Kenosha, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household limit
- 3 dogs/cats combined, age 5+ months
- Pet Fancier Permit cap
- Up to 5 animals, $35 fee
- Permit issuer
- Committee on Licenses and Permits
- General penalty
- $100-$300 forfeiture plus costs
- Permit-violation penalty
- $350-$500 forfeiture
- Exempt animals
- Accredited service/therapy dogs
Summary
Kenosha caps ownership at three dogs, cats, or a combination of the two per household once the animals pass five months old, under Code of General Ordinances Section 14.013. Owners who already keep more may continue if properly licensed and vaccinated, and a Pet Fancier Permit allows up to five animals for a $35 annual fee, while service and therapy dogs never count toward the cap.
B.Limitation. No person may own, harbor or keep in their possession, within the City, more than three (3) dogs, cats or combination thereof, over the age of five (5) months, except when they possess a Kennel License which is in full force and effect. ... D.Pet Fancier Permit. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (B), it shall be lawful to keep up to five (5) dogs, cats or combination thereof, over the age of five (5) months if the owner complies with all of the following requirements:1.Applies for and receives a pet fancier's permit from the Committee on Licenses and Permits.2.Files with the City Clerk a fully executed application on a form prescribed by the City Clerk and pays a non-refundable application permit fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11 Update 1 | Zoning Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
013 of the Code of General Ordinances declares that keeping a large number of dogs, cats or a combination on a residentially zoned lot creates noise, odor and health nuisances, and it limits any household to three dogs, cats or a combination over five months of age unless the owner holds a Kennel License. 014, which requires feces to be removed within twenty-four hours. The exemption does not let an owner replace an animal once the household drops to the three-pet limit; the burden of proving the exemption applies falls on the owner.
Owners who want more animals without a full kennel license can instead apply to the Committee on Licenses and Permits for a Pet Fancier Permit, filing an application with the City Clerk and paying a nonrefundable thirty-five-dollar fee. The permit allows up to five dogs, cats or a combination, but the applicant must show current licenses for every animal, no chapter violations in the past two years, and no conviction for cruelty, neglect or mistreatment of an animal. Permits expire every December 31 and can be revoked or not renewed for cause after a hearing before the Committee.
Working dogs, including service dogs, medical alert dogs and certified therapy dogs with proof of accreditation, are excluded from the pet-count calculation entirely, though they must still be licensed in the city.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three unlicensed pets, or breaking a Pet Fancier Permit condition, is enforced by the Humane Agent, Chief of Police or their designees. A general violation of Section 14.013 or 14.014 carries a forfeiture of $100 to $300 plus prosecution costs, while violating the Pet Fancier Permit terms under Section 14.013(D) carries a steeper forfeiture of $350 to $500. Unpaid forfeitures can mean up to thirty days in the county jail, and each day of noncompliance is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I legally keep in Kenosha?
Can I get permission to keep more than three pets?
Do service dogs count toward the three-pet limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kenosha
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