Animal Ordinances in Beloit, WI (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Beloit, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
The City of Beloit lets a residential lot with one single-family home keep up to 4 female chickens, but bans roosters outright and requires an annual residential chicken permit before any coop or run goes up. Coops top out at 24 square feet, must sit in the rear yard, and slaughtering is illegal except at a licensed meat processor.
Beloit Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 7.244
(2)CHICKENS ALLOWED.(a)Any person may keep up to 4 female chickens on any residential zoning lot in the City which contains one single-family residential dwelling unit. No person shall otherwise keep any chicken within the City of Beloit other than as permitted in a "Development Holding" zoning district as provided in §7.243(3) and §5-204 of the City of Beloit Zoning Code.(b)No roosters shall b...
Dog Leash Laws
Beloit requires every animal off its owner's premises to be under restraint by a leash, cord or chain no longer than 6', or confined inside a vehicle. Anything held on a longer leash, or not restrained at all, is legally running at large and subject to impoundment by police or a humane officer.
Beloit Dogs Running at Large Law
Some RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 15.16(1)(a)
(1)RUNNING AT LARGE DEFINED.(a)General Rule. No person who owns, harbors or keeps any animal shall allow it to run at large in the City. An animal shall be considered running at large when it is found off the premises of its owner or keeper and not under restraint by leash, cord or chain and not within a vehicle. A leash, cord or chain shall not exceed 6' in length. If the leash, cord or chain ...
Breed Restrictions
Beloit's dangerous-dog law is conduct-based rather than breed-specific: no breed is named anywhere in the ordinance. Once a dog is declared potentially dangerous, its owner must register it annually with the City Treasurer and keep it confined in a locked pen measuring at least 6' by 12' whenever it is on the property.
Beloit Potentially Dangerous Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 15.17(6)(a), (8)
(6)REGISTRATION OF "POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS".(a)Fee and Deadline for Registration. (Am. #3607) All owners of potentially dangerous dogs kept within the City shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this section and on or before the first day of April of each year thereafter, register their dogs with the City Treasurer and pay a registration fee as established by City Council resolution...
Exotic Pets
Beloit outlaws owning, keeping, possessing or harboring a wild animal within city limits, sweeping in wolf hybrids and any other non-domestic species whose ferocity could be awakened suddenly. Small caged pets like birds, rodents, turtles, fish and non-poisonous, non-constricting snakes are carved out by name.
Beloit Wild Animal Possession Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 15.17(1), (2)(a)
WILD ANIMAL. (Am. #2894; #3221) A non-domestic animal (whether born or raised in captivity) which normally survives without human assistance in a state of nature in its native land; an animal whose ferocity is liable to be awakened at any moment, suddenly and unexpectedly, under some provocation; an animal which is inclined to escape and which must be confined or restrained for the protection o...
Pet Limits
No residential dwelling unit in the City of Beloit may keep more than 5 dogs, cats and rabbits combined, with a hard cap of 3 dogs (up to 5 cats and up to 5 rabbits within that total). Newborn litters under 5 months are exempt, and pets that already exceeded the limit before January 1, 2009 are grandfathered.
Beloit Household Pet Limit Rules
Some RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 14.17(3)
(3)MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS. (Am. #3221; Rep. & recr. #3358)(a)Number Limited. No person shall own, harbor or keep more than 5 dogs, cats or rabbits combined, of which the maximum number of dogs being 3, the maximum number of cats being 5, the maximum number of rabbits being 5, on any residential dwelling unit in the City, with the exception of newborn puppies, kittens, or rabbi...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Beloit does not require every dog or cat to be spayed or neutered. The mandate is narrow: proof of spay or neuter is one of four documents an owner must hand the City Treasurer before a dog can be registered as potentially dangerous, alongside a county license, photo and ID implant.
Beloit Spay/Neuter for Dangerous Dogs
Light RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 15.17(6)(b)
(b)Photograph, License, and Spaying or Neutering Required. (Am. #2810) The City Treasurer may not register a potentially dangerous dog unless, at the time of registration, the owner provides the City Treasurer with each of the following:1.A current Rock County license for the dog;2.A color photograph of the dog being registered;3.Proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered;4.Proof that the d...
Pet Store Rules
Beloit bars every pet store in the city from selling, bartering or giving away cats, dogs or rabbits, a full retail sale ban rather than a licensing rule. Stores may only host adoption partnerships with a shelter or nonprofit rescue, and even then may not take an ownership stake or a fee for the space.
Beloit Retail Pet Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBeloit Code of Ordinances § 15.155(2), (3)
PET STORE means a retail establishment where companion animals are sold, exchanged, bartered or offered for sale to the general public. Such definition shall not include an animal care facility or animal rescue organization, as defined. ... (3)RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF ANIMALS. No pet store shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of ca...
Looking for Rock County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Beloit city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Rock County →