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Howard County, IN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Limit: 4 dogs or cats over 4 months old
Exception: property classified as a kennel
Governing definition: Sec. 90.01 PUBLIC NUISANCE(6)
Prohibition: Sec. 90.03(D)
Max fine: $2,500 (Sec. 90.03(G))

Summary

Unincorporated Howard County caps how many dogs and cats a household can keep without a kennel license. Section 90.01 makes it a public nuisance to harbor more than four dogs or cats over four months old unless the property is classified as a kennel, and Section 90.03(D) bars owners from letting that nuisance happen.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Howard County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

PUBLIC NUISANCE. ... Any animal or animals that: ... (6) It shall also be a public nuisance to harbor more than four dogs or cats over the age of four months, unless classified as a kennel. ... (D) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit said animal to be a public nuisance within the unincorporated area of the county.

View official code

Full Breakdown

01(6) draws a bright line: harboring more than four dogs or cats over the age of four months is a public nuisance in the unincorporated county unless the premises is classified as a KENNEL, defined in the same section as a facility operated principally for boarding, housing, or breeding dogs or cats. Puppies and kittens four months old and younger do not count toward the limit, so a household with a litter is not automatically over the cap. 03(D) makes it unlawful for the owner to permit the resulting nuisance, and the same subsection separately reaches an owner who recklessly or carelessly fails to control the situation.

The county does not describe a separate kennel permitting process in this chapter beyond the definition itself, so a household that wants to keep more than four adult dogs or cats needs to establish that its operation meets the KENNEL definition and should confirm requirements with the Department of Animal Services and the Health Department before exceeding the limit. 08.

Violations & Fines

Harboring more than four dogs or cats over four months old without a kennel classification violates Section 90.01(6) and Section 90.03(D), carrying a fine of up to $2,500 under Section 90.03(G). The Ordinance Violations Bureau schedule at Section 10.98(C)(3)-(4) applies the $10 first-offense, $10-plus-$5-per-subsequent-offense dog ordinance citation schedule to each violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do puppies and kittens count toward the four-pet limit?

No. The limit in Section 90.01(6) applies only to dogs and cats over four months old, so young litters do not push a household over the cap until the animals pass that age without being rehomed or the property becoming a licensed kennel.

What if I run a small home boarding or breeding operation?

Section 90.01 exempts property classified as a KENNEL, defined as a facility operated principally for boarding, housing, or breeding dogs or cats. You would need to establish that classification with the county rather than simply exceeding the four-animal cap on an ordinary residential lot.

What happens if I am reported for keeping too many animals?

The Department of Animal Services investigates under Section 90.09, and if you are keeping more than four dogs or cats over four months old without a kennel classification, you can be cited under Section 90.03(D) for a public nuisance, with fines up to $2,500 under Section 90.03(G).

Sources & Official References

[1]Howard County, Indiana Code of Ordinances (American Legal Publishing)

Other rules in Howard County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Dog Leash LawsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Breed RestrictionsHeavy Restrictions Cat RulesSome Restrictions Exotic PetsHeavy Restrictions MicrochippingSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Howard County rules

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