Rothschild, WI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned animals
- horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, fur animals
- Scope
- Village-wide, not zoning-district-specific
- Listed exceptions
- none apply to this subsection by its text
- Last amended
- 7-28-2025
- Penalty
- up to $50 forfeiture or 15 days jail
Summary
Rothschild bans keeping chickens and other livestock-type animals, including horses, mules, ponies, donkeys, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and fur-bearing animals, anywhere in the Village under Code § 195-28D. Unlike the section's wild-animal ban, this livestock prohibition carries no listed exception for hobby farms or backyard coops.
D. It shall be unlawful for any person to bring into, keep, maintain, or have under their control within the Village any of the following domesticated or livestock type animals including horses, mules, ponies, donkeys, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and any animal raised for fur-bearing purposes.
Full Breakdown
Subsection D of § 195-28 stands apart from the wild-animal list in Subsection C: it targets ordinary farm and fowl animals, barring anyone from bringing into, keeping, maintaining or controlling horses, mules, ponies, donkeys, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, or any animal raised for fur within the Village. The prohibition is Village-wide; it is not confined to a residential zoning district, so a rural-feeling lot on the Village's edge is bound by the same rule as one downtown. Subsection E, immediately following, lists exceptions for veterinary care, agricultural fairs, 4-H Club shows or projects, judging displays and licensed educational institutions, and conditions those exceptions on zoning conformance, sanitary and escape-proof quarters, and a 100-foot buffer from any residence, but its text applies those exceptions only to 'Subsection C above,' the wild and dangerous animal ban, not to Subsection D.
Read literally, the code carves out no hobby-farm, small-flock, or 4-H exception for the chickens and livestock named in Subsection D itself, making the Village-wide ban on backyard chickens and farm animals absolute on the face of the ordinance. The chapter was last amended 7-28-2025, and Chapter 195 sets no separate license or permit path for keeping any of the Subsection D animals, unlike its kennel-licensing scheme for dogs and cats.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 195 sets no dedicated fine for keeping livestock or fowl under § 195-28D, so a violation is punished under the chapter's general penalty in § 195-27: a forfeiture of up to $50 per offense plus the cost of prosecution, with up to 15 days in the county jail in lieu of paying the forfeiture and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Rothschild?
Are there any exceptions for a small backyard flock or 4-H project?
What other animals besides chickens are banned as livestock in Rothschild?
What happens if I keep chickens in Rothschild anyway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rothschild
How Rothschild compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Rothschild to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marathon County handle chickens & livestock.