Livestock is allowed on agricultural land under the Rock County zoning ordinance (Wis. Stat. 59.69) in consenting unincorporated towns, and is generally prohibited in residential zones. Cities and villages set their own livestock limits. Right-to-farm law protects established farms.
Rock County zones the unincorporated towns that have adopted county zoning under Wis. Stat. 59.69, and agricultural districts there allow cattle, horses, hogs, and other livestock subject to acreage and setback standards. Residential and platted districts prohibit or tightly limit farm animals. Inside cities and villages, livestock is governed by municipal zoning; most residential areas allow only limited backyard hens (for example six hens per dwelling in Footville and Orfordville) and bar larger animals. Wisconsin's right-to-farm statute, Wis. Stat. 823.08, protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits once they have operated for the statutory period.
Keeping livestock in a district where it is not permitted is a zoning violation, enforced by the county in the towns or by the municipality, with abatement orders and citations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rock County, WI
Rock County encourages waste reduction and does not ban backyard composting. Wisconsin bans yard waste from landfills, so composting is favored. Nuisance con...
Rock County, WI
Rock County has no countywide ordinance regulating artificial turf. Whether synthetic grass is allowed, and any coverage or stormwater conditions, is decided...
Rock County, WI
Rock County does not ban native or naturalized landscaping, but the mandatory noxious-weed duty still applies. Near navigable water, native shoreland buffers...
Rock County, WI
Collecting rainwater is legal in Wisconsin and Rock County sets no barrier to rain barrels. There is no state permit for a basic downspout rain barrel used f...
Rock County, WI
Rock County sets no countywide lawn-watering schedule. The state does not require a permit to water a lawn or private garden. Odd/even or drought watering li...
Rock County, WI
Wisconsin law makes destroying noxious weeds mandatory statewide: every landowner must destroy Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed and other designa...
See how Rock County's livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.