Salt Lake City, UT Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household dog/cat limit
- None set by city code
- Licensing
- Required annually for dogs and cats
- Rabies vaccination
- Certificate required, 6+ months validity
- Governing section
- § 8.04.070(F)
Summary
Salt Lake City sets no numeric limit on how many dogs or cats a resident can own, as long as every animal is licensed, vaccinated for rabies, and doesn't create a nuisance.
Dog And Cat Limits: There is no limitation on the numbers of dogs and cats that can be owned by a resident, provided that all dogs and cats are properly licensed and cared for. Dog and cat owners must abide by all applicable sections of this title including, but not limited to, licensing, proper care and maintenance, medical attention, and animal cruelty. Owners are required to prevent their animals from causing, and shall abate, any nuisances caused by animals including, but not limited to, noise and odor.
G. Senior Citizen Provisions: In lieu of the annual license fees provided above, a person sixty (60) years of age or older on the date of license application may, upon proof of age, obtain a dog or cat license for an unsterilized dog or cat for a reduced fee as specified in the city's consolidated fee schedule. A person sixty (60) years of age or older may obtain a license for the life of a spayed or neutered dog or cat for a onetime nontransferable fee as specified in the Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule, but such person shall nevertheless obtain a license without fee thereafter for verification of rabies vaccination. This subsection shall not be construed to relieve any person from meeting all licensing requirements not specifically exempted, including late fees and required vaccinations, nor is any license issued hereunder transferable to any other animal or owner other than that for which the license was issued. (Ord. 8-15, 2015)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Salt Lake City Code § 8.04.070(F) states there's no limitation on the number of dogs and cats a resident can own, provided every animal is properly licensed and cared for. Owners must comply with the title's licensing, care, medical-attention, and anti-cruelty provisions, and must prevent and abate nuisances their animals cause, including noise and odor. All dogs and cats age four months and older require an annual license from the office of animal services within 30 days of acquiring the animal or moving into the city, backed by a current rabies vaccination certificate. Unlicensed keeping is a violation under the penalty schedule in section 8.15.027.
Violations & Fines
Keeping an unlicensed dog or cat is a violation under Salt Lake City Code § 8.15.027's penalty schedule; letting a pet cause a noise or odor nuisance is a separate violation owners must abate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on how many dogs or cats I can own in Salt Lake City?
Do I still need to license each dog or cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle pet limits.