Warren, MI Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Total animal limit
- 5 animals per household
- Cat sub-limit
- 3 cats over 6 months old
- Dog sub-limit
- 3 dogs over 6 months old
- Cure period
- 30 days to remove excess animals
- Penalty
- Up to 90 days jail, $500 fine
Summary
Warren caps most households at five total animals, with no more than three cats over six months old and no more than three dogs over six months old within that total. Licensed kennels, vet clinics, shelters and pet shops are exempt, and violators get 30 days to remove excess animals.
(a)With the exception of chickens, a person shall not possess more than a total of five (5) animals on his/her premises.(b)In addition to the limits described in subsection (a) above, a person shall not possess more than three (3) cats over the age of six (6) months.(c)In addition to the limits described in subsection (a) above, a person shall not possess more than three (3) dogs over the age of six months.(d)Exception. Licensed kennels, veterinary clinics, animal protection shelters, and pet shops are not subject to limits described in subsection (a), (b) or (c).(e)A violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by up to ninety (90) days in jail and/or fine and costs not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).(f)A person found in violation of this section shall have thirty (30) days to remove any animals exceeding the limits set forth herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 7-75 limits, with an exception for chickens, any person to possessing no more than a total of five animals on their premises. Within that five-animal ceiling, a person may not possess more than three cats over the age of six months, and separately may not possess more than three dogs over the age of six months; both caps stack on top of, rather than replace, the overall five-animal limit. Licensed kennels, veterinary clinics, animal protection shelters, and pet shops are expressly exempted from all three limits.
A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine and costs not to exceed $500. Importantly, the ordinance builds in a compliance grace period: a person found in violation has 30 days to remove any animals exceeding the limits before further enforcement, rather than facing immediate seizure. This section sits in Article VI of Chapter 7 alongside the barking, running-at-large, and dangerous-animal provisions, all adopted together under Ord. No. 80-834, effective June 24, 2025.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the five-animal household limit, or the three-cat or three-dog sub-limits, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 7-75 punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine and costs of up to $500. The owner is given 30 days from a violation finding to bring the household back within the limits before facing further penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Warren
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle pet limits.