10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Milwaukee County does not regulate backyard chickens; each municipality's zoning controls. The City of Milwaukee allows up to four hens on residential property with a permit and one-time fee, bars roosters and on-site slaughter, and requires the coop at least 25 feet from neighboring homes.
Leash rules in Milwaukee County are municipal, not countywide. In the City of Milwaukee, Code 78-19 requires dogs to be leashed or confined, and a dog is not 'at large' only when held on a leash of six feet or less by a competent person. MADACC impounds strays countywide.
Wisconsin has no statewide preemption of breed-specific legislation, so municipalities may restrict breeds. The City of Milwaukee's Code 78-22 imposes special leash, handler-age, training and fencing rules on pit bull and Rottweiler type dogs. State law makes owners strictly liable for injuries under Wis. Stat. 174.02.
Wis. Stat. 174.02(1)(a)
The owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property.
Milwaukee County has no beekeeping ordinance; each municipality regulates hives. The City of Milwaukee has allowed beekeeping since 2010, permitting up to two colonies on private property with a permit, an inspection, neighbor notification within 200 feet, and flyway and water requirements.
Milwaukee County has no exotic-animal ordinance; keeping is controlled municipally. The City of Milwaukee Code 78-5 broadly bars any animal, bird, insect, reptile or fish that cannot be effectively vaccinated against rabies or is otherwise dangerous or detrimental to health, and may confiscate violating animals.
City of Milwaukee Code of Ordinances 78-5
No person may bring into or keep in the city, for sale or otherwise, either for food or for any other purposes whatsoever, any animal which is not able to be effectively vaccinated against rabies, or any animal dead or alive, bird, insect, reptile or fish which is otherwise dangerous or detrimental to health.
Feeding wild animals is regulated municipally in Milwaukee County and by the Wisconsin DNR for deer. The City of Milwaukee restricts bird feeders to rodent-proof designs and caps them at four per premises, and declares feral pigeons, starlings and English sparrows public nuisances that may be removed.
Milwaukee County does not regulate livestock; municipal zoning controls. The City of Milwaukee prohibits harboring, raising or possessing fowl, cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys, geese or pigeons except at places approved by the Health Officer.
Animal hoarding in Milwaukee County is addressed through Wisconsin's cruelty statutes. Wis. Stat. 951.02 bars treating any animal in a cruel manner, and 951.13 requires sufficient food and water for confined animals. MADACC and humane officers seize neglected animals; the City of Milwaukee four-animal limit also curbs accumulation.
Wis. Stat. 951.02(1)
No person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person or another, in a cruel manner.
Milwaukee County sets no countywide pet limit. In the City of Milwaukee, Code 78-5 caps a household at four dogs, cats or rabbits over five months old; a fifth is allowed in a single- or two-family unit only with an animal fancier permit, never in a multiple-dwelling unit.
City of Milwaukee Code of Ordinances 78-5
No person may keep, harbor, shelter or possess at any time more than 4 rabbits, dogs or cats or any combination thereof which are over the age of 5 months unless the person holds a valid animal fancier permit.
All 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County require dogs and cats to be licensed annually, and Wisconsin law requires cats over five months old to be current on rabies vaccination. MADACC issues pet licenses and rabies tags countywide; proof of rabies immunization is required to license a cat.
Wis. Stat. 95.21(2)(a)
The owner of a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian... at no later than 5 months of age and revaccinated within one year after the initial vaccination.
4 cities in Milwaukee County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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