Waukesha County, WI Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Waukesha County regulates dangerous animals by individual conduct, not breed, under Division 2 of Chapter 14, adopted under Wis. 54(6). The Department of Parks and Land Use's Environmental Health Manager (the "Administrative Officer") investigates reports arising from the county's rabies control program and, on reasonable grounds, issues a written determination and order declaring an animal "Dangerous" (Sec. 14-456). A Dangerous Animal must stay in a secure enclosure on the owner's property; off-property it must ride in a secure carrier or be under direct control, muzzled and restrained by a chain rated at a minimum 300-pound tensile strength (Sec.

14-457(a)). Within 30 days the owner must document liability insurance covering injuries the animal causes, implant a microchip, provide a current color photo, and meet any case-specific conditions the Administrative Officer sets (Sec. 14-457(b)). An owner who instead surrenders the animal must prove euthanasia or report the new owner's name, address and microchip data at least 24 hours before transfer (Sec. 14-457(c)). A "Prohibited Dangerous Animal," defined to include any animal already declared dangerous elsewhere, trained for fighting, subject to destruction under Wis. 02(3), or one that inflicted severe bodily harm or death, is barred from the county entirely and must be euthanized or removed within 30 days (Sec.

14-458(a)-(b)). Owners may contest either declaration by filing a written objection within 30 days for administrative review under Sec. 18-154; pending that review, the animal is held under the Dangerous Animal conditions (Sec. 14-456(d), 14-458(c)). Sec. 14-459 exempts on-duty police canines and injuries sustained by someone committing a crime, trespassing, or provoking the animal.