Ottawa County, MI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Ottawa County has no zoning code of its own; townships and cities such as Holland Charter Township, Georgetown Township and Allendale Township set the actual right-to-keep rules for backyard chickens and other livestock, including any lot-size or setback limits. 3, "Stray Livestock," requires a person who owns or has custody or control of livestock or poultry to prevent such animals from running at large on public or private property without the consent of the property owner. The section carves out one specific exception: it does not prohibit leading or driving livestock, under the owner's or custodian's supervision, along a public highway, so moving animals on a lead down a road is lawful even though letting them wander loose is not.

2, separately makes the owner responsible for cleaning up any animal's droppings left off the owner's own property. 1, such as feeding, cleanliness and adequate shelter, apply to livestock and poultry kept anywhere in the county just as they do to dogs and cats.