Local regulation of fowl.
AB685 establishes a framework for local governments to regulate the keeping of fowl while simultaneously ensuring that residents can maintain small-scale livestock without undue local restrictions. While the bill empowers property owners and certain lessors to keep fowl, it does allow local governments to enforce reasonable regulations such as permit requirements, notifications to adjacent property owners, and specific location regulations for fowl housing. Moreover, local governments will retain the authority to prohibit the keeping of roosters, which is often a source of noise complaints in residential areas.
Assembly Bill 685 (AB685) aims to create a statutory provision that regulates the keeping of certain fowl such as chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and guinea fowl in residential areas across Wisconsin. The bill specifically prohibits local governmental units, which encompass cities, villages, towns, counties, and sewerage districts, from entirely banning residents from owning up to four fowl in residentially zoned properties. This provision is designed to facilitate urban agriculture and promote self-sufficiency among homeowners.
As AB685 progresses through the legislative process, its impact on urban agriculture, local government authority, and community dynamics will be evaluated. Should this bill pass, it may set a precedent for similar legislation across the states, influencing the landscape of city ordinances related to urban farming and small livestock ownership.
The introduction of AB685 may spark debates surrounding local autonomy versus state intervention. Proponents of the bill argue that it encourages urban farming and sustainability, aligning with the desires of more residents to engage in food production even within city limits. However, critics may worry that it undermines local governing bodies' abilities to tailor regulations to unique community needs and concerns. This contention is central to discussions about how much regulation should be centralized versus maintained at the local level, especially regarding noise and property rights.