Ogden, UT Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Ogden's animal code takes a fee-based approach rather than a mandate. Section 13-2-2(A)(1)(e) provides that no person may harbor, own, keep, possess or maintain a dog, cat or ferret six months of age or older that has not been spayed or neutered unless that person holds a valid unaltered pet license for the animal, meaning intact pets remain legal city-wide as long as the higher-cost license is obtained. The § 13-2-3 fee schedule prices that choice: an unaltered dog license costs $50 and an unaltered cat or ferret license costs $35, compared with $10 for an altered dog and $5 for an altered cat or ferret, a five-to-sevenfold premium meant to encourage sterilization without banning intact pets outright.

A veterinarian's certificate is required before an animal can be licensed as spayed or neutered under § 13-2-2(D). The only place the code does impose spay/neuter as a mandatory condition is for dogs registered as dangerous or potentially dangerous: § 13-2-8(C)(2)(f) requires the owner, at his own expense, to have that specific dog spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian as part of registration. Outside that narrow dangerous-dog category, Ogden leaves the spay/neuter decision to the owner's wallet, not to a citywide mandate.