Grand Rapids, MI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer distance
- 100 ft from any dwelling or well
- Covered animals
- Horse, swine, cattle, sheep, goat, llama
- Rabbits
- More than 2 breeders counts as farm animal
- Enforcement
- Code Compliance Department, Ch. 140
- Chickens
- Separate ordinance Sec. 9.216 may override
Summary
Grand Rapids prohibits horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and poultry within any dwelling or within 100 feet of a home, well, or drainage ditch, effectively barring livestock on typical residential lots citywide.
No farm animal shall be kept or allowed to be kept within any dwelling or dwelling unit or within one hundred (100) feet of any dwelling, dwelling unit, well, spring, stream, drainage ditch or drain. For purposes of this Chapter, farm animals shall mean any horse, swine, cattle, sheep, goat, llama, chicken, goose, duck or turkey. Farm animal also means any other Animal, raised for commercial profit, slaughter, or more than 2 breeder rabbits.
1103 Wild Animals. Any animal not a domestic animal or farm animal, as defined by this Chapter, is a wild animal, and shall not be kept or allowed on any property in the City of Grand Rapids.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Section 1102 of the Property Maintenance Code defines farm animals as any horse, swine, cattle, sheep, goat, llama, chicken, goose, duck, or turkey, plus any animal raised for commercial profit or slaughter, or more than two breeder rabbits. None of these may be kept within a dwelling or dwelling unit, or within 100 feet of any dwelling, dwelling unit, well, spring, stream, drainage ditch, or drain. Because most city lots are far narrower than 200 feet, the buffer rule bars livestock on nearly all residential parcels. The Code Compliance Department enforces the chapter; a separate ordinance (Sec. 9.216) governs backyard chicken-keeping and supersedes this section where the two conflict.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock within the 100-foot buffer is a civil infraction under Chapter 140's penalty section, escalating to a misdemeanor after three citations for the same violation against the same owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in my Grand Rapids backyard?
Does the 100-foot rule apply to a single pet goat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
How Grand Rapids compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Grand Rapids to another location·View the Michigan animal ordinances overview
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