Handyman services in
Wauwatosa, WI
Elmbrook Handyman helps homeowners and property managers in Wauwatosa with professional home repair, maintenance, and improvement projects. Whether you are handling a punch list, getting a property ready for move in, or taking care of overdue fixes, our team focuses on clear communication, clean workmanship, and practical solutions that move the project forward. This page also includes official Wauwatosa homeowner resources so you can quickly find permit guidance, collection schedules, seasonal notices, and helpful local information.
Services we offer in Wauwatosa
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Electrical
Outlets, switches, light fixtures, ceiling fans, GFCI installs, and dimmer upgrades
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Plumbing
Faucets, toilets, shut-offs, supply lines, garbage disposals, and minor leak repairs
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Doors
Install, repair, or adjust interior and exterior doors, plus hardware and weatherstripping
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Exterior
Siding repairs, caulking, gutter cleaning, wood rot, fascia, and window trim
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Home Decor
Shelving, mirrors, artwork, curtain rods, blinds, and fixture installs
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Smart Home
Thermostats, smart locks, video doorbells, security cameras, and smart lighting
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Furniture Assembly
Flat-pack and ready-to-assemble furniture, office setups, and entertainment centers
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Carpentry
Trim, baseboards, crown molding, built-ins, shelving, and custom repairs
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Appliances
Install, swap, connect, and secure dishwashers, microwaves, dryers, and more
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Home Theater
TV mounting, soundbars, cable management, projectors, and component installs
Wauwatosa Homeowner Resources
Garbage, recycling, and yard waste Collection
Wauwatosa is served by the City of Wauwatosa Department of Public Works (DPW) Collection Services. Use the disclosures below for collection schedules, set-out rules, accepted materials, and contacts.
Garbage collection
Garbage is collected weekly on your assigned collection day, in the City-issued cart with the black lid. The City will not collect items left outside the cart or a cart whose lid can’t close.
Set-out rules
- Set the cart out by 7:00 AM on your collection day.
- Best placement is on the driveway apron if you have a driveway; if you’re alley-serviced, place the cart a few feet away from the garage so the truck’s arm has room to grab it safely.
- Leave at least 3 feet of clearance around the cart, with the lid opening facing the street or alley.
- Keep the cart accessible — if it’s blocked by cars, snow, or other items, it may not be collected.
- Put materials loosely in the cart so it can empty properly.
If the cart is missed
- If your cart wasn’t out or accessible when the truck came, the City charges a $25 return trip fee for a second pickup.
- Call 414-471-8422 or email DPW to arrange a return trip; the fee is payable online after it’s confirmed.
Excess garbage
- Confirm nothing belongs in recycling first, then schedule a paid special collection, or bring excess to the Drop Off Center.
Quick links
- Garbage collection (official page)
- Collection Services hub
- Find my assigned collection day
- Submit a service request
- Waste Wizard (look up any item)
Call 414-471-8422 or email dpw@wauwatosa.net
Recycling collection
Recycling is collected every other week (the week opposite yard waste), in the City-issued cart with the yellow lid. Because it alternates weeks, a missed pickup is one of the most common resident mix-ups — confirm your week with the address-based lookup.
Set-out rules
- Set the cart out by 7:00 AM on your collection day, lid opening facing the street or alley.
- Leave at least 3 feet of clearance around the cart.
- Keep the cart accessible — not blocked by parked vehicles, snow piles, or other obstacles.
What's accepted
- Plastics marked #1, #2, or #5, paper, glass, cardboard, and aluminum cans, plus other materials covered in the City’s printable guide.
- Rinse containers before recycling — the City’s guidance is “don’t recycle it until it’s clean.”
- Unsure about a specific item? Use the Waste Wizard tool to look it up.
Extra cart
- Submit an online service request and search “Extra Cart” to request an additional recycling cart.
The same $25 return trip fee applies if a recycling cart is missed because it wasn’t out or accessible.
Quick links
- Recycling collection (official page)
- Find my assigned collection day
- Waste Wizard (look up any item)
- Report a missed pickup or request an extra cart
Call 414-471-8422 or email dpw@wauwatosa.net
Yard waste & seasonal pickups
Yard waste is collected curbside on the week opposite your recycling week. The 2026 season runs April 27 through September 25, 2026. Outside the season, use the Drop Off Center.
Containers and weight limits
- Official City yard waste cart (bright green lid): up to 200 lbs.
- Your own container or bundled brush: up to 50 lbs per container or bundle.
- If using your own container, mark it “Yard Waste” or “Yard Materials” with letters at least 2 inches high on three sides — do not mark an official City cart.
- Metal containers and wheelbarrows are not allowed at the curb; paper or lawn bags are fine.
- Bundle brush with string or twine — no wire or plastic.
- Maximum 10 containers, bags, or bundles per collection day.
Not collected as yard waste
- Grass clippings, dirt or soil (except plant residue), mulch, sod, root balls, vegetables, and stumps.
- Branches over 6 inches in diameter, or bundles longer than 4 feet or over 50 lbs.
- Yard waste in plastic bags.
Excess yard waste
- For large, unbundled brush, call 414-471-8422 to arrange pickup (a fee applies).
- Or bring it to the Drop Off Center for $5 per load.
Fall leaf collection
- Curbside leaf pickup is available for all residential properties. You may begin raking leaves to the street as early as Monday, October 12, 2026.
- The final rake-out date varies by neighborhood and weather — check the City’s Interactive Leaf Collection Map for your area.
- Branches and other woody material are not collected at the curb during leaf season — bring them to the Drop Off Center ($5/load) or arrange a paid special collection.
- If your street is being paved or repaired, wait until the final asphalt coat is applied before raking leaves into the street.
Drop Off Center (year-round option)
- Location: 11100 W. Walnut Road — enter on 113th Street off Watertown Plank Road (not the Mayfair Road entrance).
- Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM (call ahead to confirm, and note the Center is closed on select City holidays, such as July 4, 2026).
- A valid Wisconsin driver’s license with your current Wauwatosa address is required to enter or purchase a permit.
- Accepts recyclables, residential garbage (including bulky items, mattresses, and box springs), clean fill under 1 cubic yard, construction debris and untreated lumber scraps, yard waste, appliances, electronics, TVs, and tires.
- Fees: yard waste and recycling/scrap metal $5/load; refuse and construction debris $10–$90 depending on load; large appliances $30 each; tires $5–$10 each; TVs $30–$45 each.
- An Annual Yard Waste Only Permit is available for $20/calendar year (covers brush, branches, logs, leaves, and soft plant material only — not garbage or recycling).
Quick links
Permits and home improvement guidelines
Wauwatosa handles permits and inspections through the City's Building & Safety Division. If your project involves exterior changes, structural work, or trades like electrical, plumbing, or HVAC, confirm permit requirements early — it's the best way to avoid rework, plan-review delays, or inspection rescheduling.
Does my project need a permit?
A building permit is typically required for new construction, additions, altering living space, or structural repairs and modifications — things like finishing a basement, remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, or adding or removing walls. Additional permits may also be required for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work; both homeowners and contractors can apply, but all permitted work is subject to required inspections.
Generally does NOT require a building permit
- Storage sheds, playhouses, or accessory structures 100 sq ft or smaller and 12 ft or shorter.
- Re-roofing or re-siding, unless it alters the original architectural style.
- Replacement doors or windows, unless structural modifications are needed or the style is altered.
Even permit-exempt work must still meet building and zoning code — confirm before starting.
Fees
- Plan review fees run $50–$500 depending on the plan type; inspection fees vary by project (per unit, flat fee, per $1,000 of value, or per square foot).
Apply online
- Applications go through the City’s self-service portal — upload your plans (PDF) and a recent land survey, then pay the application fee.
Quick links
Plan prep & inspections
Project-specific guidance
The Building & Safety Division publishes dedicated guidance for common projects: decks, garages & storage sheds, pools, re-roofing/re-siding/window replacement, and residential fences. Exterior work is reviewed by the Design Review Board (commercial properties) or through staff review (residential properties).
Zoning Verification Letter
- If you need written confirmation of a property’s zoning, apply through the Self Service portal.
- Fee: $175. Typically completed within about 2 weeks of submission and payment.
Permit counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.
Common questions the City addresses directly
- What to do if your contractor didn’t obtain a permit, and whether you can do the work yourself versus hiring a licensed contractor.
- Whether a permit is needed for a basement rec room, fence, re-roof, re-side, storage shed, water heater replacement, or window replacement.
- What permits a kitchen remodel typically requires, and whether small jobs (exterior light fixtures, faucet replacement, a new dishwasher, a hot tub) need one.
- How to handle disclosure on a real estate condition report if work was done without permits.
- Downspout and sump pump discharge permit questions, and whether solar panel installation needs a permit.
Quick links
Historic district properties
Wauwatosa’s Historic Preservation Commission, created in 1995 under Title 24 of the Municipal Code, designates historic properties, sites, and districts and serves as the design review board for locally designated historic properties. If your property is locally designated, exterior changes are reviewed by the Commission.
Preservation of Properties (PoP) Awards
- Presented annually in May at a Common Council meeting during Historic Preservation Month.
- Eligible properties must be 50 years or older, with improvements completed within 5 years of nomination.
Quick links
Right-of-way: curb access, dumpsters & driveways
If a project involves deliveries, staging, or a dumpster near the street, sidewalk, or alley, contact DPW ahead of time to confirm any placement requirements for your address.
Curb painting program (protect driveway access)
- Optional program, at the property owner’s expense, that applies yellow epoxy paint to both sides of a driveway approach to help protect access.
- Apply by April 30 for painting that same year; one application per fee, and property owners may not paint the curb themselves.
- City ordinance already prohibits parking within 4 feet of an alley, private road, or driveway entrance.
- Apply through the Curb Painting Application to the Engineering Division at City Hall.
Quick links
Seasonal Services and City Notices
The City of Wauwatosa publishes seasonal service updates and official notices throughout the year. The disclosures below cover snow response and winter parking, holiday-related collection changes, and city notices — useful when planning projects that depend on street access, deliveries, or staging.
Snow operations & winter parking
Overnight parking
- Vehicles may not be parked on any street or municipal lot between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM, including holidays and weekends.
- Overnight parking permission can be requested online (not accepted after 3:00 AM on the date needed) and is limited to guests, stalled vehicles, or vehicles affected by a construction project blocking off-street parking. Maximum 15 nights per vehicle per year.
- During a declared Snow Emergency, there is no street parking at all, and any existing overnight permissions are void.
Snow & ice removal duties
- Property owners must clear snow and ice from public sidewalks and multi-use paths adjacent to their property (at least 5 feet of the typical 10–12-foot path width), plus adjacent bus stops, within 24 hours after snow stops falling.
- Commercial properties and residential properties with 5+ units must clear the entire width of adjacent multi-use paths.
- If not cleared, the City will do the work and bill the owner a $100 dispatch fee plus $0.25 per linear foot.
- Shovel to the right so plow trucks can keep working, and keep a 3x3-foot area clear around fire hydrants on your block.
During a storm
- Garbage and recycling are still collected on the regular day regardless of weather — don’t place carts on sidewalks or snowdrifts, and keep them far enough from the curb or alley to avoid being buried or struck by plows.
- Report downed trees or limbs on a structure, on a utility line, or blocking traffic immediately, along with any flooding or sewer backups.
Quick links
City notices & service updates
- The City posts current notices, service updates, and seasonal announcements on its News page — useful for confirming holiday closures, service changes, and active projects before scheduling deliveries or exterior work.
- The Drop Off Center is closed on select City holidays each year (for example, Saturday, July 4, 2026) — check before planning a trip.
Quick links
Holiday collection changes
- Garbage and recycling schedules can shift around City holidays — the Waste Wizard and collection-day lookup tools are the most accurate way to confirm your current schedule.
- The City posts Christmas tree curb collection details each winter (2026 collection info is on the City’s news page).
Quick links
Community and Local Information
A quick hub for Wauwatosa community resources, City meetings, and local contacts — useful when planning projects that affect street access, parking, or neighborhood timing.
City services & service requests
Wauwatosa doesn’t run a dedicated 311 line. For most city questions, missed collection, potholes, street lights, sidewalk issues, and more, call DPW at 414-471-8422 and they’ll connect you with the right staff member, or submit a request online. The online portal is not for emergencies and isn’t monitored after hours.
For a water emergency such as a main break, call 414-471-8480.
Quick links
City meetings, agendas & calendars
Wauwatosa’s official meeting portal hosts agendas, minutes, and calendars for the Common Council, Committee of the Whole, Financial Affairs, Community Affairs, Government Affairs, Transportation Affairs, Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Design Review Boards, and Board of Public Works. These meetings often cover zoning changes, permits, public works projects, and neighborhood topics homeowners may want to track.
Quick links
Neighborhood association & library
Wauwatosa Neighborhood Association Council (Tosa NAC)
- Citywide umbrella group supporting 33 individual neighborhood associations.
- Offers a biweekly eBlast newsletter, community events (Tosa’s All-City Read, All-City Cribbage Tournament, Wauwatosa Christkindl Markt), and programs like Tosa Connects, NAC Safety Liaisons, and NAC Senior Ambassadors.
- Use their “Find Your Neighborhood” tool to locate your specific association.
Wauwatosa Public Library
- Address: 7635 W. North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
- Phone: 414-471-8484 (Circulation ext. 2, Adult Info ext. 3, Children’s Info ext. 4)
- Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–8 PM, Fri 9 AM–5 PM, Sat 9 AM–1 PM, closed Sunday.
- The Library and City Hall are currently mid-remodel — hours or access may shift during construction, so confirm before visiting.
Quick links
Public safety & non-emergency contacts
- For emergencies, call 911.
- For non-emergency police questions, call the Wauwatosa Police Department: 414-471-8430.
- To submit an anonymous tip, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-771-8672.
- Address: 1700 N. 116th St, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. Patrol Services operates 24/7; the front desk is open Mon–Fri, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM, and Records is open Mon–Fri, 7:00 AM–3:00 PM.
Quick links
Planning a project in Wauwatosa?
Ready to get that project off the list? Elmbrook works with Wauwatosa homeowners and property managers on repairs and improvements of every size — locally operated, easy to schedule.