Animal Ordinances in Burlington, WI (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Burlington, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Burlington bars keeping cattle, cows, horses, sheep, swine, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese or other livestock anywhere in the City under § 104-2, with no backyard-chicken carve-out. The only exceptions are property zoned agricultural and livestock passing through the City on the way to being shipped elsewhere.
Burlington Livestock and Poultry Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-2A, B
A. Animals prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in this Municipal Code, no person shall keep within the City any cattle, cows, horses, sheep, swine, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, or other livestock. ... B. Exceptions. This prohibition shall not apply in areas of the City that are zoned agriculture in nature nor to livestock brought into the City for the purpose of being shipped ou...
Dog Leash Laws
Burlington bans letting a dog run at large under § 104-8A, defined as anywhere off the owner's own premises unless the dog is leashed and controlled by someone able to handle it, or is off-leash inside the fenced City dog park. Loose dogs are impounded by police and held at least seven days.
Burlington Dog At-Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-8A, D(1)
No dog or cat owner shall allow the same to run at large, defined as the presence of a dog or cat at any place except upon the premises of the owner. A dog or cat that is leashed and under control of a person physically able to handle it shall not be considered running at large. A dog that is off-leash and within the fenced area of a dog park shall not be considered running at large. ... Whenev...
Breed Restrictions
Burlington has no breed-specific ban. Instead, § 104-16(C) lets officers seize any animal found off its owner's premises and, once a court finds it vicious, authorizes a police or humane officer to kill it. The rule turns on proven behavior, not breed.
Burlington's Vicious Animal Declaration Rule
Significant RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-16(C)
Vicious animals. No person shall harbor or keep a vicious animal within the City. Any animal which is found off the premises of its owner may be seized by any police officer or humane officer, and upon establishment, to the satisfaction of any court of competent jurisdiction, of the vicious character of the animal, it may be killed by a police officer or humane officer. This subsection shall no...
Beekeeping
Burlington lets residents keep bees, but a hive within 50 feet of any property line needs a five-foot flight barrier, plant or artificial, and every colony must have a fresh water source on site. Schools and universities keeping bees for study are exempt from the section entirely.
Burlington Beekeeping Buffer and Water Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-15
No person shall establish or maintain any hive, stand or box where bees are kept or keep any bees in or upon any premises within the City unless the bees are kept in accordance with the following provisions: ... If bee colonies are kept within 50 feet of any exterior boundary of the property on which the hive, stand, or box is located, a barrier that will prevent bees from flying through it no ...
Exotic Pets
City Code § 104-16(B) flatly forbids keeping any wild animal as a pet anywhere in Burlington. A separate clause in the same section bars keeping wild or vicious animals for display or exhibition, with a narrow carve-out for zoos, performing-animal exhibitions, and circuses.
Burlington Bans Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-16(B)
No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild animal as a pet.
Pet Limits
Burlington caps ownership at five dogs and five cats per household under § 104-10, a limit the Common Council adopted after finding that keeping unlimited numbers of dogs and cats is a public nuisance. A litter of pups or kittens can be kept up to five months from birth without counting toward the cap.
Burlington Five-Pet Limit Per Household
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-10A, B(1)
A. Findings. The keeping of an unlimited number of dogs and cats in the City for a considerable period of time detracts from and in many instances is detrimental to the healthful and comfortable life for which such areas were created. The keeping of an unlimited number of cats and dogs is a public nuisance. ... B. Number of animals limited. (1) No person shall keep more than five dogs or five c...
Cat Rules
Every cat in Burlington over five months old must be licensed annually at City Hall under § 104-4, with proof of rabies vaccination required first. Cats may not run at large under § 104-8, though unlike dogs they are not required to be held during impoundment unless suspected of rabies.
Burlington Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-4
Every owner of a cat more than five months of age on January 1 of any year, or five months of age within the license year, shall annually, or within 30 days from the date such cat becomes five months of age, obtain a license for each cat from the City Hall. The license year shall commence on January 1 and end on the following December 31. Such cat license tax shall be as set by the Common Counc...
Coyote Management
Burlington's only citywide rule on coyotes, deer and other wildlife culls sits in the Airport chapter: § 93-1C(9) lets the Airport Manager authorize hunting and firearm discharge on Burlington Municipal Airport property once wildlife becomes a safety hazard, but only after nonlethal mitigation is tried first and only with sign-off from the DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Chief of Police.
Burlington Coyote and Deer Hazard Control
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 93-1C(9)
In the event the Airport Manager determines that the wildlife population (e.g., deer, geese, coyote, etc.) has reached a point on the airport property where it has become a safety hazard, the Airport Manager shall have the authority to, with the permission of the appropriate person(s) at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWL), and/or Chief of Police, a...
Pet Groomer Rules
Burlington bans pet grooming as a home occupation under City Code § 315-10.C(15)(c), but allows a standalone pet grooming shop as a conditional use in the B-1 Neighborhood Business District under § 315-26.D(12), provided all sales, services, boarding and breeding stay inside an enclosed building.
Burlington Pet Grooming Shop Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 315-10.C(15)(c), 315-26.D(12)
The following uses are prohibited as home occupations: ... Animal hospitals or pet grooming or boarding. ... Pet grooming shop, provided that no sales or services are offered outside of an enclosed building and no boarding or breeding of animals takes place on the premises.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Burlington zones veterinary clinics differently by district. City Code § 315-15.C(7) requires a 100-foot setback from any property boundary for clinics and animal enclosures in the A-1 Agricultural District, while § 315-26.D(10) requires B-1 Neighborhood Business District clinics to keep all services, including boarding, inside an enclosed building.
Burlington Veterinary Clinic Zoning Setbacks
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 315-15.C(7), 315-26.D(10)
Veterinary clinics, provided that no structure or animal enclosure shall be located closer than 100 feet to a property boundary. ... Veterinary clinics, provided that no service, including the boarding of animals, is offered outside of an enclosed building.
Bird Protection
Burlington's animal code flatly bans injuring, destroying, shooting at, or throwing stones at any bird inside city limits. The Police Department enforces the ban alongside a separate pigeon-nuisance rule, and violators face the Chapter 1 general forfeiture schedule: $5 to $500 for a first offense, more for repeats.
Burlington Bans Killing or Injuring Birds
Heavy RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 104-13
No person shall injure or destroy any birds or throw stones, shoot at or use any implements with the intention of killing or injuring any bird within the City.
Looking for Racine County county-wide rules?
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