Animal Ordinances in Dane County, WI (2026)

6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Dane County, Wisconsin.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Dane County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply — see the city list below.

Chickens & Livestock

Madison General Ordinance §9.52 allows up to 4 chicken hens per residential property with $10 license; roosters banned. Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton allow backyard hens with permits. Dane County Zoning Ch. 10 reserves larger livestock to ag districts. WI §93.90 Right to Farm protects ag operations.

animals/chickens-livestock

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Dog Leash Laws

Dane County Chapter 47 requires dogs to be under control of the owner at all times in unincorporated areas. Dogs running at large are prohibited.

Dane County Dog Leash Laws

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Breed Restrictions

Dane County does not have breed-specific legislation. All dog breeds are permitted in unincorporated areas; dangerous dog determinations are made on individual behavior under Chapter 47.

Dane County Dog Breed Restrictions

Few Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is permitted as an agricultural use in Dane County. Wisconsin DATCP apiary registration (Wis. Stat. §93.45) is required. County zoning (Chapter 10) classifies domestic beekeeping as a distinct land use.

Dane County Beekeeping Rules

Few Restrictions

Dane County Code of Ordinances, ch. 10.103(10)(c)-(d) (Domestic fowl and beekeeping)

(c) Bees. The keeping of honeybees in the yards of single family residences or duplexes located in any zoning district shall be a permitted use, if the use complies with the following: 1. Each residential lot shall be allowed to have at least 6 hives per lot. For residential lots over 10,000 square feet, no more than one hive per 1,600 square feet of lot area is permitted. 2. A supply of water ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Exotic Pets

Dane County Chapter 47 addresses dangerous animals. Wisconsin DNR licensing is required for most exotic/wild animals. Possessing unregistered exotic wildlife is illegal under state law.

Dane County Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Wildlife Feeding

Wisconsin Stat. §29.335 bans deer baiting and feeding statewide in counties with CWD positives, including Dane County. Madison (MGO §9.22) prohibits feeding deer, turkeys, and waterfowl on public land. Dane County Code §46.06 prohibits wildlife feeding that creates nuisance conditions.