Waukesha, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

01 makes the owner or keeper of any regulated animal responsible for preventing it from running at large anywhere in the City. An animal counts as running at large whenever it is off the owner's premises and not under the owner's physical control, meaning an unleashed dog off its own property is presumptively in violation unless it falls within a narrow carve-out for City-designated dog runs. 02 adds dog-specific duties: owners must not let a dog excessively bark, yelp or howl so as to annoy a neighbor or neighborhood, must not let it deposit feces on public or private property unless immediately cleaned up, and may not tie it by a rope or chain shorter than 6 feet.

" A further carve-out lets certified border collies work off-leash at Prairie Home Cemetery and Park Department grounds specifically to disperse geese. Owners must also obtain an annual dog license once the dog reaches 5 months of age, following the state licensing process under Wis. 07, and display a valid license tag on the collar at all times except when the dog is confined indoors, in a fenced yard, in competition, or hunting. The Waukesha Police Department handles impoundment of animals found running at large, and stray dogs are held at the City's designated impoundment facility, where an owner can reclaim the dog before disposition by paying all confinement costs and complying with state requirements.