Milwaukee County does not regulate backyard chickens; each municipality's zoning controls. The City of Milwaukee allows up to four hens on residential property with a permit and one-time fee, bars roosters and on-site slaughter, and requires the coop at least 25 feet from neighboring homes.
There is no countywide chicken ordinance; the 19 municipalities set their own zoning rules. The City of Milwaukee allows up to four chickens on a residential premise with a permit; permits are not issued for commercial or mixed-use property. Applicants submit a Chicken Coop Site Plan to the Department of Neighborhood Services with a one-time $35.56 fee, and abutting neighbors are notified first. Roosters are prohibited, no one may slaughter chickens on site, coops must sit at least 25 feet from adjacent homes, and not in front yards. Larger livestock is more restricted: the city bars cattle, horses, sheep, swine and goats except at Health Officer-approved places. Suburban cities set their own limits.
Keeping chickens without the permit, keeping a rooster, exceeding four hens, or slaughtering birds on site is a City of Milwaukee violation; Neighborhood Services may cite and order removal. Prohibited livestock without Health Officer approval is likewise citable.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
West Allis, WI
Animal noise in West Allis falls under the general noise ordinance §7.035 and the city's animal ordinances. Persistent barking disturbing neighbors is subjec...
West Allis, WI
West Allis regulates noise and vibration under Municipal Code §7.035. The West Allis Health Department is the primary enforcement agency; Police Department m...
West Allis, WI
West Allis regulates amplified music under the noise ordinance. Wisconsin State Fair Park events operate under separate state permits. Residential areas near...
West Allis, WI
RV and recreational vehicle parking in West Allis residential areas is governed by city zoning code. Generally one RV per lot is permitted with setback requi...
West Allis, WI
Large commercial vehicles are restricted in West Allis residential zones under city zoning code. Contact West Allis Code Enforcement for specific requirements.
West Allis, WI
West Allis requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Milwaukee County.
See how West Allis's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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