Animal Ordinances in Sauk County, WI (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Sauk County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Sauk County, Sec. 7.047 lets a homeowner in the single-family, multiple-family or rural community districts, and on AG or EA lots with an occupied dwelling, keep up to six chickens on a lot under two acres, or 12 on two acres or more. Roosters and crowing cockerels are banned outright, coops must be described in the land use permit application, and poultry must stay fenced off neighboring land.
Sauk County Limits Backyard Poultry
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 7.047
These standards apply to poultry and egg production in SFR, MFR, and RUC zoning districts and on lots zoned EA and AG that have an occupied dwelling on the same lot only, and do not effect poultry and egg production as an agricultural use. (1)Number. If less than two acres, the number of poultry kept shall not exceed six per lot on the same lot as the dwelling. If two acres or more, the number ...
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Sauk County, Sec. 27.006(1) keeps every animal, not only dogs, under restraint and bars it from running at large; owners must also prevent nuisance behavior under (2), and a female dog in heat must be confined under (3) unless a planned breeding is underway.
Sauk County animal restraint and at-large law
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 27.006(1)-(3)
(1)All animals shall be kept under restraint and shall not be permitted to run at large.(2)All owners shall exercise proper care and control of their animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance.(3)Every female dog in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such manner that the female dog cannot come in contact with another animal, except for planned breeding.
Breed Restrictions
Sauk County bans no specific dog breed; instead Sec. 27.006(4) lets an animal control officer or any law enforcement officer declare an individual animal 'vicious' after an unprovoked attack, then requires strict indoor confinement, muzzling and a four-foot leash whenever the animal leaves the owner's property.
Sauk County vicious animal confinement rule
Significant RestrictionsSauk County Code § 27.006(4)
(4)Any animal declared "vicious" as defined in Section 27.02 of this ordinance shall comply with the following requirements:(a)While on the owner's property, a vicious animal must be:1.Securely confined indoors.2.Kept in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping.(b)While off the owner's premis...
Beekeeping
Sauk County treats backyard beekeeping as part of the same residential secondary standard that covers poultry. Sec. 7.047(5)(b) requires any beekeeping-related structure, such as a hive stand, to sit at least 100 feet from a side or rear yard, four times the 25-foot setback the section sets for poultry coops, with the road right-of-way setback following Sec. 7.098 instead.
Sauk County Sets Beekeeping Setback Rule
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 7.047(5)
(5)Setbacks.(a)Poultry related structures shall be located no less than 25 feet from any side or rear yard. The setback from the road right-of-way shall be as specified in Section 7.098.(b)Beekeeping related structures shall be located no less than 100 feet from any side or rear yard. The setback from the road right-of-way shall be as specified in Section 7.098.
Exotic Pets
Sauk County does not ban keeping exotic animals such as ferrets, primates or wild species; Sec. 27.010 instead requires the animal be contained in an escape-proof pen or enclosure, leaves any sale or possession ban to individual cities and towns, and bills the owner for any county response.
Sauk County exotic animal containment law
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 27.010
(1)Any exotic animal kept in the County shall be contained in a pen or enclosure of proper size and strength as to prohibit the animal's escape.(2)It shall be the duty of each individual city, town, or local municipality to regulate or implement any ordinance concerning the sale or keeping of exotic animals, as they see fit. If at any time, County personnel are needed in order to contain, captu...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Sauk County does not mandate spaying or neutering; Sec. 27.005(1)(k) instead sets a two-tier annual dog license fee, $10.00 for an unaltered dog and $5.00 once a veterinarian certifies the dog has been rendered sterile, applying countywide to any dog over five months old.
Sauk County dog license sterilization fee
Few RestrictionsSauk County Code § 27.005(1)(k)
(k)A license shall be issued after showing evidence of current rabies vaccination and payment of the applicable fee. Evidence of neutering, spaying or other method of rendering the animal sterile, from a veterinarian, shall be required.1.For each dog not rendered sterile: $10.00.2.For each dog rendered sterile: $5.00.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Sauk County's zoning code allows veterinary clinics and animal-grooming businesses across several zoning districts, but in the Exclusive Agriculture district, Section 7.085 only allows the use to care primarily for livestock, not household pets. The county also treats veterinary clinics as a moderate-parking use, requiring 4.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Sauk County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code §§ 7.085, 7.092(5)(b)
Sec. 7.085. - Animal grooming, veterinary clinic—Secondary standards. In the exclusive agricultural district, this use is only allowed to care primarily for livestock. ... (b)Moderate parking. Space shall be provided to park 4.5 vehicles per 1,000 feet of floor area or one vehicle per four beds or chairs, as applicable, whichever number is more restrictive. ... 8.Animal grooming, veterinary cli...
Bird Protection
Sauk County bars disturbing waterfowl, other birds or animals within any county park or parkway, and prohibits robbing or disturbing any bird's nest or eggs there. The rule sits in the general park rules enforced by the Land Resources and Environment Department and the Sheriff's Department.
Sauk County Park Waterfowl and Bird Protection
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 10.07(g)
(g)Disturbing waterfowl. No person or person having immediate care, custody or control of a dog or animal shall unnecessarily disturb any waterfowl or other birds or animals, wild or domestic, within any of the parks or parkways. Nor shall any person rob or disturb the nest or eggs of any bird or other animal therein.
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