February 17, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Behnke, Goeben, Miresse, Piwowarczyk, Stroud and Wichgers, cosponsored by Senator Cabral-Guevara. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
AB42,1,1
1An Act to create 66.0443 of the statutes; relating to: local regulation of fowl. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits political subdivisions and sewerage districts from prohibiting the keeping of up to four chickens or quail (fowl) by property owners or certain lessors on properties zoned for residential use. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions and sewerage districts to do any of the following with regard to the keeping of fowl:
1. Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit.
2. Require notification of adjoining land owners.
3. Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a property.
4. Prohibit the keeping of roosters.
5. Impose reasonable cleanliness standards.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
AB42,12Section 1. 66.0443 of the statutes is created to read: AB42,1,3366.0443 Local regulation of fowl. (1) In this section: AB42,2,1
1(a) “Fowl” means chickens or quail. AB42,2,32(b) “Local governmental unit” means a city, village, town, county, or sewerage 3district. AB42,2,54(2) No local governmental unit may prohibit the keeping of 4 or fewer fowl by 5any of the following on a property zoned for residential use: AB42,2,86(a) The owner of the property. A local governmental unit may prohibit any 7keeping of fowl that is inconsistent with the condominium’s declarations, bylaws, 8and rules on a property that is a condominium. AB42,2,99(b) A lessor of the property if the property is owner-occupied. AB42,2,1110(3) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a local governmental unit may do any of the 11following with regard to the keeping of fowl: AB42,2,1212(a) Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit. AB42,2,1413(b) Require notification of owners of properties adjoining the property on 14which fowl are to be kept. AB42,2,1615(c) Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a 16property. AB42,2,1717(d) Prohibit the keeping of roosters. AB42,2,1818(e) Impose reasonable cleanliness standards.
