Royal Oak Township, MI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Section 4-83 of the Code of Ordinances of the Charter Township of Royal Oak, Michigan, sets the cat limit. It prohibits any person from willfully or knowingly having or possessing more than three cats, six months of age or over, in any single household within the township. The only exception printed is for premises specifically licensed for the care, treatment and boarding of such animals. The count is per household, not per person, and it applies to cats six months of age or over.

Dogs are handled through the kennel definition instead of a flat household cap. Under § 4-57, any person keeping, either permanently or temporarily, either for sale, breeding, boarding, training, hobby, protection, or pets, four or more dogs six months or older is deemed an operator of a dog kennel. It is unlawful to operate a kennel in the township without first obtaining a kennel license. The reasons for keeping the dogs do not matter, since pets and hobby dogs are listed alongside sale and breeding.

The kennel license comes with conditions. No kennel is permitted within 50 feet of any dwelling house, unless the occupants of that dwelling consent when the application is made. The premises must be investigated by the code or animal control officer and approved as suitable before any license issues. Each license must be kept posted conspicuously on the premises, cannot be transferred, and terminates December 31 following issuance. Under § 4-58 the kennel application is made prior to March 1 of each year and must give a description of the premises, the capacity of the kennel quarters and the number of dogs over four months of age to be kept there. The holder of a kennel license does not need individual licenses for the dogs kept in the kennel.

Individual dogs four months of age or over still need a license under § 4-56 when they are not covered by a kennel license.