Assembly Bill 42 aims to regulate the keeping of fowl, specifically chickens and quail, by property owners in residentially zoned areas in Wisconsin. The bill prohibits local governmental units, including cities, villages, towns, counties, and sewerage districts, from banning the keeping of up to four fowl by property owners or certain lessors. However, it allows these local entities to impose certain regulations, such as requiring permits for fowl keepers, notifying adjoining property owners, setting reasonable location standards for fowl housing, prohibiting roosters, and enforcing cleanliness standards.

The bill introduces a new section, 66.0443, to the statutes, defining "fowl" and "local governmental unit." It clarifies that while local governments cannot outright prohibit the keeping of a limited number of fowl, they retain the authority to regulate aspects of fowl keeping to ensure compliance with local standards and community concerns. This legislation reflects a growing trend towards allowing urban agriculture while balancing the interests of local communities.