Handyman services in
Whitefish Bay, WI
Elmbrook Handyman helps homeowners and property managers in Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay homeowner resources so you can quickly find permit guidance, collection schedules, seasonal notices, and helpful local information.
Services we offer in Whitefish Bay
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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
Whitefish Bay Homeowner Resources
Garbage, recycling, and yard waste Collection
Whitefish Bay is served by the Village of Whitefish Bay's automated refuse and recycling program, run through Public Works/Engineering. Use the disclosures below for collection schedules, set-out rules, accepted materials, and contacts.
Garbage collection
Refuse is collected weekly through the Village's automated refuse and recycling program. Your refuse day stays the same week to week and matches your recycling day — confirm your exact day on the official route map.
Set-out rules
- Carts may be placed out after 6:00 PM the night before pickup.
- Have your cart at the curb by 7:00 AM on your pickup day.
- Return carts to storage by 8:00 PM on pickup day.
Cart placement rules that prevent missed pickup
- Use Village carts only — refuse goes in the gray refuse cart, lid closed.
- Place carts on the parkway, driveway apron, or outside the alley garage.
- Cart should open toward the street or alley, with the handle toward the house.
- Keep carts within 3 feet of the curb, and at least 3 feet apart from other carts and obstructions (cars, trees, poles, etc.).
- Put all household waste inside the cart — don’t set loose bags next to the cart unless it qualifies as a scheduled special pickup.
Special & bulky item pickups
- Free structural item pickup: for non-domestic structural items that don’t fit in the cart (for example, a chair), up to 4 ft × 4 ft × 7 ft. No call-in needed — place the item next to the gray refuse cart on your normal collection day, with 3 feet of clearance from the cart.
- Paid special pickup: base fee $45, for larger non-domestic waste, domestic waste outside the cart (bags), and other approved special pickups. Pay at Village Hall (in person, mail, or drop box); scheduling requires at least 24 hours’ notice.
- Oversized loads beyond the listed size limits can be billed at $45 plus additional time and assessed charges.
Items not allowed in the refuse cart
- Grass clippings, contractor waste, and Styrofoam peanuts.
- Paint: only dried latex paint is accepted — remove the lid and set the dried can(s) next to the gray cart. All other paint and hazardous materials require an approved hazardous waste option.
Need an extra cart?
- Additional refuse carts can be purchased through the Village using the official order form.
Quick links
Recycling collection
Whitefish Bay uses single-stream recycling collected every other week, on the same day as your weekly garbage pickup. The Village runs an A week / B week schedule — your route determines which weeks you’re collected.
Confirm your route and recycling week
- Use the route map to confirm your collection day and whether you’re on Route A or Route B.
- Use the recycling calendar to see which weeks are A week versus B week.
Set-out rules
- Carts may be placed out after 6:00 PM the night before pickup.
- Have your cart at the curb by 7:00 AM on pickup day.
- Return carts to storage by 8:00 PM on pickup day.
Cart placement rules that prevent missed pickup
- Put recycling in the blue recycling cart, lid closed.
- Place carts on the parkway, driveway apron, or outside the alley garage.
- Cart should open toward the street or alley, handle toward the house.
- Keep carts within 3 feet of the curb, and at least 3 feet apart from obstructions like cars, trees, poles, and mailboxes.
How to prep recyclables
- Put items loose in the cart — do not bag recyclables.
- Empty containers, no liquids or food residue.
- Keep the lid closed and don’t stack items on top.
Accepted in the blue cart
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cans (aluminum and steel)
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Paper — newspaper, office paper, mail, magazines
- Cardboard and paperboard, flattened when possible
- Food and beverage cartons, when empty
Not accepted — common contaminants
- Plastic bags and plastic film
- Styrofoam and foam packaging
- Food waste and liquids
- Batteries, electronics, and hazardous materials
- Construction and remodeling debris
If an item isn’t clearly listed as accepted in the Village’s recycling guidelines, confirm before setting it out.
Need an extra or replacement cart?
- Additional or replacement recycling carts are available through the Village’s official order form.
Quick links
Yard waste & seasonal pickups
Yard waste covers typical lawn and garden cleanup — garden plants, flowers, small plant debris, tiny branches, and thatch. It is collected weekly on your normal refuse/recycling day between April and November. Brush/branch chipping and fall leaves follow separate rules, covered below.
What’s not allowed in yard waste
- No grass clippings — crews can’t take them and the disposal site won’t accept them.
- No plastic bags.
- No contractor waste, including landscaping or construction debris created by a contractor — it will be tagged and left uncollected.
- No dirt, rocks, or other heavy materials mixed into yard waste.
How to set it out
- Place yard waste between the curb and sidewalk.
- Use sturdy paper yard waste bags or reusable containers that can be emptied.
- Containers must be 30 gallons or less; individual bags/containers must be 50 lbs or less — heavier items won’t be collected.
- Set out no earlier than 8:00 PM the night before, and by 7:00 AM on pickup day.
- Keep bags/containers at least 3 feet from your refuse and recycling carts so crews can service everything safely.
Volume limits & special pickup fees
- Up to 25 yard waste bags per pickup is standard service.
- 26–50 bags: a special pickup fee typically applies.
- More than 50 bags: higher special pickup fees may apply.
- If you have a large amount, call the Village first to confirm the correct process before setting it out.
Brush & branch chipping (separate from bagged yard waste)
- Place chipping material in the parkway between the curb and sidewalk — don’t block the sidewalk or place brush in the street.
- The Village typically begins chipping the second week of April, and there is no fixed schedule for branch collection.
- Piles larger than 5 ft × 7 ft × 20 ft require a scheduled special pickup with a minimum charge of $45.
Fall leaf season
- Leaf collection typically begins in mid-October, weather permitting, and generally runs weekly — though the Village notes there’s no fixed schedule since it depends on crew availability and leaf volume.
- During fall leaf collection, do not bag leaves — place leaves and small yard debris directly in the roadway near the curb.
- Keep leaf piles away from storm inlets; decaying leaves can clog storm sewers.
- Don’t mix branches or woody material into leaf piles — place woody material on the parkway for chipping instead.
- Yard waste crews typically continue picking up leaves until the first significant snowfall or through the first week of December.
- Schedules can shift on holiday weeks or due to operational factors — check official updates if you’re planning a large cleanup.
Quick links
Permits and home improvement guidelines
Whitefish Bay handles permits and inspections through the Village's Building Services Department. A permit must be applied for and issued before work starts — the Village notes that beginning work without required permits can result in a four-times permit fee, so it's worth confirming requirements early to avoid rework or costly delays.
Does my project need a permit?
The Village publishes an alphabetical “Do I Need a Permit?” reference covering common homeowner projects. It is not all-inclusive — if you have questions about a specific project, call Building Services at 414-962-6690.
Owner responsibility
It is the responsibility of the property owner (or their delegated agent) to obtain the correct permit(s). The property owner is wholly responsible for work performed on the property.
Common projects that typically require a permit
- Additions, remodels, and alterations (1–2 family or commercial) — various permits required; exterior modifications may also need Architectural Review Committee (ARC) approval.
- Decks and porches — building and zoning permit required.
- Fences and retaining walls — fence permit required.
- Roofing replacement, new, or tear-offs — roofing permit required (uses the Building Permit Application).
- Plumbing work (new, remodel, replacement) — plumbing permit required.
- Electrical work, including car chargers and generators — electrical permit required.
- HVAC work (furnace, boiler, heat pump, ductwork, exhaust fans) — HVAC permit required; electrical permit often required too.
- Pools, spas, and hot tubs — building and electrical permits required; ARC approval may also apply.
- Demolition (any structure) — demolition/raze permit required.
- Right-of-way work — driveway aprons or any work in the public right-of-way needs a separate ROW permit (see the right-of-way disclosure below).
This is a partial list — use the full alphabetical guide below to check your specific project, including items like sheds, water heaters, sump pumps, signs, and window replacement.
Quick links
Plan prep & inspections
What to have ready when you apply
- Property address and a clear project description.
- Contractor information, if applicable.
- The correct permit form for your trade (building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fence, etc.).
- If a survey or site plan is required, property surveys for many addresses are available through the Milwaukee County GIS Plat of Survey Search.
Scheduling an inspection
- Call office staff Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM to schedule.
- Allow up to 48 hours for inspections to be scheduled.
- Inspection windows: 7–8 AM, 10–11:30 AM, and 1:30–3:00 PM, Monday–Friday.
- If you can’t be present, inspectors can enter via lock box or open door — pets must be secured.
- Don’t schedule an inspection if only a minor will be present at the home.
If you’re not sure what’s required
Call Building Services first, especially for projects that combine multiple trades (for example, a bathroom remodel that may involve building, plumbing, electrical, and ventilation permits).
Quick links
Right-of-way: dumpsters, sidewalks, driveways
Projects that touch the street, sidewalk, parkway, or alley can require separate approvals beyond your building permit.
Dumpsters
- Placement on the parkway is not allowed.
- Street placement requires a permit and a permit fee.
- Placement on private property (driveway, front yard, etc.) still requires a permit, but no permit fee applies.
- See the dumpster permit application for the current fee schedule.
Driveway aprons & work in the right-of-way
- Driveway apron work or any construction/placement of objects within the Village right-of-way requires a right-of-way (ROW) permit.
- Contact Building Services at 414-962-6690, ext. 6531 with questions on scope or documentation.
Quick links
Seasonal Services and City Notices
Whitefish Bay posts seasonal updates, service changes, and time-sensitive notices in a few official places. The disclosures below cover winter parking and snow operations, plus where to check for general Village alerts — useful when planning projects that depend on street access, deliveries, or staging.
Snow operations & winter parking
Winter overnight parking
- Overnight parking is prohibited between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM without a permit or permission.
- Alternate-side parking: park on the even-numbered side of the street on an even calendar date, and the odd-numbered side on an odd calendar date, before midnight (unless an exemption applies).
- Free nightly permission: each license plate gets 25 free parking nights per calendar year; requests are limited to 5 nights per submission.
- Monthly overnight permits: available to Whitefish Bay residents for $30/month ($15 if purchased after the 15th of the month); vehicles must still be moved once every 24 hours.
- Subscribe to Notify Me → Snow Emergency Notices for the fastest way to catch snow emergency announcements.
Snow removal that affects your project or property
- Residents are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the public sidewalk adjacent to their property, within 24 hours after snow has stopped falling.
- Village ordinance prohibits pushing, piling, blowing, or shoveling snow onto the public street or alley.
- Keep refuse/recycling carts within about 3 feet of the curb or alley edge; during snow events, use a cleared driveway apron or cleared parkway rather than the street, since carts in the street can interfere with plowing and automated pickup.
- Plowing priority: main thoroughfares first, then streets near schools, then residential streets and alleys. Driveway approaches may get snow pushed back in during plowing — that’s a normal part of street clearing.
- The Village uses a low-salt approach with limited salting on secondary streets, mainly at intersections, due to storage limits and environmental concerns.
Quick links
City notices, alerts & road conditions
The Village posts updates, closures, and time-sensitive notices in a few different places, depending on urgency:
- News Flash — best for general updates like Village Hall closures, seasonal collection changes, and Public Works announcements.
- Alert Center — best for time-sensitive notices and emergencies that need immediate attention.
- Notify Me — subscribe by email or text to specific topic lists, including Snow Emergency Notices.
For road conditions and closures specifically, check the Streets page, which covers snow removal, street lights, traffic signals, and right-of-way permits.
Quick links
Community and Local Information
A quick hub for Whitefish Bay Village contacts, meetings, and local resources — useful when planning projects that affect street access, permits, or neighborhood timing.
Village Hall, bill pay & service requests
Village Hall
- Address: 5300 N. Marlborough Dr., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- Not sure which department handles your question? Use the Staff Directory to reach the right department directly.
Pay bills, taxes & citations online
- Utility bills (water/sewer), current-year property tax payments, and parking/municipal/traffic citations are all handled through the Village’s Online Payments hub.
- Confirm fees and processing methods on the official payment pages before submitting, especially for time-sensitive bills.
Rules, maps & property lookup
- Village Code and Ordinances — the official reference for property rules, parking restrictions, snow requirements, and zoning.
- Common Ordinance Violations — a plain-language guide to what typically triggers complaints and enforcement.
- Village Maps — street, ward, zoning, and parcel map PDFs.
- GIS Property Viewer — an interactive property lookup tool.
Quick links
Village meetings, agendas & calendars
- Use the Agenda Center for Village Board and committee meeting agendas, minutes, and packets — the most reliable way to confirm meeting dates and what’s being discussed.
- Use the Village Calendar for events and general scheduling.
Quick links
Library & school district
- The Whitefish Bay Public Library site has hours, programs, and local resources.
- The Whitefish Bay School District site is the official source for district calendars and communications, and also runs the Recreation and Community Education Department’s recreational and educational programs for residents.
Quick links
Public safety & non-emergency contacts
- For emergencies, call 911.
- For non-emergency police services, call 414-351-9900.
- Police Department main line: 414-962-3830 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; after 4:00 PM, call the administrative number to check whether clerical staff is available).
- Address: 5300 N. Marlborough Dr., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217.
Quick links
Planning a project in Whitefish Bay?
Ready to get that project off the list? Elmbrook works with Whitefish Bay homeowners and property managers on repairs and improvements of every size — locally operated, easy to schedule.