Birmingham, AL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

No Birmingham-specific ordinance directly addresses a numeric per-household dog or cat limit; the Alabama state default applies, and Alabama Code Title 3 (Animals) sets no statewide cap on the number of household pets. Instead of a head-count limit, Birmingham relies on its at-large prohibition, rabies-vaccination/licensing requirements, and nuisance and sanitation provisions of its Animals and Fowl code (Title 6, Chapter 1). Keeping an excessive number of animals can be addressed as a public nuisance or sanitation violation. Municipal authority to control and regulate dogs and cats is confirmed by Ala. Code 3-7A-14, which provides that the rabies chapter does not limit the power of any municipality 'to further control and regulate dogs or cats in such municipality.' Anyone keeping farm fowl or livestock is separately constrained by the city's zoning ordinance, which caps hens at six per residential property (see chickens/livestock).