La Crosse could turn into a city of mini barnyards

Horses, goats, cows, rabbits, pigs 
could be backyard animals

It would be like mini barnyards in La Crosse.

That’s what a new recommendation for sustainability seems to lean towards.

Not only making it easier to keep chickens in the city but also expanding the types of food animals that can be kept – horses, cows, rabbits, goats, pigs.

South side city council rep. Gary Padesky loves the concept.

If you have three or four people in a row and they’re all good with it and maybe one had a bigger yard, and they wanted to share a goat and milk it and have a few chickens,” Padesky said. “If we can make it a little easier for them, I don’t see any problem with that.”

Chicken coops with just hens have been allowed in the city for the last five years on annual renewable permits. 

Among the recommendations is to eliminate the permitting process altogether.  

“It depends on the size of the yard and the neighbors,” Padesky said. “If somebody had a huge yard and they wanted to have a goat or two, what the heck?

“I guess it all depends on the neighborhoods, the situation and the big thing is just the neighbors and the size of the yard.”