Little Chute's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Little Chute, Wisconsin, there are 8 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.

Beekeeping

Little Chute allows backyard beekeeping outside agricultural zones only if hives sit at least ten feet from property lines, a five-foot flight barrier is installed within 50 feet of a boundary, and bees are never kept in a front yard, under Village of Little Chute Code § 6-22.

Key details: Governing section: Village of Little Chute Code § 6-22. Setback: 10 ft from property line. Barrier rule: 5-ft barrier within 50 ft of boundary. Location limit: No hives in front yard. Zone exception: Agricultural parcels exempt.

Keeping bees without the required 10-foot setback, boundary flight barrier, or in a front yard violates § 6-22 and is subject to a $250-$500 forfeiture per day under § 6-30.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Little Chute does not require spaying or neutering pets generally. Only an animal formally declared "dangerous" by police must be spayed or neutered, with veterinary proof due within 30 days of that declaration.

Key details: Applies to: declared dangerous animals only. Compliance deadline: 30 days after declaration. Proof required: licensed veterinarian statement. General pet mandate: none exists.

Missing the 30-day veterinary-proof deadline is a violation of the dangerous-animal ordinance, subject to the Sec. 6-30 forfeiture of $250 to $500 per day like other Sec. 6-26 compliance failures.

Chickens & Livestock

Little Chute bars horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and other farm animals village-wide, with only a narrow licensed exception for up to six hens.

Key details: Horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep: prohibited village-wide. Chicken exception: up to 6 hens, licensed only. Roosters: never allowed. Chicken zoning: RC or RD districts only.

Keeping prohibited livestock is enforced under Chapter 6's general penalty; keeping unlicensed chickens or violating coop conditions can draw a citation and license suspension or revocation under § 6-31(5).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Little Chute actively enforces its chickens & livestock requirements.

Wildlife Feeding

Little Chute bans placing salt, mineral, grain, fruit, or vegetable material outdoors anywhere in the village for the purpose of feeding whitetail deer, with quantities over a half gallon under six feet off the ground presumed illegal, under Village of Little Chute Code § 6-23.

Key details: Governing section: Village of Little Chute Code § 6-23. Rule: No feeding whitetail deer. Presumption trigger: Over 1/2 gallon under 6 ft. Exceptions: Hunting bait, bird feeders, natural growth. Penalty: $250-$500 forfeiture per day.

Placing deer-attracting material outdoors in violation of § 6-23, or exceeding the half-gallon/six-foot presumption threshold, is subject to a $250-$500 forfeiture per day under § 6-30.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Little Chute actively enforces its wildlife feeding requirements.

Exotic Pets

Little Chute bans keeping any wild animal as a pet and prohibits keeping or selling horses, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and other fowl within village limits, limiting households to dogs, cats, rabbits, small caged animals, reptiles, and aquatic pets under Village of Little Chute Code § 6-14.

Key details: Governing section: Village of Little Chute Code § 6-14. Rule: Wild animals banned as pets. Also barred: Horses, pigs, goats, chickens, fowl. Allowed pets: Dogs, cats, rabbits, caged/aquatic animals. Penalty: $250-$500 forfeiture per day.

Keeping a wild animal as a pet, or keeping or selling prohibited livestock or fowl within village limits, is a violation subject to a $250-$500 forfeiture per day under § 6-30.

Compared to other cities, Little Chute takes a harder line on exotic pets. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Breed Restrictions

Little Chute has no breed ban: police can declare any dog or animal "dangerous" after an unprovoked bite or menacing pattern, triggering mandatory registration, leashing, insurance, and confinement rules under the village code.

Key details: Registration fee: $75 annually. Liability insurance required: $1,000,000 minimum. Leash length limit: 4 feet maximum. Objection deadline: 72 hours. Forfeiture range: $250-$500 per day.

Violating a dangerous-animal order, failing to register, leash, muzzle, insure, or securely confine the animal, is punishable under Sec. 6-30 by a forfeiture of $250 to $500 per day, plus possible destruction of the animal.

Compared to other cities, Little Chute takes a harder line on breed restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Limits

Little Chute caps households at six animals total, with no more than three dogs, two rabbits, or two Vietnamese potbellied pigs per lot or dwelling unit, under Village of Little Chute Code § 6-21; kennel-licensed premises are exempt.

Key details: Governing section: Village of Little Chute Code § 6-21. Household cap: 6 animals total. Dog sub-limit: 3 dogs maximum. Rabbit/pig sub-limit: 2 each maximum. Exemption: Licensed kennels exempt.

Keeping more animals than the six-animal cap, or exceeding a per-species sub-limit, violates § 6-21 and carries a $250-$500 forfeiture per day under § 6-30.

Dog Leash Laws

Little Chute bans letting any dog run at large and requires owners to confine or restrain animals so they don't roam, attack, or disturb residents, or face impoundment under Village of Little Chute Code § 6-7.

Key details: Governing section: Village of Little Chute Code § 6-7. Rule: No animal may run at large. Restraint defined as: Leash/lead under responsible control. Penalty: $250-$500 forfeiture per day. Enforcement: Police/humane officers may impound.

Running loose or failing to restrain an animal is a public nuisance violation; police or humane officers may impound the animal, and violators face a $250-$500 forfeiture per day under § 6-30.

The Bottom Line

Little Chute is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Little Chute, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Little Chute can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.