Animal Ordinances in Aurora, CO: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Aurora or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Aurora has 13 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Wildlife Feeding

Under CRS 33-6-131, intentionally feeding big-game wildlife including bears, deer, elk, and mountain lions is illegal statewide. Aurora also prohibits feeding coyotes, foxes, and raccoons and requires bear-resistant trash management.

Key details: State Law: CRS 33-6-131. Banned Targets: Bears, deer, elk, coyotes. Bird Feeder Tip: Remove April to November. Report Wildlife: CPW 303-291-7227.

State wildlife feeding is a Class 2 misdemeanor with fines starting at 50 dollars. Aurora nuisance-wildlife feeding citations range from 100 to 1000 dollars depending on prior offenses.

This is one of the stricter rules in Aurora's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Livestock

Large livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs) are limited to agriculturally zoned lots of 1 acre or more in Aurora. Standard residential lots may keep only chickens, rabbits, and small caged animals under the small-livestock permit.

Key details: Minimum Acreage: 1 acre A-1 zone. Horse Setback: 50 to 100 ft typical. Pigs: Mostly prohibited. Permit: Aurora Animal Services.

Unpermitted livestock on residential lots can result in orders to remove animals within 30 days, plus fines of 100 to 1000 dollars. Manure runoff can trigger state water-quality enforcement.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Aurora actively enforces its livestock requirements.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Aurora City Code Chapter 14 incentivizes spay-neuter through tiered pet licensing fees, with significantly higher fees for intact dogs and cats, and mandatory sterilization for animals impounded multiple times.

Key details: Approach: Tiered license fees. Trigger: Repeat impoundment. Partners: Dumb Friends League. Required: Annual license plus rabies. Code: Aurora Ch. 14.

Failure to license carries fines under Chapter 14; reclaiming an impounded intact animal without required sterilization can result in forfeiture and additional impoundment fees.

Cat Rules

Aurora City Code Chapter 14 requires cats over four months to be licensed and current on rabies, addresses at-large cats through impoundment and trap-neuter-return options, and limits households to four cats absent a multiple-animal permit.

Key details: License: Required over four months. Rabies: Required. Cat limit: Four without permit. TNR: Supported via partners. Code: Aurora Ch. 14.

At-large cats causing nuisance can be impounded with reclaim fees; unlicensed cats trigger Chapter 14 fines; exceeding four cats without permit risks animal removal.

Pet Limits

Aurora City Code Chapter 14 limits the number of dogs and cats kept at a single residence, with combined limits enforced by Aurora Animal Services to prevent nuisance and hoarding conditions in residential zones.

Key details: Dog limit: Three over four months. Cat limit: Four over four months. Permit: Multiple-animal permit required. Enforcement: Aurora Animal Services. Code chapter: Aurora Code Ch. 14.

Exceeding limits without a multiple-animal permit triggers Aurora Municipal Court summons, fines, and potential animal removal by Aurora Animal Services after impoundment.

Coyote Management

Aurora Animal Services runs a coyote coexistence program emphasizing hazing techniques, secured trash, and feeding bans, coordinating with Colorado Parks and Wildlife on persistent aggressive coyote incidents in suburban neighborhoods near open space.

Key details: Lead agency: Aurora Animal Services. State partner: Colorado Parks Wildlife. Approach: Hazing then removal. Feeding: Prohibited Chapter 14. Hot zones: Cherry Creek corridor.

Intentional feeding of coyotes violates Chapter 14 wildlife feeding rules and triggers fines; harassing wildlife illegally can violate state CPW regulations under CRS Title 33.

Animal Hoarding

Aurora Animal Services investigates animal hoarding under Chapter 14 cruelty and neglect provisions, coordinating with Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas County authorities and Colorado Revised Statutes when conditions endanger animal welfare or public health.

Key details: Lead agency: Aurora Animal Services. State law: CRS 18-9-202 cruelty. Possible charge: Felony if aggravated. Counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas. Outcome: Impoundment plus ownership ban.

Hoarding violations trigger impoundment, municipal cruelty charges, possible CRS 18-9-202 felony charges, restitution costs, and ownership prohibitions for repeat offenders.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Aurora actively enforces its animal hoarding requirements.

Microchipping

Aurora encourages microchipping as part of annual pet licensing under Chapter 14, with chip numbers logged in the license database to expedite return-to-owner from the Aurora Animal Shelter and reduce impound durations.

Key details: Required: Encouraged not mandated. Linked to: Annual pet license. Benefit: Faster return-to-owner. Low-cost clinics: Aurora Animal Services. Update registry: When moving.

Failure to license is the citable violation; lack of microchip itself is not a violation but greatly delays reclaim and increases impound fees and potential shelter adoption-out.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Aurora gives residents more flexibility on microchipping.

Beekeeping

Aurora permits backyard beekeeping with a permit. Up to 2 hives on lots under 1/2 acre, more on larger lots. Hives must be set back from property lines and registered with the state under the Colorado Apiary Act.

Key details: Hive Limit: 2 on under 1/2 acre. Property Line Setback: 10 ft. Flyway Barrier: 6 ft if close to neighbor. State Registration: CO Apiary Act Title 35-25.

Unpermitted or nuisance hives can be ordered removed. Failure to register with the state is a separate agricultural violation.

Dog Leash Laws

Aurora requires all dogs off the owner's property to be on a leash no longer than 10 feet under control of a person capable of restraining the dog. Retractable leashes are allowed only when locked at 10 feet or less.

Key details: Max Leash Length: 10 ft. Off-Leash: Designated dog parks only. Pet Waste: Must be picked up. Code: Aurora City Code Ch. 14.

Leash violations are enforced by Aurora Animal Services and start around 100 dollars for a first offense. Dogs running loose can be impounded with reclaim fees.

Compared to other cities, Aurora takes a harder line on dog leash laws. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Breed Restrictions

Aurora's 16-year pit bull ban was repealed November 2021 after Ordinance 2021-45 passed City Council. Aurora no longer restricts dogs by breed. All dogs must be licensed, vaccinated, and controlled under the standard animal code.

Key details: Ban Repealed: Nov 2021 (effective Jan 2022). Ordinance: 2021-45. Current Rule: Breed-neutral, behavior-based. Vicious Dog Code: Aurora City Code Ch. 14.

Breed alone is no longer a violation in Aurora. Aggressive behavior, unlicensed dogs, or loose dogs remain enforceable under the animal code with fines up to 1000 dollars and possible impoundment.

Aurora is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

Chickens & Livestock

Aurora allows up to 8 hens on residential lots — no roosters. Coops must be at least 15 feet from any dwelling on an adjoining lot, kept clean, and pass a city inspection. A small livestock permit is required.

Key details: Hen Limit: 8. Roosters: Prohibited. Coop Setback: 15 ft from neighbor home. Permit: Required through Animal Services.

Unpermitted flocks, rooster possession, or unsanitary coops result in a compliance notice and citation. Fines range from 50 to 500 dollars per violation.

Exotic Pets

Aurora prohibits ownership, sale, possession, or harboring of exotic, dangerous, and wild animals within city limits under City Code Section 14-8. This includes all venomous animals, large snakes over 6 feet, reptiles over 3 feet, primates, non-domestic felines, and most wild species. Ferrets are explicitly allowed.

Key details: Code: City Code §14-8. Banned: Venomous, primates, wild cats, large reptiles. Snakes: Non-venomous max 6 ft. Ferrets: Allowed.

Keeping a prohibited exotic animal: code violation with potential animal seizure. Animals may be confiscated by Animal Services.

This is one of the stricter rules in Aurora's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Aurora is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 13 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Aurora, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Aurora can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.