Milwaukee allows up to four hens (no roosters) per household with a $35 annual Keeping of Fowl license from the Department of Neighborhood Services. Goats and livestock are prohibited.
Milwaukee Code Chapter 78 permits residents to keep up to four hens with a Keeping of Fowl license. Applicants must submit a site plan showing coop location at least 25 feet from any neighboring residence, attend a one-time training session on backyard poultry, and pay the $35 annual fee. Roosters are banned. Coops must be enclosed, raccoon-proof, and kept clean to prevent odors and pests. Goats, pigs, cattle, and horses are prohibited in the city. Beekeeping is allowed with a separate permit and follows Wisconsin Stat. 95.55 for hive registration and best practices.
Unpermitted fowl or rooster-keeping is a $150 to $500 citation with 10 days to remove the animals.
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See how Milwaukee's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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