Animal Ordinances in De Pere, WI (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for De Pere, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
De Pere allows up to four chickens per residential parcel with a city permit under Code § 86-5(g), while § 86-4(a)(1) bans roosters, ducks, geese, cattle, sheep, swine and all other livestock outright unless tied to an authorized agricultural operation. Roosters are barred even under a chicken permit, and only one permit issues per eligible parcel.
De Pere Backyard Chicken Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances §§ 86-4(a)(1), 86-5(g)(3)
(1)Any rooster, fowl other than chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), turkeys, ducks, geese, cows, cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats, pot-bellied pigs, or any other domesticated livestock, unless part of an agricultural operation, and authorized by the city zoning ordinance, as found in chapter 14, and the city health department or as licensed under section 86-5(g). ... (3)Keeping of chickens a...
Dog Leash Laws
De Pere bars any animal from running at large: Code § 86-5(a) requires a pet to stay on its owner's property unless crated, penned or tied so it can't reach a public right-of-way, and any animal taken off the property must be under a rope, chain, cord or leash no longer than four feet.
De Pere Leash and Animals-at-Large Law
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 86-5(a)
(a)Animals at large. No person shall suffer or permit any animal of which he or she is the owner or custodian, to be at large within in the city. An animal shall be deemed to be at large unless crated, penned or securely tied or chained in such a manner that such animal cannot proceed beyond the boundaries of the property of the owner or custodian and onto public right-of-way or other private p...
Breed Restrictions
De Pere has no breed ban: Code § 86-4(c) declares an animal dangerous based on what it actually does, not its breed, covering any animal that kills or seriously injures without provocation, or menaces someone off its owner's property. A police officer or the health officer issues the declaration, and owners have 72 hours to contest it before the board of health.
De Pere Dangerous Animal Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 86-4(c)
(c)Dangerous animals.(1)Application. The provisions of this chapter regarding dangerous animals shall not apply to dogs owned by law enforcement agencies and used for law enforcement purposes.(2)Defined. The term "dangerous animal" means:a.Any animal that, while off the owner's or custodian's property, has killed a person, domestic pet or other animal with or without provocation.b.Any animal th...
Beekeeping
De Pere allows up to two beehives per parcel with a city health department permit under Code § 86-7, limited to R-1 and R-2 residential districts. Hives must sit at least ten feet from a side lot line, five feet from a rear lot line, and 25 feet from a neighbor's house.
De Pere Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 86-7(b)-(c)
(b)Permit and fees required.(1)Only honeybees and mason bees (hereinafter referred to collectively and individually as "bees") may be kept under this section.(2)Persons that keep bees within the limits of the city must first obtain a permit. No person shall keep, maintain, or allow to be kept any hive or other facility for the housing of honeybees on or in any property in the city without first...
Exotic Pets
De Pere bans keeping, breeding or selling wild animals as pets under Code § 86-4(a): monkeys and other primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves (including wolf-dog hybrids), and any other animal normally found in the wild are all prohibited, along with venomous reptiles, arachnids and non-native or oversized snakes.
De Pere Ban on Wild and Exotic Pets
Heavy RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 86-4(a)-(b)
(a)General prohibition. No person shall bring into, keep, maintain, offer for sale or barter, or release to the wild, nor shall any person permit such activities to occur on premises owned, controlled, rented or maintained by that person: ... (2)Wild animals, including, but not limited to, any live monkey, or other nonhuman primate, raccoon, skunk, prairie dog, fox, wolf, panther, lynx, opossum...
Pet Limits
De Pere caps household pets at four dogs and cats combined under Code § 86-3: no more than two dogs and three cats per dwelling unit, and keeping permitted chickens shrinks that cap further. The health officer, after consulting the police chief, can grant a variance, but even with one no home may exceed four dogs or cats.
De Pere Limits on Dogs and Cats Per Home
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 86-3
(a)Unless a permit for keeping chickens has been issued under this chapter for a property parcel, the maximum number of dogs and cats allowed per dwelling unit within the city is four; with three being the limit on the number of cats and two being the limit on the number of dogs. If a permit for keeping chickens has been issued under this chapter for a property parcel, the number of dogs or cat...
Looking for Brown County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement De Pere city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Brown County →