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, towns, 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 implement specific regulations, such as requiring permits for fowl keepers, notifying adjacent property owners, establishing reasonable location guidelines for fowl housing, prohibiting roosters, and enforcing cleanliness standards.

The bill introduces new legal language under section 66.0443 of the statutes, defining fowl and local governmental units, and outlining the rights of property owners to keep fowl while also granting local authorities the ability to impose certain regulations. This legislation seeks to balance the interests of property owners wishing to keep fowl with the need for local governance to maintain community standards and address potential concerns related to animal husbandry.