Auburn, AL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Auburn caps the number of dogs at a home under Section 501.03(A) of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance: no person shall keep or maintain in connection with any residential dwelling unit more than three (3) dogs aged six (6) months or older, except in the Rural (R) District, where the limit does not apply. Puppies under six months of age are not counted toward the limit. The Zoning Ordinance's animal-limit provision addresses dogs and does not state a maximum number of cats, so Auburn does not publish a specific cat count limit, though general nuisance and rabies rules still apply to cats. A separate limit applies to chickens: permitted households may keep four hens on lots of 10,000 to 19,999 square feet or six hens on lots of 20,000 square feet or more (Section 501.03(B)). Commercial dog operations are treated as kennels under the Zoning Ordinance and are subject to district-by-district use approval rather than the three-dog household limit. Residents who want more than three dogs should review the Rural (R) District provisions or contact Auburn Planning to confirm whether their property qualifies.