Backyard Chickens in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Can you keep chickens in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee has welcomed backyard hens since 2011, letting residents raise up to four egg-laying chickens with a simple city permit. Whether you're in Bay View, Riverwest, or the East Side, here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens wants you to know before you start your flock.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chicken keeping is legal in the City of Milwaukee. As of July 28, 2011, residents may keep hens with a permit under Milwaukee Code of Ordinances §78-6.5, "Keeping of Chickens in the City." Up to 4 hens are allowed on a residential premise only (not on commercial or mixed-use properties), and roosters are prohibited. Applicants must file a Chicken Coop Site Plan Form (DNS-362) with the Department of Neighborhood Services, and DNS will notify all directly and diagonally abutting neighbors, who have an opportunity to object and trigger a hearing before a permit is issued.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 4
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $35.56
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Milwaukee

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Coops must be constructed in a workmanlike, moisture-resistant manner and be raised off the ground or placed on a hard surface (concrete, patio block, or gravel).
Coops and yards must be built so they do not hold standing water, and must be cleaned of droppings, uneaten feed, feathers, and other waste daily.
Coop and yard space together must total at least 16 square feet per chicken; coops cannot exceed 50 square feet or be taller than 10 feet.
Enclosures may not be closer than 25 feet to any residential structure on an adjacent lot and cannot be located in a dwelling's front yard.
Chickens must always have fresh water and adequate feed, and a sanitary, adequately-sized covered enclosure; coops/enclosures may not be housed inside homes or garages.
Slaughtering chickens is prohibited within city limits.
Chickens may not create a nuisance, unhealthy condition, or public-health threat; unusual illness or death must be reported to the Health Department.
A revoked permit cannot be reissued.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Milwaukee

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6a/5b (Humid Continental)

Milwaukee has cold, snowy winters (often well below freezing with lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan) and warm, humid summers. Coops should be insulated and draft-free for winter while providing good ventilation and shade in summer to prevent heat stress.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxOpossum

In dense urban Milwaukee neighborhoods, raccoons and hawks are the most commonly reported chicken predators, with foxes and opossums also present in parks and green corridors along the rivers and lakefront. Secure, fully enclosed coops and covered runs are essential since Milwaukee's ordinance already requires coops to be predator-resistant and free of standing water or nuisance conditions.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Orpington, Australorp

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Milwaukee

▸How many chickens can I keep in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee residents may keep up to 4 chickens (hens only) on a residential premise with a valid permit.

▸Are roosters allowed in Milwaukee?

No. The Milwaukee ordinance specifically prohibits roosters within city limits.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Milwaukee?

Yes. You must submit a Chicken Coop Site Plan Form (DNS-362) and pay a one-time fee of $35.56 to the Department of Neighborhood Services. Your neighbors will be notified and may object, potentially triggering a hearing.

▸How far must my coop be from my neighbor's house?

Coop enclosures must be at least 25 feet from any residential structure on an adjacent lot, and cannot be placed in a front yard.

▸Can I slaughter chickens at home in Milwaukee?

No. The ordinance explicitly states that no person may slaughter chickens within the city.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Milwaukee or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 2, 2026.