Little Rock, AR Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Fecal removal interval
- At least every 48 hours
- Governing section
- Sec. 6-3
- Enforcement
- Animal Services citation or order
- Applies regardless of
- Whether animal count is legal
Summary
Keeping animals on a property that becomes unclean, odorous, or fecal-fouled is a separate violation from Little Rock's headcount cap, and it's the tool used against hoarding-type conditions.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person keeping or harboring any animal to fail to keep the premises where such animal is kept free from unsanitary conditions which encourage the breeding of parasites, insects and flies or cause odors that are offensive to a person of reasonable sensibilities.(b)It shall be unlawful to allow premises where animals are kept to become unclean and a threat to the public health by failing to diligently and systematically remove all animal fecal matter from the premises a minimum of once every forty-eight (48) hours.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person to allow an animal within the person's control to defecate on public property or on the private property of another person unless the person having control of the offending animal immediately removes and disposes of the animal's feces.(d)All animal fecal matter shall be disposed of in accordance with the Little Rock Solid Waste Ordinance [section 28-1 et seq.].(e)All places where livestock is kept shall have adequate drainage sufficient to prevent standing water in yards or pens. Duck ponds shall be drained and cleaned as required to prevent malodorous conditions.(f)It shall be unlawful for any person keeping or harboring any animal to keep the animal in premises on which there is garbage, trash, or debris of any nature, including broken glass and cans, that could subject the animal to injury or disease. (Ord. No. 18,668, § 1, 4-2-02)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 6-3 makes it unlawful for anyone keeping or harboring an animal to let the premises fall into unsanitary conditions that breed parasites, insects, or flies, or that cause offensive odors. Fecal matter must be diligently and systematically removed from the premises at least once every 48 hours, and animals can't be kept where garbage, trash, or debris (including broken glass and cans) could injure them or cause disease. This is charged separately from the 4-animal maximum in Sec. 6-15/6-27 -- a property can violate the sanitary-conditions rule even at a lawful headcount, and it's the primary code tool the city applies to hoarding-type conditions where animal waste and clutter accumulate.
Violations & Fines
Citation under Sec. 6-2 with a fine per Sec. 1-9; an enforcement order can also require compliance by a set date, and animals may be impounded if conditions pose a health or safety risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as Little Rock's 4-pet limit?
How often must waste be removed under this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
Compare Little Rock to another location·View the Arkansas animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.