Sun Prairie, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog/cat limit
- 2 dogs + 2 cats
- Single-species cap
- 3 dogs or 3 cats
- Applies to
- each residential unit
- Workaround
- kennel license via city clerk
- First offense fine
- $25 to $100
- Repeat offense fine
- $50 to $200
Summary
Sun Prairie caps household pets at two dogs and two cats, or three animals of a single species, per residential unit under Code § 6.04.060(E). Anyone who wants to keep more must first license the property as a kennel through the city clerk's office.
E.Number of Dogs and Cats Limited. In order to protect the public health and public sanitation, no more than two dogs and two cats or three animals (three dogs or three cats) of any one of the two species, shall be kept in or upon one residential unit or by one or more persons constituting one residential unit, unless the premises be licensed as a kennel.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 71).
Full Breakdown
060(E) sets the cap 'in order to protect the public health and public sanitation': no more than two dogs and two cats, or three animals of any one of those two species (three dogs or three cats), may be kept in or upon one residential unit or by the persons constituting one residential unit. 030(B) makes available for a fee set in the city's fee schedule, provided the operator supplies rabies vaccination evidence for dogs over five months old when the common council requires it.
060(A). 055, requiring its own special use permit and annual license, so it does not count toward or substitute for the two-dog/two-cat limit. 060 covers 'restrictions on keeping of dogs, cats, fowl and other animals,' an officer investigating an unrelated nuisance complaint, such as barking or running at large, can also cite an owner found to be over the pet limit at the same address.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the household pet limit without a kennel license is enforced under § 6.04.220(C), which applies to violations of §§ 6.04.060 through 6.04.140: a forfeiture of $25 to $100 for a first violation, rising to $50 to $200 for a subsequent violation. The city attorney may also seek a court injunction to force compliance if the excess animals remain on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I own in Sun Prairie?
Can I get more pets by applying for a kennel license?
Does the pet limit apply per person or per household?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sun Prairie
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle pet limits.