Ownership in the city

Question
I want to know if I can own a pot bellied pig in green or dane county wisconsin, brooklyn to be exact. I would love to get one little female Iv done a lot of research and am ready to buy one If I can! I have an acre yard but would plan on having her as an indoor pet!

Answer
Every city or village has their own set of zoning rules. You can get a copy from your City Hall Building Department. Do not rely on what someone tells you over the phone - get a copy of the actual zoning rules or ordinances in writing. Your city government must provide this to you if you ask. Some communities have this information available on their website. If so, print it out and keep a copy.

It's a sad story that happens over and over again. Someone calls City Hall to ask about having a pot-bellied pig. The person answering the phone doesn't know and doesn't bother to check. Later, a neighbor complains, a city official actually looks at the ordinances, and the pig is not allowed. The verbal assurances mean nothing - the pig must go, or the owner must move, or the owner must get the laws changed. So do not rely on a verbal answer, insist on a written copy of the rule. If a complaint is lodged, you will have written, irrefutable proof that your pig is permitted.

Also, Home Owner Association rules and regulations are just as legally binding as village or city laws, so be sure to check them also. It goes without saying that if you are renting, the landlord must approve.

If the zoning ordinances or rules explicitly allow pot-bellied pigs, you're in luck. If they expressly forbid them, you'll need to get the rules or laws changed. Chances are, the ordinances will ban "livestock, including swine". Pot-bellied pigs are swine, but according to the USDA they are pets not livestock, so technically they are exempt from the ban. If a complaint is lodged, there is plenty of legal precedent to prove that pot-bellied pigs are pets not livestock.

It's not impossible to change Home Owner Association rules, or local zoning ordinances, but it can be difficult. For more information on zoning, visit petpigzone.com