Lowell, MA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Per-Household Numeric Cap
- None in Lowell City Code
- Dog License Required
- Each dog over 6 months (Sec. 104-2; MGL c.140 Sec.137)
- Kennel Provisions
- Lowell Code Sec. 104-3 and 104-4
- Local Authority
- MGL c.140 Sec.173 (additional ordinances)
Summary
Lowell sets no numeric per-household limit on the number of dogs or cats a resident may keep; instead, every dog over six months must be licensed and larger numbers are regulated through the kennel-license provisions of Chapter 104. Massachusetts state law (MGL c.140 Sec.137) supplies the underlying licensing requirement.
A city or town may make additional ordinances or by-laws relative to the licensing and control of animals not inconsistent with sections 136A to 174F, inclusive.
Full Breakdown
No Lowell-specific ordinance imposes a fixed numeric cap on the number of household dogs or cats; the city instead controls pet keeping through licensing and kennel regulation. Chapter 104, Article I requires registration and a license for each dog (Sec. 104-2) and separately regulates kennels and kennel license fees (Sec. 104-3 and Sec. 104-4) for owners keeping enough dogs to meet the kennel definition. This local framework rests on Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 137, which requires that 'The owner or keeper of a dog over the age of 6 months shall obtain a license for the dog,' and on MGL c.140, Section 173, which authorizes a city to make additional ordinances or bylaws relative to the licensing and control of animals not inconsistent with the state animal-control sections. Because there is no household pet cap in the code, the practical limit on companion dogs is reached when keeping crosses into kennel territory under Sec. 104-3.
Violations & Fines
Keeping enough dogs to constitute a kennel without obtaining the kennel license required under Section 104-3 / Section 104-4 is enforced by Lowell Animal Control through the citation and noncriminal-disposition process in Section 104-16 and Section 104-17. Failure to license an individual dog over six months old is separately enforceable under MGL c.140, Section 137, and the local licensing provisions of Section 104-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I keep in Lowell?
Is there a limit on cats?
What law lets Lowell regulate the number of animals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lowell
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