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Lawrence, MA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Dog limit per premises
3 dogs (4th triggers kennel permit)
Cat limit
No numeric cap under Chapter 6.04
Unneutered/unspayed license fee
$50.00 per year
Neutered/spayed license fee
$15.00 per year
Late license fine
$50.00, each day a separate offense
General violation penalty
$10.00 to $200.00 per offense
Enforcing agency
Animal control officer, city clerk

Summary

Lawrence's animal control chapter caps residential dog-keeping at three animals per premises: keep a fourth dog three months or older and the property legally becomes a 'kennel' requiring a state-law permit. Cats carry no numeric cap under this chapter, though an unlimited cat population can still trigger the city's nuisance-animal provisions. The city clerk administers annual dog licenses starting April 1.

K.No person may use [a] license for any dog other than for the dog for which it was issued.L.No person shall keep or control more than three dogs on a single premises.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 8).

Full Breakdown

040(B). 00 for a neutered or spayed dog, and must be applied for within 30 days of acquiring the dog. 040(H). Dogs must wear their identification tags at all times. 04 apply the numeric limit to dogs only. 100, a separate standard covering property damage, trespassing and disturbing the peace rather than a headcount.

Violations & Fines

General violations of Chapter 6.04, including exceeding the three-dog limit without a kennel permit, carry a fine of $10.00 to $200.00 under § 6.04.280, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense. The chief of police or a court can revoke the owner's license or permit outright, barring reissuance. Citations for licensing lapses run $50.00 for a first offense and $100.00 for repeat offenses within the same licensing year, per § 6.04.240(G).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dogs can I legally keep in Lawrence?
No more than three dogs on a single premises, per Lawrence Code § 6.04.040(L). Once you cross that threshold with dogs three months or older, § 6.04.010 defines your property as a 'kennel,' and § 6.04.250 requires a permit under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140 before you can keep the fourth dog there.
Is there a limit on cats?
No. Chapter 6.04's three-animal cap applies only to dogs. A household can keep multiple cats without triggering the kennel definition, though the animal control officer can still cite an owner if cats become a documented nuisance under § 6.04.100, covering trespassing, property damage or repeated disturbances.
What does a dog license cost in Lawrence?
$50.00 a year for an unneutered male or unspayed female, and $15.00 for a neutered or spayed dog, under § 6.04.040(I) and § 6.04.060. Licenses run April 1 through the following April 1 and must be renewed through the city clerk's office.
What happens if I don't license my dog on time?
The owner is fined $50.00 under § 6.04.040(H), and each day the license remains unobtained counts as a separate offense. Dogs found without a current tag can also be confined by the animal control officer under § 6.04.220 until all fees are paid.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lawrence

Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsBird ProtectionLight RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsMandatory Spay/NeuterSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Propane StorageSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Smoke DetectorsLight RestrictionsFire Regulations: Outdoor BurningHeavy RestrictionsFire Regulations: FireworksSome Restrictions

All Lawrence rules

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