Ashwaubenon's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, there are 10 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Ashwaubenon's zoning code caps veterinary clinics at twenty boarded animals at any one time, not counting fish, small reptiles, and rodents kept as pets. Clinics must keep all kennels inside the principal building and insulate the site so no unreasonable noise or odor reaches neighboring property. Village Code § 17-4-300(E)(2)(e) sets these use-specific standards for every zoning district that allows veterinary clinics.

Key details: Boarding cap: 20 animals (excludes fish, small reptiles, rodents). Kennel location: Must be inside the principal building only. Noise/odor standard: Must not be detectable off-premises. Governing section: Ashwaubenon Municipal Code § 17-4-300(E)(2)(e). Penalty: $1-$5,000 forfeiture per offense, § 1-1-13.

Operating a veterinary clinic that exceeds the twenty-animal boarding cap, houses kennels outside the principal building, or lets noise or odor escape the site violates § 17-4-300(E)(2)(e). Chapter 17's enforcement clause, § 17-9-200(B), ties every use-standard violation to the Municipal Code's general penalty at § 1-1-13: a forfeiture of $1 to $5,000 per offense plus prosecution costs, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense in Village Municipal Court.

Pet Groomer Rules

Running a dog-grooming business out of an Ashwaubenon home requires a conditional use permit, not just a home-occupation permit. The Village Board reviews the CUP every December, neighbors within 200 feet get notice of that meeting, and the operator pays an annual review fee on file with the village clerk. Annual inspections check health, safety and neighborhood impact before renewal.

Key details: Permit type: Conditional use permit (CUP). Renewal: Annually, Village Board's December meeting. Neighbor notice: Owners within 200 feet notified. Floor area cap: 25% of dwelling for home occupation. No-permit penalty: Home occupation fee is quadrupled.

Operating a home dog-grooming business without the required home-occupation permit quadruples the normal permit fee under § 17-4-400(C)(1)(b). Skipping the conditional use permit that dog grooming specifically requires, or missing the annual Village Board renewal in December, leaves the operation unauthorized under the zoning code; the building inspector enforces both requirements and can cite a property for operating without the CUP or permit on file.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ashwaubenon's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Exotic Pets

Section 4-1-6 of the Ashwaubenon Municipal Code outright bans possessing an exotic animal in the Village, defined through a long prohibited-animal list covering big cats, bears, wild Canidae like wolves and coyotes, venomous reptiles and spiders, and more, with narrow carve-outs for zoos, vets and licensed circuses.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-1-6. Rule: possession outright prohibited. Covered families: big cats, bears, wild Canidae, venomous species. Domestic exclusions: cats, dogs, ferrets, common rodents. Exceptions: zoos, vets, circuses, in-transit 24 hrs.

Possessing an exotic animal without one of the section's qualifying exceptions carries a forfeiture of not less than $250 and not more than $1,000 under Section 4-1-6(E), separate from and higher than the general $200-to-$1,000 range set for other animal violations elsewhere in the chapter.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Ashwaubenon actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

Breed Restrictions

Ashwaubenon has no breed-specific dog ban. Village Code Section 4-1-2 instead lets a public safety officer or the humane officer declare any animal dangerous after it bites, attacks without provocation, or has been banished by another jurisdiction, then orders it removed from the Village of Ashwaubenon within 48 hours, subject to a hearing before the Public Works and Protection Committee.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-1-2. Removal deadline: 48 hours after order. Objection window: 72 hours to appeal. Appeal body: Public Works and Protection Committee. Leash limit pending appeal: 4 feet, muzzled.

Violating the dangerous-animal order, including failing to remove the animal within 48 hours or breaking the leash, muzzle and signage rules during an appeal, carries a forfeiture of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 per Section 4-1-2(E). Noncompliance during the appeal period also lets the officer who issued the order impound the animal immediately.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ashwaubenon's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Bird Protection

It's illegal to injure or attempt to injure any waterfowl, bird or animal, wild or domestic, inside an Ashwaubenon village park under Municipal Code Section 15-2-40. Robbing or disturbing a bird's or animal's nest or eggs is likewise banned unless it's part of a village board-approved wildlife management program or done with the park board's written permission.

Key details: Protected: Waterfowl, birds, wild and domestic animals. Also banned: Disturbing nests or eggs. Exception: Approved wildlife management program. Exception: Written park board permission. Penalty: $1-$5,000 forfeiture, Section 1-1-13.

A violation of Section 15-2-40 is punished under the Chapter 1 general penalty, Section 1-1-13: a first offense carries a forfeiture of not less than $1.00 nor more than $5,000.00 plus prosecution costs, with up to 90 days in the county jail if unpaid, rising to six months' default jail exposure for a repeat violation within one year.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ashwaubenon's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Dog Leash Laws

Village Code Section 4-1-3 bars any animal or fowl, dogs included, from running at large in the Village of Ashwaubenon. A dog runs at large whenever it is off its owner's premises and outside its owner's immediate presence and control, and public safety officers, community service specialists and the humane officer may enter any other property to capture it.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-1-3. Standard: off premises + no immediate control. Enforcement: public safety, CSO, humane officer. Exception: homing/racing pigeons in training. Impound fees: owner pays pickup + boarding.

A dog caught running at large can be captured and impounded by a public safety officer, community service specialist or humane officer, and the owner is billed the pickup, admittance and boarding fees under Section 4-2-33 before the animal is released. The violation itself is penalized under the Village's bond schedule referenced in Section 4-1-8.

Chickens & Livestock

The Village of Ashwaubenon allows up to four backyard chickens, no roosters, on permitted R-1 lots under Section 4-1-5(C). Only four permits total may be active Village-wide at once, each expires December 31, and first-time applicants need written sign-off from every owner-occupied neighbor within 100 feet of the coop.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-1-5(C). Chicken limit: 4 per property. Village-wide permit cap: 4 permits in R-1. Roosters: banned outright. Neighbor consent: owners within 100 feet.

Keeping more than four chickens, a rooster, or a permit-less flock, or violating a coop or setback rule, can cost the permit outright: Section 4-1-5(C)(5) lets the Clerk, Chief of Public Safety or humane officer suspend or revoke it for any noncompliance, with a written appeal due to the Village Board within 10 days. General chapter penalties under Section 4-1-8 apply on top of that.

Compared to other cities, Ashwaubenon takes a harder line on chickens & livestock. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Wildlife Feeding

Village Code Section 4-1-7 bars placing salt, mineral, grain, fruit or vegetable material outdoors anywhere in Ashwaubenon for the purpose of feeding whitetail deer or turkey, with a rebuttable presumption of intent once more than a half gallon is set out, and carve-outs for hunting bait, gardens and ordinary bird feeders.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-1-7. Trigger quantity: over 1/2 gallon. Presumption height: under 6 feet off ground. Exceptions: hunting bait, gardens, bird feeders. Enforcement: animal control/humane officer.

A violation of the deer and turkey feeding ban is enforced under the general Chapter 4 penalty in Section 4-1-8, tying the offense to the penalty schedule in Section 1-1-13 and the forfeiture amounts in the Village Municipal Court's bond schedule.

Compared to other cities, Ashwaubenon takes a harder line on wildlife feeding. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Limits

Section 4-2-35 of the Ashwaubenon Municipal Code caps most households at two dogs or cats total, with a temporary allowance for a litter of puppies or kittens up to eight weeks old, and a full exemption for a qualifying service animal.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-2-35. Limit: 2 dogs/cats combined per household. Litter grace period: up to 8 weeks. Exemption: qualifying service animals. Enforcement: animal control/humane officer.

Exceeding the two-dog-or-cat limit is enforced under Section 4-1-8's general Chapter 4 penalty, which ties every animal ordinance violation to the schedule in Section 1-1-13 and the Village Municipal Court's bond schedule; the animal control/humane officer can also impound any excess animal under Section 4-2-39.

Cat Rules

Ashwaubenon has no cat licensing requirement, only dogs are licensed under Wis. Stat. ch. 174 as adopted by Section 4-2-34, but Section 4-2-37 requires a public safety officer or community services specialist to quarantine any cat suspected of biting someone, carrying rabies, or exposed to a rabid animal.

Key details: Governing section: Section 4-2-37. Cat licensing: none, only dogs licensed. Bite isolation period: 10 days minimum. Exposure confinement (unvaccinated): 180 days. Exposure confinement (vaccinated): 60 days.

Failing to surrender a quarantined cat, or violating the isolation and confinement periods in Section 4-2-37, allows the public safety officer or community services specialist to order the animal killed under Section 4-2-37(A)(3), and general Chapter 4 penalties under Section 4-1-8 apply on top of the quarantine order itself.

The Bottom Line

Ashwaubenon is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 6 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Ashwaubenon, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Ashwaubenon's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.