Animal Ordinances in Winnebago County, WI (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Winnebago County zoning caps backyard flocks at 4 hens, bans roosters and on-site slaughter, and requires a covered enclosure set back 25 feet from a neighbor's home, in towns where the county's zoning code applies.
Winnebago County Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County Code Ch. 23 Sec. 23.8-444
(a) Number. No more than 4 chickens may be kept. (b) Roosters. The keeping of roosters is prohibited. (c) Slaughter of chickens prohibited. The slaughter of chickens on the premises is prohibited. (d) Enclosure requirements. Chickens shall be provided with a covered enclosure and must be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced enclosure at all times. (e) S...
Dog Leash Laws
On Winnebago County park property, dogs and other domesticated animals must stay on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, with narrow on-leash exceptions for boat landings and the Community Park shared path. It's a park rule, not a county-wide leash law for the towns.
Winnebago County Park Dog Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County Code Ch. 19 § 19.13(2)
With the exceptions as noted in Section 19.13(1) no person shall bring or permit any domesticated animal onto Park property at any time unless the animal is on a leash of suitable strength with a maximum length of six (6) feet. (3) The following rules shall apply for the Best Friends Dog Park located in the Community Park and the Jerry Finch Winneba...
Pet Limits
Winnebago County zoning defines a private kennel as no more than 3 dogs or other domesticated animals over 6 months old outside the A-1/A-2 districts, or 5 within them, before a stricter hobby-kennel classification applies.
Winnebago County Private Kennel Dog Cap
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County Code Ch. 23, Art. 3 § 17.31 (definition); Art. 8 § 23.8-471(b)
17.31 Kennel, private In the A-1 or A-2 zoning districts, a place where no more than 5 dogs or other domesticated animals over 6 months of age are housed. In all other zoning districts, a place where no more than 3 dogs or other domesticated animals over 6 months of age are housed. Domesticated animals shall not include those animals of such size or char...
Cat Rules
Winnebago County extends the state dog-licensing law to cats: anyone who owns a cat must follow the same license and rabies-vaccination rules that apply to dogs under the county kennel ordinance.
Winnebago County Cat Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County Code Ch. 11 § 11.12(1)(b); § 11.10(1)(a)-(b)
Commercial Kennel License: The rules and regulations pertaining to licensing, specifically § 174.053, Wis Stats, together with any future additions, deletions, or supplement thereto, are herewith incorporated as part of this Chapter and shall be enforced with the same force and effect as though set forth in full herein. Providing, however, that where such rules and regulations are less stringen...
Pet Store Rules
Winnebago County requires a Health Department permit to operate a pet store, plus separate permits for boarding kennels and grooming salons. The ordinance sets facility, sanitation, and feeding standards but does not restrict where a store may source dogs or cats for sale.
Winnebago County Pet Store Permits
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County Code Ch. 11 § 11.12(1)(a), (e)
Pet Store Permit: No person/firm shall operate or maintain a pet store in Winnebago County without a license/operating permit issued by the Health Officer. (b) Commercial Kennel License: The rules and regulations pertaining to licensing, specifically � 174.053, Wis Stats, together with any future additions, deletio...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In towns that have adopted Winnebago County's zoning chapter, general and small-animal veterinary clinics must meet the same animal-shelter standards: animals confined indoors, noise inaudible past the property line, and any outdoor exercise run kept 200 feet from residential zoning districts.
Winnebago County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County Code Ch. 23 §§ 23.8-328, 23.8-329
23.8-328 Veterinary clinic, general (a) The standards applicable to animal shelters apply to general veterinary clinics. (b) A veterinary facility located in an A-1 District must either service primarily livestock or meet s. 91.01(1) stats. 23.8-329 Veterinary clinic, small animal The standards applicable to animal shelters apply to small animal veterinary clinics.
Animal Ordinances by City in Winnebago County
1 cities in Winnebago County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Winnebago County ordinances
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