Milwaukee, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Required from health commissioner
- Vaccination
- Rabies shot before sale at 5+ months
- Records
- Kept on-site 1 year, inspectable
- Species ban
- No bats, foxes, raccoons, skunks
- Sourcing
- No adoption-only requirement citywide
Summary
Milwaukee licenses pet shops rather than banning retail sales: stores need a city permit, must vaccinate dogs and cats before sale, keep year-long sale records, and cannot sell bats, foxes, raccoons, or skunks.
1. PERMIT REQUIRED. No person may operate a pet shop unless the person holds a valid permit issued by the commissioner... 3. IMMUNIZATION. No pet shop may sell or offer for sale any dog or cat 5 or more months old unless the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies by use of a vaccine currently licensed by the U.S. department of agriculture. ... 5. No pet shop may engage in the purchase, keeping, distribution or sale of any species of bats, foxes, raccoons or skunks.
Full Breakdown
Under city code, no one may operate a pet shop without a permit from the health commissioner, issued once an occupancy permit is in place and the fee in s. 60-69 is paid. Any dog or cat five months or older sold by the shop must already be rabies-vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian, with a signed certificate given to the buyer. Shops must log the source, vaccination date, sale date, and buyer's name and address for every dog and cat sold, keeping that record on-site for at least a year and open to commissioner inspection. Selling bats, foxes, raccoons, or skunks is flatly prohibited. There is no citywide ban on retail dog/cat sales and no adoption-only mandate.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pet shop without a valid permit, selling an unvaccinated dog or cat, failing to maintain the one-year sale records, or selling a prohibited wildlife species (bats, foxes, raccoons, skunks) violates Chapter 78; the health department can deny, suspend, or revoke the pet shop permit and cite the operator under the health code's enforcement provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Milwaukee pet store sell puppies from a breeder?
Do Milwaukee pet shops have to keep records of animal sales?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee
Compare Milwaukee to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pet Store Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle pet store rules.