2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1731/1
EVM:cdc
2025 SENATE BILL 44
February 12, 2025 - Introduced by Senator CABRAL-GUEVARA, cosponsored by
Representatives SORTWELL, BEHNKE, GOEBEN, MIRESSE, PIWOWARCZYK,
STROUD and WICHGERS. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local
Government.
AN 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:
SECTION 1. 66.0443 of the statutes is created to read:
66.0443 Local regulation of fowl. (1) In this section:
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3 2025 - 2026 Legislature
SENATE BILL 44
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SECTION 1
(a) XFowlY means chickens or quail.
(b) XLocal governmental unitY means a city, village, town, county, or sewerage
district.
(2) No local governmental unit may prohibit the keeping of 4 or fewer fowl by
any of the following on a property zoned for residential use:
(a) The owner of the property. A local governmental unit may prohibit any
keeping of fowl that is inconsistent with the condominium[s declarations, bylaws,
and rules on a property that is a condominium.
(b) A lessor of the property if the property is owner-occupied.
(3) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a local governmental unit may do any of the
following with regard to the keeping of fowl:
(a) Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit.
(b) Require notification of owners of properties adjoining the property on
which fowl are to be kept.
(c) Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a
property.
(d) Prohibit the keeping of roosters.
(e) Impose reasonable cleanliness standards.
(END)
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