Huntsville, AL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household cap
- 3 dogs/cats combined
- Applies to
- Animals 4+ months old
- Condition
- Frequently kept outside
- Exempt
- Community cats/caregivers
- Enforcer
- Huntsville Animal Services
Summary
Huntsville bars owning, harboring or keeping more than three dogs or cats, four months or older, that are frequently outside on the property.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor, control, or keep more than three dogs or cats, four months old or older, which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises. This section is not applicable to community cats, or a community cat caregiver, as designated by the director.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 5-43 makes it unlawful to "own, harbor, control, or keep more than three dogs or cats, four months old or older, which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises." The cap counts dogs and cats together toward the same three-animal limit, not three of each. Community cats and their registered caregivers are exempt from this section. The rule ties directly to the outdoor-restraint standards in Sec. 5-44, which sets minimum enclosure space (200 sq. ft. for the first dog, plus 100 sq. ft. per additional dog, up to three) for animals kept in a fenced yard.
Violations & Fines
Violating Sec. 5-43 is enforced by Huntsville Animal Services (HAS) as a Code violation; general Code penalties under Sec. 1-9 apply (fine up to $500.00 and/or up to six months in city jail or hard labor) absent a more specific penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Huntsville's 3-pet limit count dogs and cats separately?
Are indoor-only cats or puppies under four months counted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
Compare Huntsville to another location·View the Alabama animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Madison County handle pet limits.