Michigan's animal cruelty law universally applies to hoarding situations involving inadequate care. Penalties escalate with the number of animals, and the state's anti-cruelty framework applies to all municipalities.
MCL 750.50 makes it a crime to fail to provide adequate care - including food, water, shelter, and sanitary conditions - to any animal. Penalties scale with animal count: misdemeanor for 1-3 animals, up to felony charges for 25 or more or for repeat offenses. MCL 750.50b addresses killing or torturing animals. Courts may order forfeiture, prohibit future ownership, and require psychological evaluation. The statute applies statewide and provides a baseline that local ordinances may supplement but not weaken.
Misdemeanor to 7-year felony under MCL 750.50 depending on animal count; mandatory forfeiture and ownership bans.
Kent County, MI
In Kent County, MI parks, Section 14 of the Kent County Parks & Recreation Regulations prohibits building, causing to be built, or setting any fire except wi...
Kent County, MI
Kent County does not have a general county-wide tree-trimming ordinance covering private property — that is set by individual township and city codes. Howeve...
Kent County, MI
Every public swimming pool and public spa pool in Kent County — including hotel, motel, apartment, condominium, fitness-club, campground, school, and municip...
Kent County, MI
Residential swimming pool, spa, and hot tub barriers in Kent County are governed by Appendix G of the Michigan Residential Code (Section AG105), which is ado...
Kent County, MI
Kent County does not have its own pool ordinance; instead, all PUBLIC swimming pools in the county are licensed and inspected by the Kent County Health Depar...
Kent County, MI
Kent County, MI does not issue a county short-term rental permit. The only county-level requirement on STR hosts is the Lodging Excise Tax (Hotel-Motel Tax) ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Kent County.
See how Kentwood's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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