Kingsport, TN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

The pet-count rule in the Kingsport Code is one sentence in Chapter 14, Article II, section 14-35: except as permitted in chapter 114 for kennels, it is unlawful for any person to keep over five canines over 12 months of age on any premises. The cap is counted per premises, not per person, and it counts only canines older than 12 months. A sixth canine over that age is the violation.

The second sentence assigns blame: for the purpose of the section, the head of the household is responsible for any violation. In a shared household, the citation goes to the head of the household rather than to whichever resident brought the dog home.

The kennel exception routes larger operations elsewhere. Section 14-1 defines a kennel as any commercial establishment or premises where dogs or cats are bred, boarded, kept or maintained for any purpose whatsoever, with the exception of veterinary hospitals, pet shops, grooming parlors and shelters. Any person operating a kennel must obtain a city business license, and the establishment must conform with the provisions for kennels in chapter 114. Section 14-35 itself speaks only of canines; it sets no numeric limit on cats.

Every dog counted toward the five still carries the other Chapter 14 duties. Section 14-59 requires the rabies inoculation, section 14-60 requires the metal tag on a collar at all times, and section 14-33 bars running at large except on the owner's premises or in a city designated dog park. Section 14-81 lets animal control officers capture, confine or impound animals in violation of any section of the chapter.