 4× “0425 does not address or involve subject matter jurisdiction and it is improper for the Mullens to argue the merits of the case because the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction.”
Trewhella v. Fiedler, 517 N.W.2d 689 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 6× “; (2) § 755.045, STATS., defines municipal court jurisdiction and provides no authority to suspend drivers' licenses; and (3) the legislature, by "enacting § 800.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Wis. Stat. § 755.045(1) — 6 cases
State v. Christopher John Kerr, 913 N.W.2d 787 (Wis. 2018). “§ 755.045 , a "municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction over an action in which a municipality seeks to impose forfeitures for violations of municipal ordinances of the municipality that operates the court .”
City of Cedarburg v. Ries B. Hansen, 2020 WI 11 (Wis. 2020). “§ 755.045(1) further provides that municipal courts have "exclusive jurisdiction" to enforce their ordinances.”
City of Sun Prairie v. Davis, 595 N.W.2d 635 (Wis. 1999). “" § 755.045(1). Along with this exclusive jurisdiction over civil forfeiture actions for municipal ordinance violations, the legislature authorized municipal courts to issue civil warrants to enforce issues *756 under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, § 755.”
City of Cedarburg v. Ries B. Hansen, 2020 WI 11 (Wis. 2020). “§ 755.045(1) further provides that municipal courts have "exclusive jurisdiction" to enforce their ordinances.”
Peter C. Tharp v. Vill. of Roberts (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 755.045(1). 14 No. 2021AP2209 A municipal court created under WIS.”
— Wis. Stat. § 755.045(2) — 1 case
City of Sun Prairie v. Davis, 595 N.W.2d 635 (Wis. 1999). “" § 755.045(1). Along with this exclusive jurisdiction over civil forfeiture actions for municipal ordinance violations, the legislature authorized municipal courts to issue civil warrants to enforce issues *756 under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, § 755.”
— Wis. Stat. § 755.045(3) — 1 case
City of Sun Prairie v. Davis, 595 N.W.2d 635 (Wis. 1999). “" § 755.045(1). Along with this exclusive jurisdiction over civil forfeiture actions for municipal ordinance violations, the legislature authorized municipal courts to issue civil warrants to enforce issues *756 under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, § 755.”
— Wis. Stat. § 755.045(l)(a) — 1 case
City of Kenosha v. Jensen, 516 N.W.2d 4 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994). “Section 755.045(l)(a), STATS., implicitly refers to circuit courts as "court[s] of record.”
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