How Accurate is the Data?
Please read the disclaimer statement before making any decision about a property. If you need certified records, contact the Microfilm Section of the Development Center at (414) 286-8207. The documents provided via the web are NOT legally binding.

The Neighborhood Services System (NSS) records on the web are compiled and used by the staff of the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS). As a service request (or complaint) comes into DNS (414) 286-2268), an operator screens the call for an appropriate response. An inspector may handle the call by phone or a field inspection may be required. The service request is logged into the NSS as it comes in. The response to it may be a few days later. If a violation is found and an order is processed, that order will appear in the violation history. As the violations are corrected, the status is updated. (See Current Status).

All open violations, service requests and permits are shown. Closed violations are shown for the past two years and closed service requests are shown for five years. Violations beyond the five year history are available at the Microfilm Section of the Development Center at (414) 286-8207. Call them for details.

The Assessor's Office assigns new taxkeys when parcel sizes change. Since NSS records are linked via the taxkey, the taxkeys on the NSS must change accordingly. Consequently, delays may occur in the ability to view all NSS records for a property if the taxkey has changed.

We strive to provide the most accurate and timely information possible. Your understanding of these limitations will enhance your ability to use this information correctly.

I can't get into NSS?
The NSS queries multiple databases in real time. As an inspector updates a record, you will see the results after he hits (Enter). The search engine we use employs conventional browser technology. We support all major current browsers.

Web TV and Java Script
Some internet access tools are not true browsers, like WEB TV. WEB TV cannot download any files, thus it is not able to process our NSS files. Users must have a conventional computer or access one at any Milwaukee Public Library. The browser used must support Java Script. Some limited early versions did not support Java Script.

IC/COLA ERROR
If you encounter this message after entering an address the system has temporarily crashed. This is caused by too many users at one time or a communications error en route. When this happens multiple people at DNS are alerted and we try to restart the system as soon as possible. If it is a more serious problem, it could last longer than five minutes. Other outages occur late at night around 11PM-3AM for the purposes of backing up the files. You typically will get a page indicating the system is being backed up and not the IC/COLA error.

The most common trouble is a mistake
When looking up an address and nothing appears, try using the lower address number if it is a duplex. If still nothing, try the One Click-Interface and use the lookup street names application. It will find the correct spelling of the street. (The system requires correct street names to work.) If still no luck, try the block range function. All the addresses on a block will appear. If it doesn't appear in the range, then it is possible it is OUTSIDE the City of Milwaukee. Check a map to see what City it is located in. Only the City of Milwaukee offers internet access to all of its property information.

GETTING STARTED IN NSS
This is the first screen you will see. Click on any item for information about it.

TAXKEY is a unique number assigned to each property by the Assessor's Office.

SINGLE ADDRESS is the way to look for information using an address. For a description of the property, see the Assessor's web site.

ADDRESS RANGE is used to get information on multiple addresses on a single street.

RECORDED LAST NAME is the way to locate a recorded owner by last name.

[Back to top of Section]

[Enter NSS]

House# numbers can range from 3 to 5 numbers. (e.g., 300, 3101, or 10501).

Street Direction must be N S E or W. (Select a choice from the drop down menu.)

Street Name is expressed the way you would normally write them (e.g., 31st, 43rd, 22nd, 50th). Also, compound names should have a space between words and drop punctuation. (e.g., Mt. Vernon is entered Mt Vernon.)

Street Type Must be 2 characters. (Only Broadway is blank.) Make a selection from the drop down menu.

The next screen will look like this. HOT TIP-If it is the wrong address or nothing is listed under the fields, use the BACK button of your browser and enter a valid address. Double check your spelling.

If 'View' is under the Ownership, Violations, Srv Requests (Service Requests) or Permits columns for an address, more detailed information is available.

Ownership is the recorded name from NSS or the Real Estate Master File information from the Assessor's Office. (See Recording Requirements to see who has to record with DNS.)

Violations is information about orders to correct building, environmental health or zoning code violations.

Srv Requests (Service Requests) is information about requests from individuals or groups for the Department to inspect or investigate a property.

Permits shows any DNS permits taken out for that address.

[Back to top of Section]

[Enter NSS]

Violation History
This is a list of the orders to correct code violations at this address. The records are in date order with the most recent on top.

Curr Distr is the inspection district currently assigned to the record. It is an internal designation which you normally would not use.

Section is the assigned DNS section.

Record Type is the type of record. The most common is "Letter."

Serial Number is a unique number given to the record. Select to view Violation Detail.

# Orig Viols is the number of violations originally cited. The number does NOT change as individual violations are corrected. A high number of violations does not necessarily indicate that the property is in poor condition.

Original Inspect Date is the date the inspection was originally made.

Compliance Date is the date the Department expects that the owner will comply with the order. This date may change if time extensions are granted. It typically does not change once the order is referred for court enforcement.

Current Status-the most common are:

Complete Abatement-Violations corrected. In some cases an inspector may abate an order if a high percentage of the serious violations are corrected and a small number of minor violations remain.

Dismissed-This is a form of closing an order. Orders can be dismissed for a variety of reasons. The status does not provide an indication of whether the individual violations were corrected.

Extended/Extension-Compliance times on orders can be extended by an inspector or supervisor or as a result of a precourt conference agreement.

Precourt-Prior to going to Court, the Department may provide an owner with an opportunity to have a Precourt Conference where the owner agrees, in writing, to a final compliance plan.

Unabated-Not corrected and not reinspected.

Final-This indicates whether status is final or not. 'Yes' indicates that the order is closed (final).

Last Status-This is the date the status was assigned.

Original Inspector-This is the name of the inspector who issued the order. It is primarily for internal use.

[Back to top of Section]

[Enter NSS]

Srv Request History
This is a list of the service requests at this address. The records are in date order with the most recent at the top.

Curr Distr is the inspection district currently assigned to the record. It is an internal designation which you normally would not use.

Section is the assigned DNS section.

Srv Request Number is a unique number assigned sequentially to Service Requests as they are received by the Department. It can be useful when there are multiple requests on the same property. Select to view Service Request Detail.

Srv Req Date is the date the request was received by the Department.

Current Status is the current status of the record. The most common statuses are:

Open-Request is pending.

Closed Verified- Investigation completed and condition referred to in the request was verified and action taken.

Closed Not Verified- Investigation completed and the Department did not verify the condition described in the request.

Closed Canceled- Individual making the request canceled it before any action was taken.

Final indicates whether status is final or not. 'Yes' indicates that the record is closed (final).

Last Status is the date that the status was assigned.

Response By is the person who answered the request. It is typically, though not always, the inspector who investigated.

Permit History
This is a list of the permits at this address. The records are in date order with the most recent on top.

Curr Distr is the inspection district currently assigned to the record. It is an internal designation which you normally would not use.

Section is the assigned section.

Permit Description is the type of permit taken out.

Permit Number is a unique number given to the permit. Select to view Permit Detail.

Permit Date is the date the permit was originally applied for, not the date the permit was approved.

Current Status:

Open-The permit has not been approved yet.

Closed-The permit is closed.

Multiple-This indicates that a single status is not available because this is a type of permit assigned to more than one section. Select "Permit Number" to view the status in each section assigned to the record.

Final-This indicates whether the status is final or not. 'Yes' indicates that the order is closed (final).

Last Status-This is the date the status was assigned.

[Back to top of Section]

[Enter NSS]

Violation Detail
This is a listing of the individual violations and their general location. The text is abbreviated and is not the actual text on the notice letter. It does, however, reflect the essence of the violation language.

[Enter NSS]

Srv Request Detail
This includes the description of the Service Request and the response. It describes the condition we were to investigate. The response typically describes what the inspector found and the action taken.

Permit Detail
This includes additional information about the permit, including the contractor name, fee, estimated cost of the job, and the status in each section assigned to the record.