Animal Ordinances in Wausau, WI (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Wausau, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Wausau allows up to four hens per residential lot with a City Clerk permit, but bans roosters outright and restricts keeping to specific zoning districts. Coops must sit in the rear yard, at least ten feet from any lot line, and slaughter is prohibited except at a licensed processing facility. Violators face a $100 penalty under the Wausau Municipal Code.
Backyard Chicken Rules in Wausau, WI
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.012
No person shall keep chickens or establish or maintain any henhouse upon any premises in the City without obtaining a valid permit issued by the City Clerk. ... (b)Standards. A permit authorizes the keeping of chickens on a premises, provided the following requirements are met:(1)No more than four hens or pullets are allowed on a premises.(2)Roosters are prohibited.(3)Chickens may only be kept ...
Dog Leash Laws
Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.190 bans letting a dog, cat, or other animal run at large in the city; an animal off its owner's property must be on a leash no longer than six feet, or 16 feet in most parks, or fall under a narrow list of exceptions like shows, 4-H events, or designated off-leash hours at three city parks.
Dogs and Cats At-Large Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.190
(a)It is unlawful to own, keep or harbor a dog or cat or other animal and allow such animal to run at large in the city.(b)Under the provisions of this section, the animal shall be considered as running at large when it is not on the premises of its owner, (or in the case of chickens confined as provided in section 8.01.012(b)), unless it is on a leash no more than six feet in length, is in or ...
Breed Restrictions
Wausau has no breed-specific dog ban; instead, Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.200 lets the Chief of Police declare any individual animal "dangerous" after an unprovoked bite, attack, or menacing incident, then imposes registration, $250,000 liability insurance, warning signage, and secure-confinement rules regardless of breed.
Dangerous Animal Declarations in Wausau, WI
Significant RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.200
(a)Prohibitions.(1)No person shall own, harbor, keep, or maintain within the City limits, any "dangerous animal," except as provided in subsection (d) below.(2)No person may bring into or keep within the City limits, any animal that is determined to be a "prohibited dangerous animal" under this section. ... Dangerous animal as used in this chapter means: (1)Any animal which approaches or chases...
Beekeeping
Wausau requires a City Clerk beekeeper permit before keeping any honey bees. Section 8.08.011(c) caps hives at two per premises, requires a minimum one-third acre lot, and sets setbacks of 25 feet from property lines and 50 feet from neighboring dwellings.
Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules in Wausau
Significant RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code Sec. 8.08.011(b), (c)
(b)Permit required. No person shall keep honey bees in the City without being a beekeeper and obtaining a valid permit issued by the City Clerk. ... (c)Keeping of honey bee hives. A permit authorizes the keeping of honey bee hives on a premises, provided the following requirements are met:(1)No more than two hives are allowed on a premises.(2)No hive shall exceed 20 cubic feet in volume. ... (4...
Exotic Pets
Wausau outlaws keeping dangerous or wild animals, insects and reptiles within the City. Section 8.08.010(a) names bears, wolves and coyotes, big cats, primates, and reptiles over ten feet among a long banned list, and it is not a defense that the animal was tamed or captive-bred.
Wild and Exotic Animal Ban in Wausau
Heavy RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code Sec. 8.08.010(a)
(a)Wild animals. It is unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in his or her possession or under his or her control within the City any dangerous or wild animal, insect or reptile, or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities. ... (1)All venomous animals, reptiles, arachnids and insects, except rear-fanged snakes posing no significant medical danger to hum...
Wildlife Feeding
Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.255 bans feeding or baiting deer anywhere within city limits, a rule aimed at reducing urban deer conflicts in this Marathon County, Wisconsin city. The only lawful exception is feeding authorized by the Mayor of Wausau, and then solely to help remove deer from the city. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Feeding or Baiting Deer Banned in Wausau, WI
Heavy RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.255
(a)Feeding or baiting prohibited. No person shall feed or bait any deer in the City of Wausau, except as provided in subsection (b) herein. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.(b)Exception. The feeding of deer may be authorized by the Mayor of the City of Wausau, solely for the purpose of assisting in any program for the removal of deer from the City of Wausau.
Pet Limits
Wausau caps ordinary households at two dogs and three cats over five months old under Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.120(a), but a City Clerk "pet fancier" permit raises the ceiling to five combined animals, capped at four dogs and four cats, in single- or two-family homes that pass an inspection.
Dog and Cat Ownership Limits in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.120
(a)No more than two dogs and/or three cats, over the age of five months, shall be kept in or upon one residential unit or by one or more persons constituting one residential unit.(b)Pet fancier permit. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), it shall be lawful to keep not more than five dogs or cats combined, with the maximum number of dogs being four, the maximum number of cats being...
Cat Rules
Wausau caps most residential units at three cats and two dogs over five months old, with a City Clerk pet fancier permit allowing more. Registered feral cat colony caregivers under a trap-neuter-return program get an affirmative defense to prosecution, and Section 8.08.210 requires confining any female cat or dog in season.
Cat Ownership and TNR Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code Secs. 8.08.005(d), 8.08.120(a), 8.08.210
It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under sections 8.08.030, Dognapping and catnapping; 8.08.120, Number of dogs and cats limited; 8.08.170, Licenses; and, 8.08.190, Animals not to run at large, that the animal is a feral or stray cat provided care by a Caregiver approved by the authorized TNR program. ... (a)No more than two dogs and/or three cats, over the age of five months, sh...
Microchipping
Wausau has no general pet microchipping law; the only microchip requirement in the Wausau Municipal Code sits inside the dangerous-animal ordinance, § 8.08.200(d)(4) and (e)(1), which orders an identification device implanted, at the owner's expense, in any animal the Chief of Police declares dangerous or prohibited dangerous.
Microchip Rule for Dangerous Animals, Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.200
(4)Identification. The owner or caretaker of the dangerous animal shall provide written proof from a licensed veterinarian or humane society a device which can be later detected to aid in the proper identification of the animal. The device must be numbered and the number must be provided to the chief of police or the Chief's designee. ... (e)Procedure for declaring a prohibited dangerous animal...
Coyote Management
Wausau bans feeding or baiting deer anywhere in the City under Section 8.08.255, with each day of continued feeding counted as its own violation. The only exception is feeding authorized by the Mayor to assist a program removing deer from the City; coyotes as pets are separately banned under Section 8.08.010(a)(6).
Deer Feeding Ban in Wausau
Significant RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code Sec. 8.08.255
8.08.255 - Feeding or baiting of deer.(a)Feeding or baiting prohibited. No person shall feed or bait any deer in the City of Wausau, except as provided in subsection (b) herein. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.(b)Exception. The feeding of deer may be authorized by the Mayor of the City of Wausau, solely for the purpose of assisting in any program for the re...
Pet Store Rules
Wausau bans pet stores from selling, bartering, or giving away any dog or cat under Wausau Municipal Code § 8.08.115, a "puppy mill" ordinance adopted in 2023. Stores may still host adoption events for shelters and rescues, but each animal sold in violation triggers a separate $500 civil penalty.
Pet Store Animal Sale Ban, Wausau WI
Heavy RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 8.08.115
(c)Restrictions on the sale of animals. No pet store shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of animals. Nothing in this section shall prohibit pet stores from collaborating with animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable animals provided the pet store shall not have any o...
Looking for Marathon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wausau city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Marathon County →