Dayton, OH Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Dayton R.C.G.O. § 91.20
- Species named
- chickens, geese, ducks, and more
- Prohibited act
- running at large in the city
- Coop/permit rule
- none found in general code
Summary
Dayton lets residents keep geese, ducks, chickens and other animals but bans letting them run loose in streets or public places, treating it as a nuisance dangerous to public health and safety.
No owner or custodian shall permit any cattle, horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, geese, ducks, chickens or any other animal to run at large within the city. Herding such animal or tying it for grazing in any street or other public place shall be deemed running at large within the meaning of this section. To permit any such running at large is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to public health and safety.
Cross reference— Penalty, see § 91.99.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Dayton's general code doesn't ban backyard chickens or other poultry outright, it targets letting them roam. Section 91.20 forbids owners from permitting cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, geese, ducks, chickens or any other animal to run at large in the city, and specifically counts herding an animal or tying it out to graze in a street or public place as 'running at large.' The section declares this a nuisance dangerous to public health and safety. A separate coop, setback, or permit rule for keeping poultry confined on private property does not appear in the general code, the operative constraint here is confinement, not a ban on keeping.
Violations & Fines
Declared a public nuisance under § 91.20; default penalty is a minor misdemeanor under § 91.99(A), and animals found at large are subject to impoundment at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in my Dayton backyard?
What counts as 'running at large' for poultry in Dayton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dayton
How Dayton compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Dayton to another location·View the Ohio animal ordinances overview
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