Adams County defines livestock as cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, mules and donkeys used in farm or ranch production. Livestock is excluded from the pet code and is instead governed by county agricultural zoning and Colorado's right-to-farm protections.
The Animal Control Code defines "Livestock" as cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and such horses, mules, donkeys, and other animals used in the farm or ranch production of food, fiber, or other agricultural products, and excludes livestock from "pet animal." So livestock keeping is regulated by the county's Development Standards & Regulations (zoning), where farming and ranching are permitted principal uses in agricultural districts such as A-1, A-2 and A-3. Colorado's Right to Farm law (CRS § 35-3.5-102) further protects established agricultural operations from nuisance claims. Stocking rates depend on zone district and acreage; Adams County/CSU Extension publishes stocking-rate guidance.
Keeping livestock in a zone district that does not permit it can trigger zoning code-compliance action and abatement. Cruelty or neglect of livestock is separately unlawful under state law and the county code.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Adams County, CO
Adams County does not prohibit residential backyard composting. There is no county permit for a home compost pile in unincorporated areas, but a poorly kept ...
Adams County, CO
Adams County has no countywide ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on private residential yards in unincorporated areas. Homeowners ...
Adams County, CO
Adams County does not prohibit or mandate native plants for private residential yards. County landscape standards encourage preserving existing valuable vege...
Adams County, CO
Colorado law lets Adams County residents collect rooftop rainwater in up to two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons. It is limited to single...
Adams County, CO
There is no single county watering rule; limits are set by your water provider. In the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District (Commerce City and vi...
Adams County, CO
Under the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, every landowner in Adams County must manage designated noxious weeds. The county's 1997 Noxious Weed Enforcement Policy ...
See how Adams County's livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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