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Village of Belleville, WI
Dane County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Belleville as Title 7, Ch. 1, of the 1994 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 390.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 395.
In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Mammals, reptiles and birds.
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner and not under the control of some person by leash, but a dog or cat within an automobile of its owner, or in an automobile of any other person with the consent of the owner of said dog or cat, shall be deemed to be upon the owner's premises.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2003-08-01]
CAT
Any feline, regardless of age or sex.
CRUEL
Causing unnecessary and excessive pain or suffering or unjustifiable injury or death.
DOG
Any canine, regardless of age or sex.
FARM ANIMAL
Any warm-blooded animal normally raised on farms in the United States and used for food or fiber.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Has that meaning as appears in § 967.02(5), Wis. Stats., and includes a humane officer under § 173.03, Wis. Stats., but does not include a conservation warden appointed under § 23.10, Wis. Stats.
NEUTERED
As used herein describing a dog or cat shall mean a dog or cat having nonfunctional reproductive organs.
OWNER
Any person owning, harboring or keeping a dog or cat and the occupant of any premises on which a dog or cat remains or to which it customarily returns daily for a period of 10 days; such person is presumed to be harboring or keeping the dog or cat within the meaning of this chapter.
PET
An animal kept and treated as a pet.
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 7-1-1(a), License required, which immediately preceded this section, was repealed 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09-01. See § 191-3.
A. 
Rabies vaccination. The owner of a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian at no later than five months of age and revaccinated within one year after the initial vaccination. If the owner obtains the dog or cat or brings the dog or cat into the Village of Belleville after the dog or cat has reached five months of age, the owner shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies within 30 days after the dog or cat is brought into the Village, unless the dog or cat has been vaccinated as evidenced by a current certificate of rabies vaccination. The owner of a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat revaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian before the date that immunization expires as stated on the certificate of vaccination or, if no date is specified, within three years after the previous vaccination. The certificate of vaccination shall meet the requirements of § 95.21(2), Wis. Stats.
[Amended 1-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-01-02; 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09-01]
B. 
Issuance of certificate of rabies vaccination. A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall complete and issue to the owner a certificate of rabies vaccination bearing a serial number and in the form approved by the Village stating the owner's name and address, the name, sex, spayed or unspayed, neutered or unneutered, breed and color of the dog or cat, the date of the vaccination, the type of rabies vaccination administered and the manufacturer's serial number, the date that the immunization expires as specified for that type of vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Village.
C. 
Copies of certificate. The veterinarian shall keep a copy of each certificate of rabies vaccination in a file maintained for this purpose until the date that the immunization expires or until the dog or cat is revaccinated, whichever occurs first.
D. 
Rabies vaccination tag. After issuing the certificate of rabies vaccination, the veterinarian shall deliver to the owner a rabies vaccination tag of durable material bearing the same serial number as the certificate, the year the vaccination was given and the name, address and telephone number of the veterinarian.
E. 
Tag to be attached. The owner shall attach the rabies vaccination tag or a substitute tag to a collar or harness, and the collar or harness shall be kept on the dog or cat at all times. This requirement does not apply to a dog or cat during competition or training, to a dog while hunting, to a dog or cat securely confined indoors or to a dog or cat securely confined in a fenced area. The substitute tag shall be of a durable material and contain the same information as the rabies vaccination tag. The requirements of this subsection do not apply to a dog or cat which is not required to be vaccinated under Subsection A.
[Amended 1-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-01-02[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
F. 
Duplicate tag. The veterinarian may furnish a new rabies vaccination tag with a new serial number to an owner in place of the original tag upon presentation of the certificate of rabies vaccination. The veterinarian shall then indicate the new tag number on the certificate and keep a record in the file.
G. 
Cost. The owner shall pay the cost of the rabies vaccination and the cost associated with the issuance of a certificate of rabies vaccination and the delivery of a rabies vaccination tag.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person in the Village of Belleville to own, harbor or keep any dog or cat more than five months of age without complying with the provisions of §§ 174.05 through 174.10, Wis. Stats., relating to the listing, licensing and tagging of the same.
B. 
The owner of any dog or cat more than five months of age on January 1 of any year, or five months of age within the license year, shall annually, or on or before the date the dog or cat becomes five months of age, pay a license tax and obtain a license.
C. 
The minimum license tax under this section for spayed females or neutered males shall be as prescribed in the Village Fee Schedule. The minimum fee for unspayed or unneutered animals shall be as prescribed in the Village Fee Schedule. The license year shall commence January 1 and end December 31.
D. 
Upon payment of the required license tax and upon presentation of evidence that the dog or cat is currently immunized against rabies, as required by § 191-2 of this chapter, the Village Clerk/Treasurer shall complete and issue to the owner a license for such dog or cat containing all information required by state law. The Village Clerk/Treasurer shall also deliver to the owner, at the time of issuance of the license, a tag of durable material bearing the same serial number as the license, the name of the county in which issued and the license year.
E. 
The owner shall securely attach the tag to a collar, and the collar with the tag attached shall be kept on the dog or cat for which the license is issued at all times, except as provided in § 191-2E.
F. 
The fact that a dog or cat is without a tag attached to the dog or cat by means of a collar shall be presumptive evidence that the dog or cat is unlicensed. Any law enforcement or humane officer shall seize, impound or restrain any dog or cat for which a dog or cat license is required which is found without such tag attached.
G. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, every dog specifically trained to lead blind or deaf persons is exempt from the dog license tax, and every person owning such a dog shall receive annually a free dog license from the Village Clerk/Treasurer upon application therefor.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The Village Clerk/Treasurer shall assess and collect a late fee as provided in the Village Fee Schedule from every owner of a dog or cat five months of age or over if the owner failed to obtain a license prior to April 1 of each year, or within 30 days of acquiring ownership of a licensable dog or cat, or if the owner failed to obtain a license on or before the dog or cat reached licensable age. Said late fee shall be charged in addition to the required license fee.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
Dogs and cats confined. If a district is quarantined for rabies, all dogs and cats within the Village shall be kept securely confined, tied, leashed or muzzled. Any dog or cat not confined, tied, leashed or muzzled is declared a public nuisance and may be impounded. All officers shall cooperate in the enforcement of the quarantine. The Village Clerk/Treasurer shall promptly post in at least three public places in the Village notices of quarantine.
B. 
Exemption of vaccinated dog or cat from Village quarantine. A dog or cat which is immunized currently against rabies, as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence, is exempt from the Village quarantine provisions of Subsection A if a rabies vaccination tag or substitute tag is attached to the dog's or cat's collar.
C. 
Quarantine or sacrifice of an animal suspected of biting a person or being infected or exposed to rabies.
(1) 
Quarantine or sacrifice of dog or cat. An officer or animal warden shall order a dog or cat quarantined if the officer has reason to believe that the animal bit a person, is infected with rabies or has been in contact with a rabid animal. If a quarantine cannot be imposed because the dog or cat cannot be captured, the officer may kill the animal. The officer shall attempt to kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal's head.
(2) 
Sacrifice of other animals. An officer may order killed or may kill an animal other than a dog or cat if the officer has reason to believe that the animal bit a person or is infected with rabies.
D. 
Quarantine of dog or cat.
(1) 
Delivery to isolation facility or quarantine on premises of owner. An officer or animal warden who orders a dog or cat to be quarantined shall deliver the animal or shall order the animal delivered to an isolation facility as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after the original order is issued or the officer may order the animal to be quarantined on the premises of the owner if the animal is immunized currently against rabies as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence.
(2) 
Health risk to humans. If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal bit a person, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal under strict isolation under the supervision of a veterinarian for at least 10 days after the incident occurred. In this subsection, "supervision of a veterinarian" includes, at a minimum, examination of the animal on the first day of isolation, on the last day of isolation and on one intervening day. If the observation period is not extended and if the veterinarian certifies that the dog or cat has not exhibited any signs of rabies, the animal may be released from quarantine at the end of the observation period.
(3) 
Risk to animal health.
(a) 
If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal and if the dog or cat is not currently immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 180 days. The owner shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies between 155 and 165 days after the exposure to a rabid animal.
(b) 
If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal but if the dog or cat is immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 60 days. The owner shall have the animal revaccinated against rabies as soon as possible after exposure to a rabid animal.
(4) 
Destruction of a dog or cat exhibiting symptoms of rabies. If a veterinarian determines that a dog or cat exhibits symptoms of rabies during the original or extended observation period, the veterinarian shall notify the owner and the officer who ordered the animal quarantined, and the officer or veterinarian shall kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal's head. If the dog or cat is suspected to have bitten a person, the veterinarian shall notify the person or the person's physician.
E. 
Delivery of carcass; preparation; examination by Laboratory of Hygiene. An officer who kills an animal shall deliver the carcass to a veterinarian or local health department. The veterinarian or local health department shall prepare the carcass, properly prepare and package the head of the animal in a manner to minimize deterioration, arrange for delivery by the most expeditious means feasible of the head of the animal to the State Laboratory of Hygiene and dispose of or arrange for the disposal of the remainder of the carcass in a manner which minimizes the risk of exposure to any rabies virus. The Laboratory of Hygiene shall examine the specimen and determine if the animal was infected with rabies. The State Laboratory of Hygiene shall notify the Village, the veterinarian or local health department which prepared the carcass and, if the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, that person or the person's physician.
F. 
Cooperation of veterinarian. Any practicing veterinarian who is requested to be involved in the rabies control program by an officer is encouraged to cooperate in a professional capacity with the Village, the Laboratory of Hygiene, the local health department, the officer involved and, if the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, the person's physician.
G. 
Responsibility for quarantine and laboratory expenses. The owner of an animal is responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with keeping the animal in an isolation facility, supervision and examination of the animal by a veterinarian, preparation of the carcass for laboratory examination and the fee for the laboratory examination. If the owner is unknown, the county is responsible for these expenses.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2003-08-01; Ord. No. 2006-06-02]
A. 
Restrictions. It shall be unlawful for any person within the Village of Belleville to own, harbor or keep any dog or cat which:
(1) 
Habitually pursues any vehicle upon any public street, alley or highway in the Village.
(2) 
Assaults or attacks any person or destroys property.
(3) 
Is at large within the limits of the Village.
(4) 
Habitually barks, howls or yelps, or any cat which habitually cries or howls to the great discomfort of the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or in such a manner as to materially disturb or annoy persons in the neighborhood who are of ordinary sensibilities.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
(5) 
Kills, wounds or worries any domestic animal.
(6) 
Is known by such person to be infected with rabies or to have been bitten by an animal known to have been infected with rabies.
(7) 
In the case of a dog, is unlicensed.
B. 
Vicious dogs and animals.
(1) 
No vicious dog shall be allowed off the premises of its owner unless muzzled or on a leash in charge of the owner or a member of the owner's immediate family over 16 years of age. For purposes of enforcing this subsection, a dog shall be deemed as being of a vicious disposition if, within any twelve-month period, it bites two or more persons or inflicts serious injury to one person in unprovoked circumstances off the owner's premises.
(2) 
No person shall harbor or permit to remain on his or her premises any animal that is habitually inclined toward attacking persons or animals, destroying property, barking excessively or making excessive noises or running after automobiles.
C. 
Animals running at large.
(1) 
No person having in his or her possession or ownership any animal shall allow the same to run at large within the Village. The owner of any animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall keep his or her animal tied or enclosed in a proper enclosure so as not to allow said animal to interfere with the passing public or neighbors. Any animal running at large unlicensed and required by state law or Village ordinance to be licensed shall be seized and impounded by a humane or law enforcement officer or animal warden.
(2) 
A dog or cat shall not be considered to be running at large if it is on a leash and under control of a person physically able to control it when the animal is off of the owner's premises.
D. 
Owner's liability for damage caused by dogs; penalties. The provisions of § 174.02, Wis. Stats., relating to the owner's liability for damage caused by dogs, together with the penalties therein set forth, are hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference.
A. 
Animal control agency.
(1) 
The Village of Belleville may contract with or enter into an agreement with such person, persons, organization or corporation to provide for the operation of an animal shelter, impoundment of stray animals, confinement of certain animals, disposition of impounded animals and for assisting in the administration of rabies vaccination programs.
(2) 
The Village of Belleville does hereby delegate to any such animal control agency the authority to act pursuant to the provisions of this section.
B. 
Impounding of animals. In addition to any penalty hereinafter provided for a violation of this chapter, a law enforcement or animal control officer may impound any dog, cat or other animal which habitually pursues any vehicle upon any street, alley or highway of this Village, assaults or attacks any person, is at large within the Village, habitually barks, cries or howls, kills, wounds or worries any domestic animal or is infected with rabies. In order for an animal to be impounded, the impounding officer must see or hear the violation of this chapter or have in his or her possession a signed statement of a complaining witness made under oath alleging the facts regarding the violation and containing an agreement to reimburse the Village for any damages it sustains for improper or illegal seizure.
C. 
Claiming animal; disposal of unclaimed animals. After seizure of animals under this section by a law enforcement or animal control officer, the animal shall be impounded. The officer shall notify the owner, personally or through the United States mail, if such owner is known to the officer or can be ascertained with reasonable effort, but if such owner is unknown or unascertainable, the officer shall post written notice in three public places in the Village giving a description of the animal and stating where it is impounded and the conditions for its release, after the officer or warden has taken such animal into his or her possession. If within seven days after such notice the owner does not claim such animal, the officer may dispose of the animal in a proper and humane manner, provided that, if an animal before being impounded has bitten a person, the animal shall be retained in the animal shelter for 10 days for observation purposes. Within such time, the owner may reclaim the animal upon payment of impoundment fees, such fees to be established by resolution of the Village Board. No animal shall be released from the pound without being properly licensed if so required by state law or Village ordinance.
D. 
Sale of impounded animals. If the owner does not reclaim the animal within seven days, the animal control officer may sell the animal to any willing buyer.
E. 
Village not liable for impounded animals. The Village and/or its animal control agency shall not be liable for the death of any animal which has been impounded or disposed of pursuant to this section.
Every owner or person harboring or keeping a dog or cat who knows that such dog or cat has bitten any person shall immediately report such fact to the Village Police Department and shall keep such dog or cat confined for not less than 10 days or for such period of time as directed. The owner or keeper of any such dog or cat shall surrender the dog or cat to a law enforcement or humane officer upon demand for examination.
A. 
Removal of fecal matter. No person owning or having control of any animals shall appear with such animal on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area or on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person without the means of removal of any feces left by the animal.
B. 
Accumulation of fecal matter prohibited on private yards. The owner or person in charge of animals must also prevent accumulation of animal waste on his or her own property by regularly patrolling and properly disposing of the fecal matter.
[Amended 12-4-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-12-02]
C. 
Exception. This section shall not apply to a person being assisted by a Seeing Eye dog.
[Added 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09-01]
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or possessing an animal, dog or cat to permit such animal, dog or cat to go upon any parkway or private lands or premises without the permission of the owner of such premises and break, bruise, tear up, crush or injure any lawn, flowerbed, plant, shrub, tree or garden in any manner whatsoever or to defecate thereon.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 7-1-11, Barking dogs or crying cats, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See § 191-6A(4).
A. 
Wild animals; prohibition on keeping. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in his or her possession or under his or her 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 or her possession or under his or her control within the Village any of the following animals, reptiles or insects:
(1) 
All poisonous animals and reptiles, including rear-fang snakes.
(2) 
Apes: chimpanzees (Pan), gibbons (Hylobates), gorillas (Gorilla), orangutans (Pongo) and 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) 
Game cocks and other fighting birds.
(13) 
Hippopotami (Hippopotamidae).
(14) 
Hyenas (Hyaenidae).
(15) 
Jaguars (Panthera onca).
(16) 
Leopards (Panthera pardus).
(17) 
Lions (Panthera leo).
(18) 
Lynxes (Lynx).
(19) 
Monkeys, old world (Cercopithecidae).
(20) 
Ostriches (Struthio).
(21) 
Pumas (Felis concolor), also known as cougars, mountain lions and panthers.
(22) 
Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae).
(23) 
Sharks (Chondrichthyes).
(24) 
Snow leopards (Panthera uncia).
(25) 
Tigers (Panthera tigris).
(26) 
Wolves (Canis lupus).
(27) 
Poisonous insects.
B. 
Exceptions; pet shops. The prohibitions of Subsection A above 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 education institutions; licensed pet shops; or zoological gardens, if:
(1) 
Their location conforms to the provisions of Chapter 615, Zoning, of this 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.
C. 
Farm animals. Except on lands zoned R-D Rural Development District, no person shall harbor, raise or keep in any zoning district any poultry, pigeons, or fowl, or any animal raised for fur-bearing purposes, or any livestock, including but not limited to cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs or swine, whether or not such animal is domesticated, tamed or a pet.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2006-06-02[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). Original Sec. 7-1-13, Sale of rabbits, chicks or artificially colored animals, Sec. 7-1-14, Providing proper food and drink to confined animals, and Sec. 7-1-15, Providing proper shelter, which immediately followed this section, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See §§ 951.10, 951.11, 951.13 and 951.14, Wis. Stats., adopted by reference in Ch. 395, Peace and Good Order, § 395-1.
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 7-1-12(a), Protected animals, which appeared at the beginning of this section, was repealed 1-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-01-02. Original Sec. 7-1-12(b), Exceptions, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
Neglected or abandoned animals.
(1) 
No person may abandon any animal.
(2) 
Any law enforcement or animal control officer may remove, shelter and care for an animal found to be cruelly exposed to the weather, starved or denied adequate water, neglected, abandoned or otherwise treated in a cruel manner and may deliver such animal to another person to be sheltered, cared for and given medical attention, if necessary. In all cases the owner, if known, shall be immediately notified and such officer, or other person having possession of the animal, shall have a lien thereon for its care, keeping and medical attention and the expense of notice.
(3) 
If the owner or custodian is unknown and cannot, with reasonable effort, be ascertained or does not, within five days after notice, redeem the animal by paying the expenses incurred, it may be treated as a stray and dealt with as such.
(4) 
Whenever, in the opinion of any such officer, an animal is hopelessly injured or diseased so as to be beyond the probability of recovery, it shall be lawful for such officer to kill such animal, and the owner thereof shall not recover damages for the killing of such animal unless he shall prove that such killing was unwarranted.
(5) 
Section 173.10, Investigation of cruelty complaints, and § 173.24, Reimbursement for expenses, Wis. Stats., are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter.
B. 
Injured animals. No person who owns, harbors or keeps any animal shall fail to provide proper medical attention to such animal when and if such animal becomes sick or injured. In the event that the owner of such animal cannot be located, the Village or any animal control agency with which the Village has an agreement or contract shall have the authority to take custody of such animal for the purpose of providing medical treatment, and the owner thereof shall reimburse the person or organization for the costs of such treatment.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09-01.
No person except a law enforcement or animal control officer in the pursuit of his or her duties shall, within the Village, shoot or kill or commit an act of cruelty to any animal or bird or disturb any bird's nest or bird's eggs.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 7-1-17(b), Leading animal from motor vehicle, (c), Use of poisonous and controlled substances, (d), Use of certain devices prohibited, and (e), Shooting at caged or staked animals, which immediately followed this section, were repealed 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09-01. See §§ 951.04, 951.06, 951.07 and 951.09, Wis. Stats., adopted by reference in Ch. 395, Peace and Good Order, § 395-1.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2003-08-03; 1-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-01-02; 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09-01; 7-5-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-07-02]
A. 
Purpose. The keeping of a large number of dogs within the Village of Belleville for a considerable period of time detracts from and, in many instances, is detrimental to healthful and comfortable life in such areas. The keeping of a large number of dogs is, therefore, declared a public nuisance.
B. 
Number limited. No residential unit in the Village of Belleville shall keep or harbor in its possession more than three dogs, except that a litter of pups or a portion of a litter may be kept for not more than 10 weeks from birth.
C. 
Noncompliance penalty. A residential unit in violation of this section will have 15 days to come into compliance with this section once written notice is given by a Village official. Failure to comply after 15 days will result in a per-day fine set by Municipal Court Deposit Schedule.
A. 
In the interest of public health and safety, it shall be unlawful for any person in or on Village-owned land within the Village of Belleville to set, place or tend any trap for the purpose of trapping, killing, catching, wounding, worrying or molesting any animal, except by use of live box-type traps only. Live box-type traps shall be defined as those traps which capture and hold an animal in an alive and unharmed condition.
B. 
This section shall prohibit the use of all traps other than live traps as described above, including but not limited to traps commonly known as "leg traps," pan-type traps or other traps designed to kill, wound or close upon a portion of the body of an animal.
C. 
All such traps set, placed or tended shall comply with Ch. 29, Wis. Stats., as it relates to trapping.
D. 
This section shall not apply to trapping on private property.
E. 
Nothing in this section shall prohibit or hinder the Village of Belleville or its employees or agents from performing their official duties.
F. 
Trapping is allowed according to state regulations on lands acquired using the State of Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program Funds.[1]
[Added 1-16-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-01-01]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 7-1-20, Penalties, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 1-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-01-02.
[Added 12-4-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-12-02]
A. 
License required . No chickens may be kept in the Village without a license issued pursuant to this section.
B. 
License application requirements. Applicants for a license to keep chickens must meet certain minimum criteria.
(1) 
Resident of the Village of Belleville. Applicants must reside in the Village limits of the Village of Belleville.
(2) 
Single-family dwelling. Only residents of single-family dwellings located within the Village may apply.
(3) 
Proof of residency . The minimum standards required to establish residency for purposes of becoming a registered voter must be met to prove the residency of the applicant.
(4) 
One license per address. No more than one license will be issued to any address within the Village at any one time.
C. 
Obtaining a license.
(1) 
Application for a building permit must be submitted to the Building Inspector.
(2) 
Applications must include a location sketch, drawn to scale, of the coop, run, and fencing showing property lines and nearby structures and design information for the coop. The applicant must pay a license application fee with this application in accordance with the Village's fee schedule.
(3) 
The Building Inspector will review the application and accompanying documents to ensure compliance with Village ordinances.
(4) 
Building Inspector shall deny those applications which are submitted and do not conform to Village ordinances.
(5) 
Upon approval of the application by the Building Inspector, the Village Clerk shall issue a license to the applicant.
D. 
License duration and fees.
(1) 
An applicant must pay a license application fee when submitting a license application. The Village Board shall determine the application fee by resolution.
(2) 
Licenses are for a one-year term beginning January 1 of each year unless revoked according to the penalties enumerated in this section.
(3) 
A license holder must pay a license renewal fee annually. This fee will not be prorated for any portion of a year. The Village Board shall determine the renewal fee by resolution.
E. 
Renewing a license. All licenses must be renewed on an annual basis prior to January 1 of each year.
(1) 
Renewal process. Renewals shall be processed by the Village Clerk 's Office once the annual permit fee has been submitted.
(2) 
Licenses not renewed by April 1 will be assessed a late fee, to be determined by resolution of the Village Board. A permit holder may be considered to be in violation of this section by maintaining chickens without a license.
F. 
Standards.
(1) 
Chickens allowed. License holders may keep female chickens (hens) at their place of residence, provided they comply with all requirements of this section.
(2) 
Roosters not allowed. The keeping of male chickens (roosters) is not allowed within the Village limits of Belleville.
(3) 
Required zoning. Chickens may only be kept at residences zoned as single-family dwellings.
(4) 
Maximum number of hens. The maximum number of hens depends on the lot size:
(a) 
For lots under 1/2 an acre, there may be up to six hens.
(b) 
For lots under one acre and over 1/2 an acre, there may be up to seven hens.
(c) 
For lots over one acre, there may be up to 10 hens per acre of land.
(5) 
No slaughtering. The slaughtering of chickens is not allowed within the Village limits of Belleville, except on properties zoned and approved for such use.
(6) 
Bird fighting. Raising or keeping of hens for fighting and the fighting of hens and other fowl is not allowed within the Village of Belleville as per § 951.08, Wis. Stats.
(7) 
Chicken feed. All chicken feed must be kept in airtight containers that are out of reach from wild animals.
(8) 
Chicken coops. Hens must be provided with a building structure to house them, which complies with the accessory structure requirements of § 615-72, and conforms to the following rules:
(a) 
Hens must be provided at least four square feet of floor space each.
(b) 
A coop must have minimum dimensions of two feet long by two feet wide by four feet tall.
(c) 
There must be at least one nesting box per two hens.
(d) 
Coops must include elevated perches to ensure chickens are able to rest in their natural position.
(e) 
Coops must be structurally sound, moistureproof and kept in good repair in accordance with accepted construction standards for accessory structures.
(f) 
Coops must have proper ventilation during all times of the year.
(g) 
There must be a minimum of two feet of window for each 10 linear feet of wall space.
(h) 
Coops must be cleaned daily and the waste must be properly disposed of according to Village Code § 191-9B Animal feces, or properly composted.
(i) 
The temperature of the coop may not fall below 40º F. Heating lamps or other technology may be used to keep the coop at the proper temperature of no less than 40º F.
(j) 
Water must not be frozen.
(k) 
Coops must provide access to the chicken run.
(l) 
No coop shall be located closer than 20 feet to an adjacent lot line. Coops must be located in the rear yard of the property or nonaddress side yard on corner lots.
(m) 
The property owner is responsible for ensuring that activities on the property related to the keeping of chickens do not violate other Village ordinances, to include those regarding public nuisances (Chapter 372), odor (§ 615-61), and noise (§ 395-8).
(9) 
Chicken runs. The chickens must be provided with an outdoor fenced structure in which to run around in accordance with the following regulations.
(a) 
Hens must be provided with at least four square feet of space each in the run.
(b) 
The minimum dimensions are two feet wide by two feet long by three feet tall.
(c) 
The fencing must have spacing of no more than one inch.
(d) 
The top of the run must be covered with fencing with spacing of one inch or less.
(e) 
The fencing should be buried a foot under the ground if the run is not mobile.
(f) 
No run shall be located closer than 20 feet to an adjacent lot line. Runs must be located in the rear yard of the property or nonaddress side yard on corner lots.
(10) 
General care requirements. Chickens must be properly cared for as follows.
(a) 
Food must be provided daily and must be proper for chickens in accordance with § 951.13(1), Wis. Stats.
(b) 
Clean water must be provided at all times and changed daily in accordance with § 951.13(2), Wis. Stats.
G. 
Penalties. The keeping of chickens in the Village by any person not in compliance with this section is prohibited. Violations shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 1-4 of the Village Code of Ordinances.