Racine County, WI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential setback
- 1,000 ft minimum
- Minimum site
- 35 acres ag-zoned land
- Permit type
- conditional use
- Applies in
- adopting towns' ag districts only
- Waste plan
- reviewed by county
Summary
Racine County permits livestock facilities as a conditional use in agricultural districts but requires at least 35 acres and a 1,000-foot buffer from any residentially zoned land.
Livestock facilities as defined herein, including livestock and poultry of all types, may be permitted as conditional uses in all agricultural districts subject to the following:
a. No livestock facility operation shall be permitted on less than thirty-five (35) acres of agriculturally-zoned land (including A-2) nor closer than one thousand (1,000) feet from any land presently zoned residential (does not include A-2 zoned parcels).
b. No accessory residence shall be permitted closer than one hundred (100) feet to the livestock facility.
c. Except as provided for waste storage structures, no part of the livestock facility operation shall be closer than one hundred (100) feet from the right-of-way line of any public road if the livestock facility will have fewer than one thousand (1,000) animal units, and one hundred fifty (150) feet if the livestock facility will have one thousand (1,000) or more animal units, nor closer than one hundred (100) feet if the livestock facility will have fewer than one thousand (1,000) animal units, and two hundred (200) feet if the livestock facility will have one thousand (1,000) or more animal units from any other lot lines of the site on which the production unit is situated. In addition the requirements below, proximity to lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, wells, bedrock and groundwater for feedlot and manure storage facility must meet NRCS standards.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
Racine County allows a livestock facility as a conditional use in the county's agricultural zoning districts, available only in unincorporated towns that have adopted county zoning under Wis. Stat. § 59.69. Any qualifying facility needs at least 35 acres of agriculturally zoned land and must sit at least 1,000 feet from land currently zoned residential, plus meet separate setbacks from public roads, wells, and property lines. Operators must file a conservation and nutrient-management plan with the county's Land Conservation Division before the county board of adjustment can approve the permit.
Violations & Fines
Building or operating a livestock facility without an approved conditional-use permit, or breaching the 1,000-foot residential setback or manure-management conditions, is a zoning violation the county can enforce and can void the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a livestock facility be to residentially zoned land in Racine County?
Does this setback apply county-wide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Racine County
How Racine County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Racine County to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
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