Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Milwaukee Cannot Enforce Residency Requirement

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court says Milwaukee can no longer enforce its residency requirement.

The court ruled 5-2 on Thursday that Milwaukee's long-standing requirement that its public workers also live in the city is subject to a state law barring such restrictions.

The ruling Thursday reverses a state appeals court decision that said Milwaukee's residency requirement could not be superceded by a state law passed in 2013.

That law prohibits local governments from enforcing any residency requirements beyond requiring police and firefighters to live within 15 miles of the government unit.

Milwaukee has required its more than 7,000 employees to live within the city boundaries for more than 75 years.

The lawsuit challenging Milwaukee's refusal to abide by the law was brought by unions representing police and firefighters in the city.