Animal Ordinances in Milwaukee, WI (2026)

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-6.5(3) (Volume 1, General Ordinances)

KEEPING OF CHICKENS ALLOWED. The keeping of up to 4 chickens, with a permit, is allowed on a residential premise, provided the following: a. No person shall keep any rooster. b. No person shall slaughter any chickens. c. Chickens shall be provided with fresh water at all times and adequate amounts of feed. d. Chickens shall be provided with a sanitar...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-1-4 (definitions) and § 78-19-1 (Volume 1, General Ordinances)

AT LARGE means an animal is off the premises of its owner and on any public street or alley, school grounds, a public park, or other public grounds or on private property without the permission of the owner or person in lawful control of the property. An animal shall not be deemed to be at large if: a. It is attached to a leash not more than 6 feet in length which is of sufficient strength to r...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-23 (Harboring Dangerous Animals), Volume 1 — General Ordinances

No person may harbor or keep a dangerous animal within the city unless all provisions of this section are complied with... No person owning, harboring or having the care of a dangerous animal may permit such animal to go outside its kennel or pen unless the animal is securely leashed with a leash no longer than 4 feet in length... A dangerous animal on a leash outside the animal's kennel shall ...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-6 (Volume 1, General Ordinances)

No person shall keep honey bees in the city without being a beekeeper and obtaining a valid permit issued by the commissioner... No more than 2 hives are allowed on a lot... Hives shall be located a minimum of 20 feet from the front property line and 10 feet from all other property lines... Hives shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from dwellings, porches, gazebos, decks, swimming pools, perm...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-5.5(2)

PROHIBITED POSSESSION. Except as provided in sub. 3, no person may keep, harbor, possess, breed, sell, transfer, give away, otherwise transfer possession of, or exhibit an exotic animal within the city. 3. EXEMPTIONS. This section does not apply to any of the following: a. Accredited zoological parks. b. Veterinary hospitals or clinics providing temporary ...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-35

Feed for birds shall be placed in a covered hopper, gravity type feeder. The feeder shall be placed on top of a rodent-proof pole which extends at least 3.5 feet above the ground and shall be placed at least 6 feet from the nearest climbable object... Feed for birds shall not be placed on the ground where it is accessible to rodents. No more than 4 bird feeders shall be located on any premises.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-5-3-a (Volume 1, General Ordinances)

No person shall keep, harbor, shelter, or possess at any one time more than 4 dogs, cats, or rabbits, in any combination, unless the person holds either a valid animal fancier permit authorizing the keeping of 5 animals, or a residential breeder permit authorizing the keeping of more than 5 animals or holds a valid kennel, pet shop or grooming establishment permit, or me...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-17-1

Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat over 5 months of age within the city of Milwaukee shall obtain a license as provided in this section and in accordance with ch. 174, Wis. Stats., relating to dogs, and ch. 26, Milwaukee County Code of Ordinances, relating to cats. Any person obtaining a dog or cat that is older than 5 months of age sh...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-23-6

SPAY AND NEUTER REQUIREMENT. Within 30 days after an animal has been designated dangerous, the owner or caretaker of the animal shall provide written proof from a licensed veterinarian that the animal has been spayed or neutered.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-17-6 (Volume 1 — General Ordinances)

MICROCHIPPING. a. Every dog and every cat kept in the city shall be microchipped and registered with a nationally recognized pet recovery database. b. Transfer of ownership of a microchipped animal shall be reported to a national pet microchip registry within 30 days of the transfer date. The new owner shall ensure that the microchip registration is updated to reflect...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-9 (Volume 1, General Ordinances)

1. PERMIT REQUIRED. No person may operate a pet shop unless the person holds a valid permit issued by the commissioner... 3. IMMUNIZATION. No pet shop may sell or offer for sale any dog or cat 5 or more months old unless the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies by use of a vaccine currently licensed by the U.S. department of agriculture. ... 5. No pet shop may engage in the purchase, k...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-11 (Volume 1, General Ordinances)

No person may operate a grooming establishment without a valid permit issued by the commissioner... the commissioner shall issue a permit to operate a grooming establishment upon the payment of the fee required in s. 60-43... No animals shall be kept in any grooming establishment other than during regular office hours unless a valid kennel or pet shop permit is also issued for the same location...

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-5.5(3)(e), Volume 1 (General Ordinances)

PROHIBITED POSSESSION. Except as provided in sub. 3, no person may keep, harbor, possess, breed, sell, transfer, give away, otherwise transfer possession of, or exhibit an exotic animal within the city. ... EXEMPTIONS. This section does not apply to any of the following: ... e. Wildlife rehabilitators licensed by the state of Wisconsin.