Animal Ordinances in West Allis, WI (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for West Allis, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
West Allis limits residential animal-keeping to a fixed list of small domestic species; chickens, goats, pigs, and other livestock aren't on it and need a health-commissioner animal fancier license instead.
West Allis Backyard Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsWest Allis Revised Municipal Code § 7.21 (Keeping of Domestic Animals)
Keeping of Domestic Animals. Prohibition No person may own, possess, keep, harbor, or have custody or control of a live domestic animal, as defined in Wis. Stat. 169.01(7) and Wis. Adm. Code ATCP 10.02, except as allowed below. ... A person make own, possess, keep, harbor, or have custody or control of a dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, mouse, rat, gerbil, hamster, guinea pig, chinchilla, fish, insect...
Dog Leash Laws
West Allis requires anyone with an animal off their own property to keep it within 6 feet of themselves and under control at all times, with escalating fines for violations.
West Allis Leash And Animal Control Law
Some RestrictionsWest Allis Revised Municipal Code § 7.21
Animals Running At Large. Every person who owns, possesses, keeps, harbors, or has custody or control of an animal shall keep the animal within 6 feet of the person and under control at all times unless the animal is on private property with the consent of the owner or occupant. Any person who violates this section shall forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $100 for the first offense and not...
Breed Restrictions
West Allis doesn't restrict dog breeds - it declares individual animals 'dangerous' or 'prohibited' based on documented behavior, then imposes confinement, muzzling, insurance, and registration duties on the owner.
West Allis Dangerous Animal Declarations
Significant RestrictionsWest Allis Revised Municipal Code § 7.125
Dangerous Animal: Any of the following, except a dog that is used by a law enforcement agency while the dog is performing law enforcement functions: - When unprovoked, the animal causes injury to a person or domesticated animal - When unprovoked and off the owner's property, the animal chases a person or domestic animal ... Registration. Within 10 days after service of a dangerous animal order,...
Exotic Pets
West Allis bans owning, keeping, or selling any live wild animal citywide, with narrow exceptions for accredited zoos, licensed vets, licensed research or educational institutions, and animals that cannot survive outside water.
West Allis Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWest Allis Revised Municipal Code § 7.21 (Keeping of Wild Animals)
Keeping of Wild Animals. Prohibition. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. 169.43, no person may own, possess, keep, harbor, sell, or have custody or control of a live wild animal except as allowed below. Any person who violates this provision shall pay a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.
Wildlife Feeding
West Allis makes it a public nuisance to put out food that attracts rats, mice, raccoons, or squirrels along with the birds -- the city has adopted Wisconsin's wildlife-feeding rule into its own animal code.
West Allis Wildlife Feeding Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsWest Allis Revised Municipal Code § 7.21(10)
Feeding Wild Animals. Wis. Adm. Code NR 19.60 is adopted as though fully set forth herein. Any material placed solely for the purpose of attracting and feeding wild birds is a public nuisance if it attract rats, mice, raccoons, squirrels, or other vermin. Penalty. Any person who violates a provision in this section for which no specific penalty is provided shall pay a forfeiture of not more th...
Pet Limits
West Allis limits a dwelling unit to 2 dogs and 4 cats over 5 months old unless an occupant holds an animal fancier license.
West Allis Household Pet Quantity Limits
Some RestrictionsWest Allis Revised Municipal Code § 7.21
Quantity Limited. All adult occupants of a dwelling unit shall ensure their dwelling unit harbors no more than 2 dogs and 4 cats within that dwelling unit, unless at least one occupant first obtains an animal fancier license. Any cats or dogs under 5 months of age shall not be counted. No person may own, keep, or harbor more than the number of dogs or cats allowed by an animal fancier license i...
Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement West Allis city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Milwaukee County →