Animal Ordinances in Neenah, WI (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Neenah, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Neenah allows up to four chickens, doves, or other fowl per property with City registration, a ban on roosters, and a required setback from neighboring homes.
Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules in Neenah
Significant RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-3(a) (Ord. No. 2017-05A, § 1, 3-15-2017)
No person shall keep or harbor any chickens, doves or other fowl or build, erect or maintain and use any chicken coop or yard, dove cote or other building or yard to keep or house any chickens, doves or other fowl anywhere within the City without registering the name and address of the owner and the approximate number of chickens, doves or other fowl to be kept by such owner at the Office of th...
Dog Leash Laws
Neenah dogs and other animals must stay confined to the owner's property or be on a leash and under control when off it: running at large is banned citywide.
Dog Leash and At-Large Rules in Neenah
Some RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-2 (Ord. No. 2017-05A, § 1, 3-15-2017)
No person shall permit an animal or fowl to run at large in the City at any time. Each owner of any such animal shall confine it within the limits of his premises except when it is attended by a person and, in such cases, such animal shall be under the control of that person attending it by leash or other means.(b)Disposal of nonlicensed injured animals. Any animal running at large not properly...
Breed Restrictions
Neenah does not ban dogs by breed. Instead, the Police Chief declares individual animals "potentially dangerous," "dangerous," or "prohibited dangerous" based on documented behavior, then imposes licensing, muzzling, and confinement rules on that specific animal.
Dangerous Animal Rules in Neenah, WI
Significant RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-31 (Ord. No. 2017-05A, § 1, 3-15-2017)
(b)Police Chief's authority. The Police Chief or his/her designee may, in accordance with the definitions of Section 3-1, determine an animal to be a:(1)Potentially dangerous animal;(2)Dangerous animal; or(3)Prohibited dangerous animal. ... (f)(2)The dangerous animal while off the premises where kept must be muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length...
Beekeeping
Neenah allows small-scale hobby beekeeping on City lots, but only after registering with Community Development, and every hive must sit at least ten feet from a property line and 25 feet from a neighbor's house.
Backyard Beekeeping Rules in Neenah, WI
Some RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-42 (Ord. No. 2017-05B, § 2, 4-5-2017)
(1)Number of hives. One hive or colony per 5,000 square foot of lot size to a maximum of six hives allowed on any lot within the City.(2)Location. Hives are allowed only within side or rear yards. In all cases, a minimum setback of ten feet must be maintained between any property line and the closest point of any hives. Hives shall also be located at least 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling....
Exotic Pets
Neenah bans keeping poisonous reptiles, primates, big cats, bears, wolves, and other dangerous or carnivorous wild animals anywhere in the city, with narrow exceptions for licensed game farms and shows.
Exotic and Dangerous Wild Pets Ban in Neenah
Heavy RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-30(c) (Ord. No. 2017-05A, § 1, 3-15-2017)
it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the City any poisonous reptile or any other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal, insect or reptile, any vicious or dangerous domesticated animal or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities.
Wildlife Feeding
Neenah makes it unlawful to feed wild ducks or geese anywhere within city limits, listing the ban among the code's other public-health nuisances.
Neenah Ban On Feeding Wild Waterfowl
Heavy RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 10-3(14)
Feeding of wild ducks and geese. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to feed wild ducks and geese within the City.(15)Raising of bees. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to raise bees, except mason bees, within the City without registering and operating their apiary pursuant to Chapter 3, Article IV of this Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, mason bees (genus Osmia), du...
Pet Limits
Neenah caps most households at three pet animals of any one kind over five months old, with a hard ceiling of six pet animals total per property.
Household Pet Limits in Neenah
Some RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-4(b) (Ord. No. 2017-05A, § 1, 3-15-2017; Ord. No. 2017-11, § 1, 6-21-2017)
No premises shall keep more than three pet animals of any one kind over five months of age, not to exceed a total of six pet animals of all kinds per premises.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Neenah has no citywide spay/neuter mandate. The requirement is narrow: an owner can only get the required dangerous-animal license after proving the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered.
Spay/Neuter Rule for Dangerous Dogs (Neenah)
Some RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code § 3-31(e) (Ord. No. 2017-05A, § 1, 3-15-2017)
(e)Conditions for license issuance. A dangerous animal license may only be granted and issued subject to proof of the following;(1)Current vaccination for rabies.(2)Current City license.(3)Neutering or spaying of the dangerous animal.(4)The pet animal's age, weight, coloring, breed and any special identifying characteristics.(5)Two four-inch by six-inch color photographs of the pet animal.
Pet Store Rules
Neenah requires an annual operating permit from the Director of Finance to run a pet store, and animals on display must be kept healthy in clean, safe, sanitary quarters.
Pet Shop Operating Permit in Neenah
Some RestrictionsNeenah Municipal Code §§ 4-331(a), 4-332
Required. No person shall operate or maintain a pet store in the City without first obtaining an operating permit therefor from the Director of Finance.(b)Fee. The fee for such permit shall be as established by the Common Council.(c)Term of permit. Any permit issued hereunder shall expire on December 1 of each year. (Code 1977, § 11.14(1)—(3); Ord. No. 2012-5, § 10, 6-6-2012) Sec. 4-332. - ...
Looking for Winnebago County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Neenah city rules.
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