Milwaukee County, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County pet limit
- None; set by municipality
- City of Milwaukee limit
- 4 dogs/cats/rabbits over 5 months
- Fifth animal
- Fancier permit, 1-2 family only
- Multiple-dwelling units
- No fancier permit allowed
- Fancier permit
- Annual fee + mandatory inspection
Summary
Milwaukee County sets no countywide pet limit. In the City of Milwaukee, Code 78-5 caps a household at four dogs, cats or rabbits over five months old; a fifth is allowed in a single- or two-family unit only with an animal fancier permit, never in a multiple-dwelling unit.
No person may keep, harbor, shelter or possess at any time more than 4 rabbits, dogs or cats or any combination thereof which are over the age of 5 months unless the person holds a valid animal fancier permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Milwaukee County imposes no pet-number limit; limits are municipal. City of Milwaukee Code 78-5 provides that no person may keep more than four rabbits, dogs or cats, or any combination, over the age of five months, unless holding a valid animal fancier permit. In single- and two-family units, a fifth animal may reside if the owner or tenant holds a fancier permit from the Department of Neighborhood Services; fancier permits are not allowed in multiple-dwelling units. The permit carries an annual fee and a mandatory property inspection. Because the limit is a municipal choice, other Milwaukee County cities may set different caps, so residents outside the City of Milwaukee should confirm their own ordinance. There is no county-level pet limit.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the four-animal limit without a valid fancier permit, or keeping a fifth animal in a multiple-dwelling unit where such permits are barred, violates City of Milwaukee Code 78-5. Police or Neighborhood Services may cite and require fewer animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pets can I have in the City of Milwaukee?
Does Milwaukee County have a pet limit?
What is an animal fancier permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee County
Compare Milwaukee County to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
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