Bartholomew County, IN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household kennel threshold
- 4 or more animals
- Breeder cap
- 10 unaltered females over 12 months old
- Licensing authority cited
- state law, I.C. 15-20 (via § 92.03)
- Enforcement
- Animal Control Officer, Sheriff's Dept., Health Dept.
- Max court fine
- $500 per offense (§ 92.99(C))
Summary
Unincorporated Bartholomew County sets no flat cap on dogs or cats per household, but keeping four or more animals turns a home into a KENNEL under § 92.01's definition, the same classification that applies to commercial boarding and breeding operations. A separate cap limits any breeder to ten unaltered female dogs or cats over 12 months old.
KENNEL. Any facility wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee or selling dogs or cats; or any household or noncommercial animal establishment harboring four or more animals. ... BREEDER. Any person, or other entity that breeds dogs or cats for purposes of sale of the offspring of the animal(s). In no event shall a breeder operate more than ten unaltered female dogs or cats that are more than 12 months old.
Full Breakdown
" That second clause reaches ordinary households: once a residence keeps four or more dogs, cats, or other animals, it meets the code's definition of a kennel regardless of whether any commercial activity is involved. 05(H). C. 15-20. 02, can recommend rules for the care and control of animals within the scope of the chapter, and the Board of Commissioners employs the Animal Control Officer who enforces it.
Violations & Fines
General violations of Chapter 92, including the breeder cap in § 92.05(H), are punished under § 92.99: a violator who appears at the County Treasurer's office within five days of a notice of violation pays a set fine, and any violation prosecuted in county court is a misdemeanor punishable by not less than that fine amount and not more than $500, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I have at my house in unincorporated Bartholomew County?
Is there a limit on breeding dogs or cats?
Do I need a separate kennel license if I have four or more pets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bartholomew County
Compare Bartholomew County to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
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