Louisville, KY Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Cap on lots ≤0.5 acre
- 3 outdoor dogs, excluding puppies
- Cap on lots 0.5–2 acres
- 7 outdoor dogs, excluding puppies
- Kennel license
- Class A/B/C license exempts property
- Enforcing agency
- Louisville Metro Animal Services
- Cats
- Not capped by this section
Summary
Louisville Metro caps outdoor dogs at three per lot up to half an acre, seven on lots between a half-acre and two acres, not counting puppies, unless the property holds an active Class A, B, or C kennel license.
(A) No more than three dogs, excluding puppies, may be quartered outdoors on an individual tract, lot or parcel, or dwelling unit, (as defined in the Land Development Code), which is .5 acres or less and has on such property any building or structure containing a residential use. (B) No more than seven dogs, excluding puppies, may be quartered outdoors on an individual tract, lot or parcel, or dwelling unit, ...which is more than .5 acres but less than two acres...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Metro Ordinance § 91.040 sets numeric caps on dogs quartered outdoors on residentially used property: three dogs (excluding puppies) on a tract of 0.5 acres or less, seven dogs on a tract larger than 0.5 acres but under two acres. No cap applies to tracts of two acres or more, and the section sets no limit on cats or on dogs kept indoors. A property that holds a current Class A, B, or C kennel license from Louisville Metro Animal Services is exempt from the cap entirely. Home rule cities inside Jefferson County, such as Anchorage and St. Matthews, run their own animal codes and are not bound by this Metro chapter.
Violations & Fines
Violating the outdoor-dog cap is a Chapter 91 offense under § 91.999: fines run $5 to $250 (criminal) or $150 to $1,000 (civil), plus up to 90 days in jail, enforced by Louisville Metro Animal Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the dog limit apply to cats too?
What if my property is larger than two acres?
Can I keep more dogs with a kennel license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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