Dubuque, IA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Dubuque's nuisance chapter, not a numeric pet-limit ordinance, governs how many animals a household can keep. Section 6-4-3 lists 'public nuisances' the city can act against, and subsection N reaches 'harboring or maintaining such number of dogs or cats or other animals, or combination thereof, as to create unhealthy or unsanitary conditions for the humans or animals occupying the premises.' That standard is conditions-based rather than a fixed head count: a household with two dogs kept in filthy conditions can violate § 6-4-3(N) just as a household with six dogs kept clean might not, so enforcement turns on inspection findings rather than a simple tally.

Every dog and cat in the city still needs an annual license under chapter 7-6, with fees set by the City Manager and a reduced fee available for neutered or spayed animals, and every licensed animal must wear its tag on a collar or harness at all times. Separately, § 7-6B-3 bars keeping a dog or cat on unoccupied property or inside a building that meets the code's definition of a dangerous building, and § 6-4-3(P) can treat a residence where excessive noise or other prohibited conduct recurs as a 'disorderly house.' The City Manager investigates nuisance complaints under this chapter and can order the condition abated once a violation is confirmed.