Waukesha, WI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

07 permits only chickens among fowl; ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea hens, pheasants and peafowl are all prohibited in the City. Keeping chickens requires a non-refundable Community Development Department permit tied to a single parcel, valid two years, with approved enclosure plans and a site plan showing distances to property lines and neighboring structures submitted before issuance. No more than one permit may issue per parcel, and permits generally cannot go to duplex or multifamily properties unless the owner occupies a unit. 02. Substantively, a parcel may keep up to four chickens, or six on parcels larger than one acre; roosters are banned outright; slaughter must happen indoors, out of public view; eggs may not be hatched; and manure must be removed regularly and disposed of in a sealed container.

Enclosures must be sturdy, fully enclosed on all sides including the top, covered with solid material or hardware cloth (chicken wire does not qualify), rodent- and predator-proof, and set back at least 25 feet from any residential dwelling on an adjacent lot unless that neighbor consents in writing. 58. 01.