Under Boston Code Ch. 16-1.9F, any household keeping four or more dogs over six months old must obtain a multiple-dog permit from Boston Animal Care and Control after a site inspection.
Boston does not cap the total number of dogs per household, but Boston Code Ch. 16-1.9F requires a multiple-dog permit once a household reaches four or more dogs over six months of age. The applicant submits proof of current rabies vaccination and city license for each dog, pays the permit fee, and consents to a home inspection by Animal Care and Control to confirm sanitation, ventilation, fencing, and that neighbors have been notified. Permits are renewed annually and may be denied or revoked if Animal Control receives sustained complaints, finds unsanitary conditions, or determines the dogs constitute a kennel that requires zoning relief from the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal.
Operating without the required multiple-dog permit is a Class D civil violation under Ch. 16-12, with fines up to $300 per offense and potential per-day continuing penalties.
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