Animal Ordinances in Westland, MI: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Westland or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Westland has 11 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Pet Store Rules

Westland bans selling or dyeing baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl and rabbits as novelty pets, though breeders and stores selling for legitimate commercial breeding are exempt.

Key details: Covers: chicks, ducklings, fowl, rabbits. Dyeing/coloring for sale: prohibited. Breeder/commercial exception: allowed. Base source: Code 1981, § 6-8.

General penalty applies (§ 1-8): fine up to $500.00 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment, with each sale treated as a separate offense.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Westland's zoning ordinance permits veterinary clinics by right in most commercial districts but excludes overnight boarding: a clinic with exterior or interior kennels no longer qualifies as a veterinary clinic and must be licensed as a kennel instead.

Key details: Permitted districts: OB, CB-2, CB-3, CCD, Ford Overlay. Excluded district: CB-1 Low Intensity Commercial. Overnight boarding: Reclassifies use as a kennel. Max penalty: $500 fine or 90 days jail.

Operating outside a permitted district or without required approvals violates the zoning ordinance: § 19.1 sets a fine up to $500 and up to 90 days imprisonment per day, plus civil nuisance-per-se abatement.

Microchipping

Westland requires microchipping only for dogs already declared vicious or dangerous, plus $100,000 liability insurance and city registration, under § 18-43.

Key details: Applies to: Declared vicious/dangerous dogs only. ID required: Tattoo or microchip. Insurance minimum: $100,000 liability coverage. Report window: 24 hours if dog escapes/attacks.

Failing to microchip, register, or insure a declared dangerous dog as required by § 18-43 is a misdemeanor under § 18-45.

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

Breed Restrictions

Westland doesn't ban breeds by name: it declares a dog 'vicious or dangerous' by behavior and imposes registration, insurance and confinement duties under § 18-42.

Key details: Basis: Behavior, not breed. Off-property rule: Leashed and muzzled always. Penalty: Misdemeanor, § 18-45. Adopted: Ord. No. 167-A-5-1, 2-17-09.

Failing to keep a declared dangerous dog confined, leashed, and muzzled off-property under § 18-44 is a misdemeanor under § 18-45.

Compared to other cities, Westland takes a harder line on breed restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Exotic Pets

Westland bans keeping any wild or exotic animal within city limits and bans their sale too, unless the seller is a pet shop licensed under Michigan's Public Act 287 of 1969.

Key details: Scope: citywide ban. Covered species: bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, more. Sale exception: licensed pet shop only. Adopted: Ord. No. 167-A-6, 1998.

General penalty applies (§ 1-8): fine up to $500.00 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment. Animal control may also seize and impound a wild or exotic animal found in the city under § 18-15.

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

Chickens & Livestock

Westland permits horses and other equine on residential lots that provide at least a half-acre per animal, keep the pasture behind the rear building line, and fence it 4 to 6 feet high.

Key details: Land required: 1/2 acre per horse. Pasture fence height: 4 to 6 feet. Stable setback, side/rear: 20 feet. Stable setback, dwelling: 40 feet.

General penalty applies (§ 1-8): fine up to $500.00 and/or imprisonment up to 90 days, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Nonconforming stables can be ordered brought into compliance by the animal control officer or building department.

Dog Leash Laws

Westland requires dogs to be licensed, rabies-vaccinated, and leashed anytime they leave the owner's fenced property, under City Code § 18-11(1).

Key details: Leash required: Beyond owner's fenced yard. Rabies + license tag: Required for animals 4+ months. Enforcement: Animal control officer, appearance tickets. Codified: Code 1981, § 6-13.

Letting an animal off-leash beyond fenced premises violates § 18-11(1); the animal control officer may impound the animal, and owners owe citation and shelter/impound fees under Chapter 18.

Bird Protection

Westland's city code bans hunting, harming, or killing any wild bird, animal, or reptile in city parks, and forbids removing nests, eggs, or young: with a narrow carve-out for venomous snakes.

Key details: Scope: All Westland city parks. Covers: Animals, reptiles, and birds. Exemption: Venomous snakes (§ 66-8(b)). Enforced by: Parks director and police, § 66-4.

The parks and recreation director, assisted by police, enforces this chapter under § 66-4; § 66-27 separately makes it unlawful to violate any duly adopted rule or regulation governing conduct in a city park.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westland actively enforces its bird protection requirements.

Cat Rules

Westland lets a household keep up to three cats over four months old; a fourth cat, just like a fourth dog, triggers the private-kennel licensing requirement.

Key details: Cats allowed before license: 3. License required at: 4th+ cat. Licensing cycle: annual, all animals. Age counted: 4 months+.

General penalty applies (§ 1-8): fine up to $500.00 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment. Keeping unlicensed cats beyond the three-cat threshold is a separate citable offense from ordinary licensing lapses.

Wildlife Feeding

Westland bans feeding wildlife on any private or public property and treats ground-feeding as a nuisance per se under City Code § 18-22.

Key details: Feeding wildlife: Unlawful citywide. Ground-feeding: Nuisance per se. Bird feeder exception: 5+ feet off ground. Max penalty: $500 fine, 90 days jail.

Feeding wildlife or ground-feeding violates § 18-22; an animal control officer may issue an appearance ticket, and conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail.

Compared to other cities, Westland takes a harder line on wildlife feeding. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Limits

Westland caps unlicensed pet-keeping at three dogs or three cats per household; harboring more without a kennel license violates City Code § 18-11(5).

Key details: Household limit: 3 dogs or 3 cats. Age threshold: Over 4 months old. Over the limit?: Private kennel license required. Kennel penalty: Up to $500 fine, 90 days.

Harboring more than three dogs or cats without a kennel license violates § 18-11(5); kennel-license violations carry fines up to $500 and up to 90 days under § 18-19(e).

The Bottom Line

Westland is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 11 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Westland, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Westland's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.