Carmel, IN Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Carmel directly regulates farm animals in its own City Code (Chapter 6, Article 5, Division III). § 6-93 (Three Acres Required for Farm Animals) provides that 'it shall be unlawful for any person to maintain cows, swine, chickens, horses, sheep, goats, or ducks within the limits of the City in any area consisting of less than three (3) acres, except in an Agricultural District,' and adds that the section 'shall not apply to the maintenance of horses for riding purposes at authorized stables.' § 6-94 (Cattle, Dairy Cattle and Hogs Prohibited) goes further and bars those specific animals within the city. The practical effect is that traditional livestock is confined to large parcels or agricultural-zoned land, while small residential lots cannot keep cows, pigs, sheep, goats or ducks — the only residential exception being the limited backyard-hen allowance under Unified Development Ordinance Section 5.02 (up to six hens, no rooster). For animal welfare and at-large issues, the Hamilton County ordinance supplements: it defines 'Livestock' as 'horses, cows, goats, pigs or any other four-legged animal, excluding dogs and cats, used for pleasure or profit,' expressly including fowl, and routes larger livestock placement to zoning (Editor's note: 'Zoning requirements are in a separate publication'). County Sec. 15-2.1-1-2 sets humane-keeping duties for livestock (clean, sanitary conditions; not forced to stand in excrement).