Monroe County Ordinances

Monroe County

Article VI – Keeping of Certain Restricted Animals

Sec. 5-354 – Compliance/violation.

No person shall, unless issued a permit pursuant to section 5-356 of this article, own, harbor, or have in his or her custody any insect, spider or wild animal with vicious or dangerous propensities, with the capability to cause serious harm to the environment, to create a serious risk to public health or the health of domestic animals, or to inflict serious physical harm to humans or domestic animals including, but not limited to any of the following:

Poisonous or venomous insects, spiders or wild animals that are capable of causing serious injury to humans or other animals;
Apes: Chimpanzees (Pan), gibbons (Hylobates), gorillas (Gorilla), orangutans (Pongo), siamangs (Symphalangus);
Baboons (Papoi, mandrillus);
Bears (Ursidae);
Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus);
Crocodilians (Crocodilia);
Constrictor snakes greater than ten feet in length;
Leopards (Panthera pardus);
Elephants (Elephas and Loxodonta);
Jaguars (Panthera onca);
Hyenas (Hyaenidae);
Wolves (Canis lupus);
Coyotes (Canis latrans);
Hippopotami (Hippopotamidae);
Lions (Panthera leo);
Lynxes (Lynx);
Pumas (Felis concolor); also known as cougars, mountain lions and panthers;
Rhinoceroses (Rhinocero tidae);
Snow leopards (Panthera unicia);
Tigers (Panthera tigris);
Monkeys, old world (Ceropithecidae);
Wolverines (Gulo gulo);
Fishers (Martes pennanti);
Martens (Martes);
Wild Russian boars (Sus scrofa);
Bobcats (Lynx rufus);
Ocelots (Felis pardalis);
Animals prohibited under Wisconsin Statue or Administrative Code;
Hybrids or crossbreeds of any of the above including those crossed with domestic animals;
Savannah cat.

Sec. 5-355 – Exemptions.

This article shall not apply to insects, spiders or wild animals in the care, custody or control of:
1. A veterinarian for medical treatment;
2. An itinerant or transient carnival, circus or other show;
3. A public or private educational, scientific or medical institution;
4. A county designated fostering facility; and
Are kept pursuant to regulations of or a license or permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) or Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WATCP).
This article shall not apply a person transporting insects, spiders or wild animals through the county if the person holds every license or other approval that is required by the state, province or country from which they reside and a veterinarian has filed a copy of a valid certificate of veterinary inspection with the WATCP.
A person awaiting a determination on an application for a permit under this article.

Sec. 5-356 – Permit.

Up to two permits per residence may be issued per insect, spider or wild animal type by the department for wild animals listed in section 5-354, except subsection 5-354(28).
A county resident of the age of majority may own, harbor or possess an insect, spider or wild animal that falls under the authority and jurisdiction of this article provided that a permit has been issued by the department for that insect, spider or wild animal. The permit may be issued for one year, calendar or fiscal. Renewal applications must be filed 20 days before the expiration of the current permit. Application and permit fees shall be determined annually by the department.
The application for a permit shall be on a form provided by the department and shall contain the following:
1. Name of applicant;
2. Reason for owning the restricted insect, spider or wild animal;
3. Complete street address of applicant;
4. Telephone number of applicant;
5. Type of insect, spider or wild animal, age, sex, if applicable, and identifiable markings;
6. Common and scientific name of insect, spider or wild animal;
7. Permission from the applicant for the department to inspect, at reasonable times, the buildings and land where the insect, spider or wild animal is or will be housed; and
8. Any other information deemed relevant by the department.
A permit shall not be issued to an applicant if any of the following exist:
1. The applicant has violated chapter 5 of the General Code of the County of Monroe, Wisconsin;
2. The applicant has violated any state or federal wildlife regulations;
3. The applicant has provided false information on the application; or
4. The town prohibit the insect, spider or wild animal by ordinance.
Prior to issuing a permit the department shall do the following:
1. Inspect the facility in which the animal will be kept and determine that the facility complies with guidelines for the type of insect, spider or wild animal as set out by the WDNR, WATCP, the American Veterinary Medical Association or guidelines set out by the department. The facility inspection may be waived, by the department, for a renewal application.
2. Notify the applicant that failure to adhere to the conditions of the permit is a violation of this article and subject to applicable penalties.
3. Provide educational materials the department deems appropriate to the applicant regarding the insect, spider or wild animal.
4. Provide notice of the application to the town clerk of the applicant’s town of residence.
The permit shall require the following of the permit holder:
1. A permanent identification tattoo or other marker shall be affixed to the wild animal, if appropriate;
2. A veterinarian health inspection and statement as to appropriate vaccinations having been given, including, but not limited to, extra-label inoculation of dog hybrids with a rabies vaccine;
3. Proof that the wild animal has been spayed or neutered;
4. Provide notice of change of address to the department within 48 hours;
5. Provide notice of death of the insect, spider or wild animal within 48 hours;
6. Provide that the insect, spider or wild animal must be housed on the premises at which permit holder resides;
7. Provide that the insect, spider or wild animal must be restrained and not allowed to run at large;
8. Provide that the permit holder must report escapes immediately;
9. Provide that the permit holder must report bite or scratches within 48 hours;
10. Provide reasonable access to the department for inspection of the insect, spider or wild animal and it’s housing;
11. Provide that the wild animal shall not be chained up outdoors in an open area;
12. Take other action deemed appropriate to meet the purpose of this article as determined by the department; and
13. Proof of homeowner or renter’s insurance policy covering the insect, spider or wild animal.
In determining whether to issue a permit, the department may consider the following:
1. The experience and knowledge of the applicant in animal ownership, including but not limited to, the number of permitted wild animals the applicant owns or has owned and if the animal will be the subject of a 4-H or educational project;
2. Whether the insect, spider or wild animal will reside in a multiple residence dwelling or subdivision;
3. The potential health, safety and welfare of the public;
4. The potential health, safety and welfare of the insect, spider or wild animal;
5. The monetary costs associated with a recapture after an escape by the insect, spider or wild animal;
6. The impact to the local environment of an insect, spider or wild animal escape;
7. The proximity and density of neighbors; and
8. Other factors that the department determines essential to meet the purposes of this article.
A change of address for the animal shall void the permit and a new application must be filled.

Sec. 5-357 – Enforcement.

Upon adoption of this article, any person owning, harboring or otherwise possessing an insect, spider or wild animal that falls under the authority and jurisdiction of this article shall have 60 days to apply for a permit for the animal. Any insect, spider or wild animal falling under the jurisdiction and authority of this article which is taken into custody by the county, after that date shall be considered ownerless and shall be disposed of by the department immediately.
Any law enforcement or humane officer shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this article. Such officers are authorized to catch and impound wild animals at large with such authorization to include the pursuit of wild animals upon nonanimal-owner private property. It shall be a violation of this article to interfere with the law enforcement or humane officer or designee in the performance of their duties.
Any permit holder found to be in violation of this article, in addition to the penalties provided, may be ordered to forfeit the prohibited insect, spider or wild animal to the department for destruction or disposition as deemed proper. Prior to such forfeiture, the county may direct a transfer of the animal to a qualified zoological, educational, or scientific institution or qualified private propagator for safe keeping, with the cost thereof being assessed and paid by the violator. A permit holder may appeal impoundment of the seized animal in circuit court. The county may require the appealing party to post a bond in an amount sufficient to satisfy the cost of holding and identifying the animal.
This article may be enforced by citation, injunction or civil forfeiture.

Monroe County’s Municode

Last modified: 2024-04-22

City of Sparta

Sec. 12-278 – Exotic animals.

No exotic animals shall be housed, quartered, stabled, pastured, kept, or in any manner maintained within the city limits except temporarily during special events or as otherwise specifically approved by the city council. Animals prohibited by this section include any animal that in wild state is carnivorous or that, because of its nature or physical makeup, is capable of inflicting harm on human beings or property, including, but not limited to, animals that belong to the cat family, snakes (either poisonous or that otherwise present a risk of physical harm to human beings as a result of their nature or physical makeup, including constrictors), bears, wolves, wolverines, badgers, lions, tigers and any hybrids of the same.

City of Sparta’s Municode

Last modified: 2024-04-22

City of Tomah

Sec. 8-61 – Housing of farm and exotic animals prohibited

Prohibited. No farm or exotic animals shall be housed, quartered, stabled, pastured, kept, or in any manner maintained within the city limits except temporarily during special events or as otherwise specifically approved by the city council. The raising of livestock is permitted in the A-1 agricultural district.
Applicability. The animals prohibited by this section include, but are not limited to, horses, ponies, mules, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, pigs (including potbellied pigs), chickens and roosters, geese, ducks, peacocks, ostriches, and any other farm or exotic animals. The animals prohibited by this section also include any animal, other than domestic dogs and cats, that in wild state are carnivorous or that, because of their nature or physical makeup, are capable of inflicting physical harm on human beings or property, including, but not limited to, animals that belong to the cat family, snakes (either poisonous or that otherwise present a risk of physical harm to human beings as a result of their nature or physical makeup, including constrictors), bears, wolves, wolverines, badgers, lions, tigers and any hybrids of the same.
Exception. This section shall not apply to animals that are housed, quartered, stabled, pastured, kept, or in any manner maintained within the city limits as of the date of the adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived by the city council; provided, however, that the exception granted herein shall terminate immediately upon the occurrence of any of the following:
1. Transfer of ownership of the real property, by sale or otherwise, of the property upon which the animal is housed;
2. Transfer of ownership of the animal that is subject to this exception, whether by sale or otherwise;
3. Death of the animals existing on the date of the adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived and subject to this exception; and
4. Acquisition by the owner of an animal subject to this exception of one or more additional prohibited animals.
  - The application of this exception to a specific property due to preexisting use shall not be construed so as to authorize the acquisition of additional prohibited animals but shall permit continued use only until the property or animal is sold or the animal dies. Violation of this section shall result in immediate termination of the exception.

Sec. 8-70 – Unlawful public sales of animals.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, trade, barter, lease, rent, give away or display for a commercial purpose a live animal, including dogs and cats, as well as birds and reptiles, along the roadside, public right-of-way, commercial parking lots, private property, or at an outdoor special sale, swap meet, flea market, garage or yard sale, parking lot sale or similar event within the city.

This section does not apply to:

An event, such as the county fair, animal exhibitions or shows, 4-H activities, and other activities or events that are regulated by other state departments or county agencies;
A tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of providing humane sanctuary or shelter for abandoned or unwanted animals;
Retail sales on the premises of a licensed pet store.

City of Tomah’s Municode

Last modified: 2024-04-22

Village of Cashton

Sec. 7-1-12 – Prohibited and protected animals, fowl, reptiles and insects.

Protected animals.
- Possession and sale of protected animals. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to possess with intent to sell or offer for sale, or buy or attempt to buy, within the village any of the following animals, alive or dead, or any part or product thereof: all wild cats of the family felidae, polar bear (thalarctos maritimus), red wolf (canis niger), vicuna (vicugna vicugna), gray or timber wolf (canis lupus), sea otter (enhydra lutris), Pacific ridley turtle (lepidochelys olivacea), Atlantic green turtle (chelonia mydas), Mexican ridley turtle (lepidochelys kempi).
- Compliance with federal regulations. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to buy, sell or offer for sale a native or foreign species or subspecies of mammal, bird, amphibian or reptile, or the dead body or parts thereof, which appears on the endangered species list designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior and published in the Code of Federal Regulations pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 USC 1531 et seq.
- Regulating the importation of certain birds. No person, firm or corporation shall import or cause to be imported into this village any part of the plumage, skin or dead body of any species of hawk, owl or eagle. This subsection shall not be construed to forbid or restrict the importation or use of the plumage, skin, body or any part thereof legally collected for use by the American Indians for ceremonial purposes or in the preservation of their tribal customs and heritage.
Exceptions. The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not be deemed to prevent the lawful importation, possession, purchase or sale of any species by any public agency, institute of higher learning, persons holding federal permits, or by a person holding a scientific collectors permit issued by the secretary of the state department of natural resources, or to any person or organization licensed to present a circus.
Wild animals; prohibition on keeping. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the village any poisonous reptile or any other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal, insect or reptile, any vicious or dangerous domesticated animal or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities. Specifically, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the village any of the following animals, reptiles or insects:
1. All poisonous animals and reptiles, including rear-fang snakes.
2. Apes.
  1. Chimpanzees (Pan);
  2. Gibbons (Hylobates);
  3. Gorillas (Gorilla);
  4. Orangutans (Pongo);
  5. Ans siamangs (Symphalangus).
3. Baboons (Papoi, Mandrillus).
4. Bears (Ursidae).
5. Bison (Bison).
6. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).
7. Crocodilians (Crocodilia), 30 inches in length or more.
8. Constrictor snakes.
9. Coyotes (Canis latrans).
10. Deer (Cervidae), including all members of the deer family; for example, whitetailed deer, elk, antelope and moose.
11. Elephants (Elephas and Loxodonta).
12. Ferret.
13. Game cocks and other fighting birds.
14. Hippopotami (Hippopotamidae).
15. Hyenas (Hyaenidae).
16. Jaguars (Panthera onca).
17. Leopards (Panthera pardus).
18. Lions (Panthera leo).
19. Lynxes (Lynx).
20. Monkeys, old world (Cercopithecidae).
21. Ostriches (Struthio).
22. Pumas (Felis concolor); also known as cougars, mountain lions and panthers.
23. Rhinoceroses (Rhinocero tidae).
24. Sharks (class Chondrichthyes).
25. Snow leopards (Panthera uncia).
26. Tigers (Panthera tigris).
27. Wolves (Canis lupus).
28. Poisonous insects.
Exceptions; pet shops. The prohibitions of subsection (c) of this section shall not apply where the creatures are in the care, custody or control of a veterinarian for treatment; agricultural fairs; shows or projects of the 4-H Clubs; a display for judging purposes; an itinerant or transient carnival, circus or other show; dog or cat shows or trials; public or private educational institutions; licensed pet shops; zoological gardens; if:
1. Their location conforms to the provisions of title 13, zoning code.
2. All animals and animal quarters are kept in a clean and sanitary condition and so maintained as to eliminate objectionable odors.
3. Animals are maintained in quarters so constructed as to prevent their escape.
4. No person lives or resides within 100 feet of the quarters in which the animals are kept.
Farm animals. No farm animals, including but not limited to horses, cows, mules and other livestock, shall be kept within village limits except in areas zoned for agricultural use.
License requirement.
1. Any person who owns, keeps or harbors chickens in the Village of Cashton shall obtain an annual license prior to January 1 of each year, or within 30 days of acquiring the chickens. The term year of license commences on January 1 and ends the following December 31. Residents deciding to own, keep, or harbor chickens for successive years must obtain a new license for each term year they own, keep, or harbor such chickens.
2. In the event a complaint has been filed with the village prior to renewal of said license within the calendar year prior to renewal, all applicants must receive written approval from not less than 50 percent of the owner-occupied neighboring property owners whose property is within 100 feet of the applicant’s property lines exclusive of street right-a-way prior to approval of said license by the common council. If no complaint has been received, the license application shall be sent to the board of trustees at the regular board meeting for consideration.
3. Applications shall be made to the village clerk and the fee for the license shall be in the amount established by resolution.
4. The village clerk-treasurer shall collect the fee and shall assess and collect a late fee in the amount established by resolution from every owner of chickens, if the owner fails to obtain a license prior to April 1 of each year, or fails to obtain a license within 30 days of acquiring the chickens. All late fees received or collected shall be paid to the local treasury.
5. No person shall own, keep, or harbor any chickens, or build, erect, maintain and use any chicken coop, house, yard, or other building or structure to keep or harbor chickens anywhere within the village without obtaining a license as required by this section.
6. The Village of Cashton and its officials may revoke a license if there are three or more violations within any consecutive 12-month period of this or any other section of this Code.
7. All applicants must notify the owner or operator of the property, and have written permission from said owner/operator if the applicant is not the owner or operator. Notification is not required for renewal of permit.
Use conditions. Any owner, occupier, or user of property within the Village of Cashton who chooses to own, keep, or harbor chickens and any chicken coop permitted under this section shall be limited to the following conditions:
1. One property if limited to the keeping or harboring of up to five chickens.
2. A person may only own, keep, or harbor chickens on property being used as a single-family residential dwelling.
3. No person shall keep any rooster.
4. No person shall slaughter any chickens.
5. The chickens shall be provided with a covered enclosure and must be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced enclosure within the backyard at ALL times.
6. No enclosure shall be located closer than 25 feet to any residential structure or an adjacent lot.
Public health and safety concerns
1. No person shall keep any chicken or other fowl within the Village of Cashton if any unsanitary condition or within such proximity of dwelling houses or in any manner so as to be a nuisance.
2. All chicken coops, yards, and other buildings shall be kept in a clean, sanitary condition and free from all objectionable odors and shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the Village of Cashton and the county health department or their agents.
3. The county health department and their agents shall have jurisdiction to inspect the premises upon which chickens are kept and ascertain and determine whether the conditions are unsanitary or if for any reason a nuisance is caused thereby.
4. A complaint against any person owning, keeping, or harboring chickens in accordance with this section may be filed with the county health department of public health. If filed with the village, the village shall then be required to forward the complaint to the county health department. If the county health department, the Village of Cashton, or their agents determines that conditions are unsanitary, or if for any reason a nuisance exists, they shall have authority to order the owner or occupant of the premises to abate the nuisance and it shall thereupon be unlawful to keep such chickens on the premises.
5. If an investigation from the village reveals that the use of chickens is in violation of this section or any other section of this Code, the village shall have authority to require the owner or user of the property to fix, abate, or alleviate the problem. If the problem is not satisfactorily abated or alleviated the Village of Cashton shall have authority to revoke the license.
Bird noise. In accordance with this section, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or other entity operating, having charge of, or occupying any building to own, keep, harbor, or allow to be kept any chicken which shall habitually by any noise disturb the peace and quiet of any person in the vicinity thereof.
Rat harborage to be prevented. All chicken yards, coops, pens, or houses shall be constructed or repaired as to prevent rats from being harbored underneath the same or within the walls thereof, and all food products or other products, goods, or wares likely to attract or to become infested with or infected by rats shall be protected as to prevent rats from gaining access thereto or coming in contact therewith.

Village of Cashton’s Municode

Last modified: 2024-04-22

Village of Kendall

Unavailable at time of publication.

Village of Kendall’s Website

Last modified: 2024-04-22

Village of Norwalk

SEC. 7-1-12 – KEEPING OF FARM ANIMALS RESTRICTED.

No stable, hog pen, poultry coop, yard, rabbit, fox or mink hutch or other building or pen used for the purpose of confining or housing any animals or poultry shall here after by erected, placed, rebuilt, or reconstructed upon any lot of ground within the limits of the Village of Norwalk with the exceptions as herein after provided.
Existing stables and barns. Any house or building now in use in said village for the purpose of confining or housing any domestic animals or poultry, shall be conditioned in such manner that it can be kept clean, sanitary and inoffensive at all times, and shall be provided with fly-tight bins or tightly closed receptacles for manure of such dimensions as to contain all accumulations of manure, which shall be removed at least twice every week from May 1st to October 31st, and once a week from November 1st to April 30th, and in such a manner as to prevent its becoming a nuisance. No manure, litter, or other refuse shall be allowed to accumulate on the floor of such buildings or upon adjacent grounds, under any circumstances what so ever.

Village of Norwalk’s Ordinances

Last modified: 2024-04-22