Livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep are allowed under zoning, not a county-wide animal rule. In Waukesha County's unincorporated towns, county zoning under Wis. Stat. 59.69 designates agricultural districts where livestock is permitted; cities and villages set their own limits. Farm operations get nuisance protection under right-to-farm law
Whether you can keep livestock depends on the zoning district of your parcel. Waukesha County zones the unincorporated towns that have adopted county zoning under Wis. Stat. 59.69, and agricultural districts there allow livestock subject to acreage and setback standards. Inside cities and villages (Waukesha, Brookfield, New Berlin), the municipality's own zoning controls, and most residential districts prohibit hoofed livestock. Legitimate agricultural operations are shielded from nuisance suits by Wisconsin's right-to-farm law, Wis. Stat. 823.08, when the use pre-dated the complaining neighbor and poses no substantial threat to health or safety. Confirm minimum lot size, animal-unit limits, and setbacks with your municipality's zoning office before keeping livestock.
Zoning enforcement by the municipality: citations, daily forfeitures, and orders to remove animals from districts where they are not permitted. Amounts set locally.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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