Animal Ordinances in Madison, WI (2026)
17 verified animal ordinances for Madison, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Madison MGO 9.52 allows up to 4 hens per residential property with a chicken license. Roosters are prohibited. Coops must meet setback and sanitation standards, and neighbor notification is required.
Animals: Chickens Backyard
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Madison MGO 23.32 requires dogs to be leashed in all public areas except designated off-leash dog parks. Leashes must not exceed 8 feet. Dogs at large are subject to impoundment and fines.
Animals: Dog Leash Laws
Heavy RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Madison has no breed-specific legislation (BSL). All breeds including pit bulls are legal. Dangerous-dog designations under WI Stat 174.042 and MGO 23.32 are behavior-based, not breed-based.
Animals: Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Madison allows residential beekeeping under MGO 23.32. Hives must be registered and follow setback and hive-count rules. State apiary registration with DATCP under WI Stat 94.76 is also required.
Animals: Beekeeping
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
Madison MGO 23.32 prohibits keeping wild, exotic, or dangerous animals as pets including big cats, wolves, venomous reptiles, nonhuman primates, and bears. State rules under WI Stat 169 also apply.
Animals: Exotic Pets
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Madison prohibits feeding deer, waterfowl, and most wildlife under MGO 23.32 and related park rules. Bird feeding in moderation is generally allowed. WI DNR baiting/feeding rules (WI Stat 29.336) also apply to deer.
Animals: Wildlife Feeding
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Madison Ch. 9 caps household animals and authorizes welfare seizure when conditions become unsanitary or cruel. Dane County Humane Society and Madison Animal Services investigate hoarding complaints reported by neighbors or postal carriers.
Animal Hoarding and Welfare Limits
Some RestrictionsPet Limits
Madison MGO 23.32 limits households to a total of 4 dogs, cats, or combination thereof, not counting animals under 5 months old. Additional animals require a kennel license and zoning approval.
Animals: Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Madison Ch. 9 requires cat licenses, current rabies vaccination, and prohibits cats from running at large. Free-roaming or nuisance cats may be impounded by Dane County Humane Society after neighbor complaints.
Cat Licensing and Outdoor Rules
Some RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Madison does not mandate spay/neuter for owned pets but offers reduced license fees for altered animals and requires Dane County Humane Society to sterilize before adoption. Unaltered pets pay higher annual licensing surcharges.
Spay/Neuter Discount and Adoption Rules
Few RestrictionsMicrochipping
Madison encourages but does not require microchipping; Dane County Humane Society scans all impounded animals for chips. Licensed dogs and cats must wear visible city tags under Ch. 9 identification rules.
Microchipping and Pet Identification
Few RestrictionsCoyote Management
Madison follows Wisconsin DNR coyote rules; lethal removal inside city limits is rare and requires DNR depredation permits. Residents are urged to haze coyotes, secure food, and report aggressive encounters to Public Health.
Coyote Management and Urban Wildlife
Some RestrictionsPet Store Rules
Madison Ch. 9 restricts retail pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs and cats, requiring shelter or rescue partnerships. State law Wis. Stat. ch. 173 governs animal welfare standards and humane transport for retail facilities.
Pet Store Sourcing and Display Rules
Some RestrictionsPet Groomer Rules
Madison treats grooming and dog-daycare facilities under Ch. 9 kennel licensing and Ch. 28 zoning. Operators need conditional-use approval in most districts plus state Wis. Stat. §173.41 dealer registration if boarding overnight.
Pet Groomer and Daycare Licensing
Few RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic Zoning
Madison Ch. 28 zones veterinary clinics into commercial and mixed-use districts; small-animal practices are permitted by right while overnight boarding and large-animal hospitals need conditional-use approval near residential areas.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsBird Protection
Madison adopted Bird-Safe Glass guidelines for new municipal buildings and major UW-Madison projects. Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections, plus Wis. DNR rules, govern wild birds; lights-out programs reduce isthmus migration strikes.
Bird Protection and Window Strikes
Few RestrictionsWildlife Rescue Permits
Wildlife rehabilitation in Madison requires a Wisconsin DNR Class A or Class B rehabber license under Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 19. City ordinances bar private possession of native wildlife without state authorization or federal permits.
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Permits
Some RestrictionsLooking for Dane County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Madison city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Dane County →