Wausau, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base limit
- 2 dogs and/or 3 cats per household
- With permit
- Up to 5 combined, max 4 dogs/4 cats
- Permit
- City Clerk pet fancier permit, expires Dec. 31
- Penalty
- $75 to $275 escalating forfeiture
- Exempt
- ADA service animals, WPD K-9 dogs
Summary
Wausau caps ordinary households at two dogs and three cats over five months old under Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.120(a), but a City Clerk "pet fancier" permit raises the ceiling to five combined animals, capped at four dogs and four cats, in single- or two-family homes that pass an inspection.
(a)No more than two dogs and/or three cats, over the age of five months, shall be kept in or upon one residential unit or by one or more persons constituting one residential unit.(b)Pet fancier permit. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), it shall be lawful to keep not more than five dogs or cats combined, with the maximum number of dogs being four, the maximum number of cats being four, over the age of five months, in a single or two-family dwelling unit if the owner or keeper complies with all of the following requirements:(1)Applies for and obtains a pet fancier's permit issued by the City Clerk.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
The base limit applies per residential unit: no more than two dogs and/or three cats over five months of age. 120(b) allows up to five dogs and cats combined, with a hard cap of four dogs and four cats, in a single- or two-family dwelling. 010(a), proves current licensing and rabies compliance for every covered animal, and shows no chapter violations in the prior two years and no cruelty, neglect, or mistreatment conviction. 140 and stay open to inspection by City personnel at any time; only one pet fancier permit may issue per dwelling unit, it must be posted on-site, and it expires every December 31.
200, with the Public Health and Safety Committee acting as the hearing body. Service animals recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Wausau Police Department K-9 or therapy dogs are exempt from the numeric limit entirely.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more animals than the base limit without a pet fancier permit is enforced by the Wausau Humane Officer. Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.270(b) sets escalating forfeitures for § 8.08.120 violations: $75.00 for a first offense, $125.00 for a second, and $275.00 plus costs for a third or subsequent violation, on top of any pet fancier permit denial or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I own in Wausau without a permit?
How do I get permission to keep more pets?
What is the maximum even with a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
Compare Wausau to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marathon County handle pet limits.