State Lawmakers Introduce Bill Seeking to Limit Municipal Restrictions on Gardens and Backyard Chickens

Sunday, February 23rd, 2025 -- 8:01 AM

(Nick Rommel, Wisconsin Public Radio) Two bills introduced to Wisconsin’s state Legislature this week seek to limit municipal restrictions on vegetable gardens and backyard chicken flocks statewide.

According to Nick Rommel with the Wisconsin Public Radio, the chicken bill says local governments must allow residential property-owners to keep under five chickens or quails. It lets municipalities require permits for keeping chickens and allows them to ban roosters.

The garden bill says localities can’t prohibit, or require a permit for, vegetable, flower or pollinator gardens. It leaves them the power to regulate invasive weeds. Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, introduced both bills in the Assembly.

To him, it’s a question of balancing two competing rights. “The right to make sure your property values aren’t being brought down by unkempt neighbors,” he told WPR. “That’s balanced with the idea that, look, you have a basic right to produce your own food.”

“Producing your own food should be a higher priority,” he said. Sortwell said his bill could protect gardeners and chicken-keepers from local ordinances requiring a “well-kept yard.”

Ordinances on several Wisconsin municipalities’ books could limit vegetable gardens, backyard poultry and pollinator plants. In Fond du Lac, non-ornamental plants aren’t allowed to grow higher than 6 inches in summer.

The city of Marinette doesn’t allow keeping chickens. Meanwhile, a Milwaukee ordinance requiring lawns be cut to 7 inches has troubled people with pollinator gardens.

The city had participants in a pro-bee “No Mow May” campaign get permits, and cited a resident growing low groundcover plants and native goldenrod.

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