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Bloomington, IN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Household cap
19 cats and dogs combined, 12 months or older
Intact animal permit trigger
More than 4 unaltered dogs or 6 unaltered cats
Grandfather rule
No replacement animals until count is 19 or fewer
Service dogs
Excluded from the 19-animal count
Permit deadline
60 days to apply if over cap at adoption
Enforcing agency
City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control Department

Summary

In the City of Bloomington, no one may own or harbor more than a total of nineteen cats and dogs over twelve months old without a kennel permit. Service dogs don't count toward the cap. Anyone already over the limit when the ordinance took effect may keep those animals but cannot replace one that dies until the household drops to nineteen or fewer.

(a)No person shall own or harbor more than a total of nineteen cats and/or dogs over the age of twelve months. This provision does not apply to commercial kennels. ... (b)Service dogs shall not be counted towards the nineteen (19) maximum noted in the above subsection (a).

View official code

Full Breakdown

005 sets the household ceiling at nineteen cats and/or dogs over the age of twelve months; the cap does not apply to licensed commercial kennels. A household that already held more than nineteen animals when the ordinance became effective may keep them, but the Common Council's ordinance bars replacing any animal that dies or is lost until the household is back to nineteen or fewer, and the owner had sixty days from the effective date to file a kennel permit application with the City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control Department. Service dogs are excluded from the count entirely under subsection (b). 21. 36. 060(a).

Violations & Fines

Operating a kennel, commercial or noncommercial, without a permit draws a civil penalty of $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense within two years, and $7,500 for a third or later offense under Section 7.56.030(b). Falsifying a kennel permit application triples the applicable permit fee for a first offense, doubling again for repeat violations within twelve months. The City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control Department enforces through the animal control commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dogs and cats can I have in Bloomington?
Under Bloomington Municipal Code § 7.21.005, a household may own or harbor up to nineteen cats and dogs combined that are twelve months or older without a kennel permit; that ceiling doesn't apply to licensed commercial kennels. If you already exceeded nineteen animals before the ordinance took effect, you can keep them, but you cannot replace one after it dies or is lost until you are back at nineteen or fewer.
Does the count include puppies and kittens?
No. Section 7.21.005 only counts cats and dogs that are twelve months of age or older, so litters of puppies or kittens under a year old don't count toward the nineteen-animal household cap. Service dogs are also excluded from the count under subsection (b), regardless of age.
What if I have fewer than 19 pets but some are unaltered?
A separate rule kicks in sooner: Section 7.22.010 requires an intact animal permit if you own or harbor more than four dogs or six cats over twelve months old and even one of them is unaltered. That permit comes with breeding and record-keeping duties under Section 7.22.020.

Sources & Official References

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All Bloomington rules

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