Rothschild, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Single-family cap
- 4 adult dogs/cats combined, max 3 of either
- Multifamily cap
- 2 adult dogs/cats combined, max 2 of either
- Kennel-licensed premises
- exempt from the numeric cap
- Service animals
- not counted toward either limit
- General penalty
- up to $50 forfeiture or 15 days jail
Summary
Rothschild limits pet ownership to four adult dogs and/or cats combined per single-family home and two adult dogs and/or cats combined per multifamily unit, unless the property is licensed as a kennel. Village Code § 195-12 excludes service animals under the ADA and Wis. Stat. § 106.52(1)(fm) from the count.
A. No more than four adult animals per household, with a combination of three adult dogs and/or three adult cats, shall be kept in or upon one single-family residential unit or by one or more persons constituting one residential unit, unless the premises is licensed as a kennel, except that service animals pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and § 106.52(1)(fm), Wis. Stats., shall not be counted towards these numbers. ... B. No more than two adult animals per multifamily residence, with a combination of two adult dogs and/or two adult cats, shall be kept in or upon one multifamily family residential unit or by one or more persons constituting one residential unit, unless the premises is licensed as a kennel, except that service animals pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and § 106.52(1)(fm), Wis. Stats., shall not be counted towards these numbers.
Full Breakdown
Village Code § 195-12 sets Rothschild's pet caps by housing type rather than by address. A single-family residential unit, or the group of people who make up one residential unit, may keep no more than four adult dogs and cats combined, with no more than three of either species alone; a multifamily unit is held to two adult dogs and cats combined, with no more than two of either species. Both caps yield to a Village kennel license, which lets a property exceed the numeric limits under Chapter 195's separate kennel-licensing rules.
Service animals recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Wis. 52(1)(fm) are carved out of both counts entirely, so a household is not penalized for housing a service animal on top of its ordinary pets. ' Chapter 195 imposes no separate license or registration purely for owning pets within these limits; the numeric cap is the operative rule, enforced through complaint-driven code enforcement. Owners disputing a related kennel-license denial or revocation can appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 60 days under Chapter 195's kennel-licensing provisions.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 195 sets no dedicated fine for exceeding the pet-limit numbers in § 195-12, so a violation falls under the Animal chapter's general penalty in § 195-27: a forfeiture of up to $50 per offense plus the cost of prosecution, with imprisonment in the county jail for up to 15 days in lieu of paying the forfeiture and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I have in Rothschild?
Do service animals count toward the pet limit?
Can I keep more animals if I get a kennel license?
What is the penalty for having too many pets in Rothschild?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rothschild
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marathon County handle pet limits.