How Westminster Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Westminster maintains 97 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Westminster falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Breed Restrictions

Westminster does not name or ban any dog breed. Instead, Section 6-7-8 declares an animal 'potentially dangerous' or 'vicious' based on what it actually did, then imposes leash, muzzle, microchip, spay/neuter, and insurance requirements regardless of breed.

Key details: Governing section: W.M.C. § 6-7-8. Breed named in code: None; conduct-based only. Vicious-animal insurance: $100,000.00 policy or bond. Potentially-dangerous lead limit: 6 feet. Vicious-animal lead limit: 4 feet, muzzled.

Violating the possession requirements for a potentially dangerous or vicious animal is a criminal offense under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., punishable by fine or confinement. Failing to notify Animal Management of an escape, attack, sale, or death within the one-hour or 24-hour windows is a separate violation, and courts may order the animal forfeited or euthanized on conviction under Section 6-7-9(E).

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

Beekeeping

Keeping bees in Westminster requires a City permit before the bees even arrive. Hive counts scale from two on a quarter-acre lot up to eight on larger lots, and every hive needs a ten-foot rear setback plus a six-foot flyaway barrier.

Key details: Governing sections: W.M.C. §§ 6-7-12(H), 6-7-19. Permit required: Yes, before bees arrive. Hive limit, 1/4 acre: 2 hives. Hive limit, 3/4+ acre: 8 hives. Rear setback: 10 feet from property lines.

Keeping bees without a permit, or in violation of the hive-count, setback, or barrier standards in Section 6-7-12(H), is a civil infraction under Sections 6-7-12(J) and 6-7-19(D), each punishable by a fine of up to $500.00. A violation is separately declared a public nuisance abatable under Title VIII, Chapter 4, and the permit holder is contractually responsible for reimbursing the City's nuisance-abatement costs under Section 8-4-4, W.M.C.

Pet Store Rules

No retail store in Westminster may sell, deliver, or offer for adoption any dog or cat. Stores can still host lawful rescue or shelter adoption events on-site, provided they take no ownership stake or adoption fee and post the rescue's name on each animal's enclosure.

Key details: Governing section: W.M.C. § 6-7-12(G). Retail dog/cat sales: Banned citywide. Rescue adoption events: Allowed, no fee/ownership stake. Minimum sale age: 8 weeks (dogs/cats). Class B pet shop bond: $10,000.00 surety bond.

Violating the retail dog/cat sale ban in Section 6-7-12(G) is a criminal offense under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., punishable by fine or confinement, the same elevated tier as the exotic-animal ban. Operating a pet shop without the correct Class A or Class B license, per Section 6-7-11(A), is a civil infraction carrying a fine of up to $500.00, and the City Manager may revoke or suspend a pet shop license for code violations under Section 6-7-11(C).

Compared to other cities, Westminster takes a harder line on pet store rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Dog Leash Laws

Westminster requires owners to keep dogs under leash control off their own property, making it a civil infraction for an animal to run at large under W.M.C. 6-7-5(A)(1). Fines escalate for repeat offenses and are higher for animals that are not spayed or neutered.

Key details: Offense type: civil infraction, not criminal. 1st offense fine: $75 (altered) / $225 (intact). 3rd+ offense: $250-300 + microchip proof. Exception: designated off-leash dog sites. Max fine: $500 per violation.

A dog running at large without physical restraint is a civil infraction under Section 6-7-5(A)(1), carrying escalating minimum fines from $75 to $250 for a spayed or neutered animal, and $225 to $300 if the animal is intact, none of which the Municipal Court may suspend, up to a $500 cap per violation. A third at-large violation within 12 months requires impoundment until a dispositional hearing, per Section 6-7-5(A)(5).

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Westminster does not require spay or neuter for ordinary dogs and cats, but it does mandate it in two specific cases: potbellied pig permits require proof of spay or neuter, and a dog declared 'potentially dangerous' must be sterilized as a condition of legal possession.

Key details: Potbellied pig permit condition: Proof of spay/neuter (§ 6-7-12(F)(1)). Dangerous dog condition: Spay/neuter required (§ 6-7-8(C)(4)). General pet mandate: None for ordinary dogs/cats. Waiver available: Only for dangerous-animal rule, via vet letter. Pig weight cap: 95 lbs, 1 pig per property.

Keeping a potbellied pig without the required permit, which depends on proof of spay or neuter, is a civil infraction under Section 6-7-12(J) punishable by a fine of up to $500.00. Possessing a potentially dangerous animal without complying with the spay/neuter requirement of Section 6-7-8(C) is a criminal offense under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., unless the court has waived that condition in writing.

Chickens & Livestock

Westminster requires a permit before a single chicken sets foot on a residential lot, and caps flocks at six hens on lots of two acres or less, or 12 hens on larger lots, under Section 6-7-12(I). Roosters are barred since only hens qualify. Livestock such as horses or goats needs a half-acre of pasture per animal and generally a ten-acre parcel or O-1 zoning under Section 6-7-12(B).

Key details: Chicken permit: Required before any chicken arrives. Flock limit: 6 hens (≤2 acres), 12 hens (>2 acres). Roosters: Not permitted; hens only. Coop limits: 120 sq ft, 6 ft tall, 10 ft rear setback. Livestock pasture: 0.5 acre per animal, excluding fowl.

Violating the chicken, bee or livestock provisions of Section 6-7-12 or the permit rules of Section 6-7-20 is a civil infraction carrying a fine of up to $500.00 per Section 6-7-12(J). A chicken or bee permit can be denied, cancelled or revoked for any chapter violation, and unpermitted or noncompliant keeping is separately declared a public nuisance abatable under Title VIII, Chapter 4 of the Code.

Pet Limits

Residential properties in Westminster may keep no more than 10 domestic animals total, and no more than 4 of those can be dogs or cats over four months old. Emotional-support and ADA service animals still count toward that cap.

Key details: Governing section: W.M.C. § 6-7-12(A). Total domestic animal cap: 10 per residential property. Dog/cat cap within total: 4 over age 4 months. Service/support animals: Count toward the cap. Fish: Excluded from the count.

Keeping more than ten domestic animals, or more than four dogs/cats over four months old, on residential property is a civil infraction under Section 6-7-12(J), punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 upon conviction. The excess animals also constitute a public nuisance the City may abate separately under Title VIII, Chapter 4.

Wildlife Feeding

It is unlawful to knowingly put out food for wild animals anywhere in Westminster, a rule aimed at deer, geese, and other unconfined wildlife. The ban specifically exempts feeding squirrels and passerine songbirds.

Key details: Governing section: W.M.C. § 6-7-13(I). Penalty: Civil infraction, up to $500.00. Exempt species: Squirrels, passerine birds. Covered species: Deer, geese, coyotes, foxes, other wild animals. Enforcing agency: Animal Management Officer / police.

Knowingly feeding a wild animal in Westminster, other than a squirrel or a passerine bird, is a civil infraction under Section 6-7-13(K), punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 upon conviction. Repeated feeding that draws wildlife into conflict with people or pets can also support a separate nuisance or cruelty referral under the surrounding subsections of Section 6-7-13.

Exotic Pets

Westminster bans importing, selling, or keeping any 'prohibited animal', a defined list running from big cats and bears to venomous snakes and large constrictors, anywhere in the city. Presumed-prohibited animals stay banned until an owner proves otherwise in Municipal Court.

Key details: Governing section: W.M.C. § 6-7-12(C). Violation class: Criminal offense, not civil infraction. Legal presumption: Uncertain animals presumed prohibited. Exotic animal sale: Only via Class B pet shop license. Exempt species: Ferrets, rabbits, dogs, cats, small rodents.

Violating the prohibited/endangered/exotic animal ban in Section 6-7-12(C) is a criminal offense under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., punishable by fine or confinement, unlike most Chapter 7 pet violations, which are only civil infractions. A prohibited animal seized under this section may be impounded and, on conviction, forfeited to the shelter under Section 6-7-9(E)(5).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westminster actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

The Bottom Line

Westminster is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Westminster, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Westminster's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.