Walworth County, WI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 74-44(c) of the county's pet and animal regulations opens chicken keeping to residential lots in the towns under Walworth County zoning, specifically the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-5A and C-3 zoning districts. Every chicken must be female, no roosters are allowed anywhere under this subsection, and a parcel cannot hold more than six chickens total, no matter how many dwelling units sit on it. The use is limited to single-family residences, though a legal nonconforming duplex, tri-plex or multi-family structure can also keep up to six chickens with the landlord or association's permission.

Mobile home parks are excluded entirely. The coop itself is capped at 100 square feet, must be movable, and has to sit at least ten feet from the side and rear property lines and at least 20 feet from any residence other than the one it serves. Owners must keep the birds on their own property at all times and keep the site clean, sanitary and free of excessive odor, noise or pests, while still allowing the chickens room to move freely. Towns, homeowners associations and private deed restrictions can prohibit chickens outright or impose tighter limits than the county allows.

Section 74-44(d) relaxes the count for agricultural and C-2 conservation district parcels: a new coop there can house up to 12 female chickens within the normal 100-foot livestock setback if it meets the same 100-square-foot, movable, ten-foot and 20-foot standards, and a larger coop that legally existed before November 21, 2013 can also keep up to 12 hens if it meets the same setbacks.