Davis County, UT Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base limit
- 3 dogs/cats combined per residence
- Permit allows
- 1 additional animal (max 4 total)
- Permit fee
- $100 annual, nonrefundable
- 4th dog requirement
- fencing 100 ft from neighboring dwellings
- Exempt
- service animals and agency-trained dogs
Summary
Davis County caps ownership at three dogs or cats, in any combination, per residence in the unincorporated county under Section 6.12.060. An Animal Care Division permit lets a household keep a fourth dog or cat for a $100 annual fee, subject to inspection and spay/neuter and microchip verification.
No person or persons at any one (1) residence within the jurisdiction of this title shall at any one (1) time own, harbor, license, or maintain more than three (3) cats or dogs in any combination. The Animal Control Division may issue a permit to owners of Dogs and Cats to keep up to four dogs or cats (but not more than four Household Pets) in a residential area.
Exemptions for number of dogs and cats per residence:
The provisions of Section 6.12.060 shall not apply to the following:
Under the provisions of Section 10-8-65, Utah Code Annotated, a person may keep a service animal, a retired service animal, or both in addition to that limit. See "service animal" as defined in 06.04.010 (AB) Definitions. A exemption shall be issued for such dog upon the filing of an affidavit with the county showing that the dog qualifies for exemption; Dogs especially trained to assist officials of governmental agencies in the performance of their duties, and which are owned or maintained by such agencies. A exemption shall be issued for such dog upon the filing of an affidavit with the county showing that the dog qualifies for exemption. (Ord. No. 8-2011, § 3, Amended 12/20/2011; Ord. 7-1992 § 3.06)
Editor's note(s)—Section 3 of Ord. No. 8-2011, adopted Dec. 20, 2011, changed the title of § 6.12.060 from "Number of dogs per residence" to "Number of dogs and cats per residence."
HISTORY Amended by Ord. 5-2023 on 1/31/2023
Full Breakdown
070 allowing a fourth animal (still capped at four household pets overall). The permit application must include the $100 nonrefundable annual fee, the owner's and property's contact information, each animal's breed, name, microchip number and license number, proof every dog and cat in the household is spayed or neutered and microchipped, proof of Davis County licensing, and, if the fourth animal is a fourth dog, a site plan showing fencing and dog runs capable of confining four dogs at least 100 feet from neighboring dwellings.
Before approval, an Animal Care officer inspects the property for sanitation and safety, and the department checks for nuisance complaints or citations against the animals or owner in the past year; any of those, or a failed inspection, or missing spay/neuter or microchip proof, is grounds for denial. The permit runs one calendar year from issuance and isn't prorated or transferable, and an officer can immediately and summarily deny or revoke it if the fourth animal poses an immediate danger to life or health, with written notice mailed or hand-delivered stating the reason and the right to appeal to the Animal Care Director.
Service animals, retired service animals, and dogs trained to assist government agencies don't count toward the three-animal cap under Utah Code Section 10-8-65, once an owner files a qualifying affidavit with the county.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three dogs or cats without the Section 6.12.070 permit is a violation of Section 6.12.060 subject to the county's general Class B misdemeanor penalty under Section 1.08.010, fines up to $1,000, plus impoundment of the excess animal under Section 6.20.010. A permit can also be summarily revoked if an officer certifies the extra animal poses an immediate danger, with notice mailed to the owner and a right to appeal to the Animal Care Director.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I have in unincorporated Davis County?
Do service dogs count toward the Davis County pet limit?
Can Davis County deny my additional animal permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis County
Compare Davis County to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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