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Dodge County board reverses zoning administrator, allows Casatis to keep non-household animals with conditions
Summary
On Aug. 21, 2025, the Dodge County Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 to reverse a zoning administrator ruling and grant an administrative appeal by Nicholas and Regina Casati to continue keeping animals that are not household pets in a platted subdivision, subject to conditions listed in the staff report.
The Dodge County Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 on Aug. 21, 2025, to reverse a decision by the county zoning administrator and grant an administrative appeal submitted by Nicholas and Regina Casati that seeks to allow continued keeping of animals not classified as household pets within a platted subdivision.
The decision came after the board heard a staff report and testimony from the Casatis and several community members. The Casatis filed the appeal on June 20, 2025, asking the board to override the Zoning Administrator's interpretation of Subsection 6.3.5.A of the Dodge County Land Use Code, which bars keeping animals that are not household pets in platted subdivisions. The board’s motion to reverse the administrator’s decision was made by Jon Schoenike, seconded by Rodney Justman, and carried 4-0.
According to the record, supporters who spoke in favor of the appeal included Rodger Frievalt (Non-Committee County Board member, District 7), Bill Kuntz, Dr. Isaac Fisher, Bonnie Zastrow and Steven Booth; one attendee, Melissa Carver, spoke in opposition. Andy O'Brion of the Dodge County Land Resources and Parks Department presented the staff report. The board’s approval was made "with the conditions listed in the Staff Report," as stated in the minutes; the specific conditions were not included in the transcripted record.
The board did not enumerate the conditions on the public record during the hearing transcript; the minutes indicate staff will be directed to issue a land use permit incorporating those conditions if the variance is approved. The county's notice and hearing procedures were read at the start of the meeting and the board confirmed the session was properly noticed under open meeting law.
Next steps: the minutes note the usual 30-day period for filing a petition to circuit court by any person aggrieved by the board’s decision. The minutes do not record any subsequent appeal or further action on this item.
