Animal Ordinances in Akron, OH (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Akron, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Akron flatly bans keeping chickens or other poultry within 100 feet of any dwelling, and bans keeping horses, cows, goats, and other hoofed animals in the city unless the Director of Neighborhood Assistance issues a permit for a lot of one acre or more. City Code § 92.18 sets both limits, with a narrow pet exception for one pygmy goat.
Akron Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsAkron City Code § 92.18
A.Fowl. No person shall keep chickens or other poultry in any dwelling or within one hundred feet thereof.B.Rabbits. No person shall keep rabbits in any dwelling or within twenty-five feet thereof.C.Hogs. No person shall keep hogs within the city... D.Other Hoofed Animals.1.No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any horse, pony, cow, calf, goat or other hoofed animal other than hogs in the ci...
Dog Leash Laws
Akron requires dogs to be on a leash or under direct control when off the owner's property. Dogs running at large violate city ordinance. All dogs over 3 months must be licensed with Summit County.
Akron Dog Leash Laws
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Rev. Code § 955.22 (Vicious, Dangerous, and Nuisance Dog Acts)
(3) "Nuisance dog act" means one of the following actions committed by a dog without provocation and while off the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, other than by a police dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties: (a) Chasing or approaching a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack; ...
Breed Restrictions
Akron does not enforce breed-specific legislation. Ohio repealed its statewide pit bull designation in 2012. Dogs are regulated based on individual behavior. Dogs declared dangerous or vicious face additional requirements regardless of breed.
Akron Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsOhio Revised Code Section 955.22 — Vicious, dangerous, and nuisance dog acts
(1) "Vicious dog act" means one of the following actions committed by a dog without provocation, other than by a police dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties: (a) The killing of any person; (b) Causing serious injury to any person by physical contact; (c) Engaging in a dangerous dog act after the dog has been designated...
Beekeeping
Akron requires a permit from the Director of Neighborhood Assistance before placing a beehive anywhere in the city. City Code § 92.29 charges a nonrefundable $5 annual fee per apiary and sets minimum setbacks of 6 feet at the back, 15 feet at the side, and 25 feet at the front of the hive from neighboring residential property or a right-of-way.
Akron Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsAkron City Code § 92.29
A.No person shall place or keep a beehive in the City of Akron without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Director of Neighborhood Assistance.1.Permit applications shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable annual fee of five dollars for each apiary to help defray the costs of processing the application... a.The back of the beehive may be no less than six feet from any adjoining residentia...
Exotic Pets
Akron follows Ohio's exotic animal laws (ORC Chapter 935), which require a dangerous wild animal permit for species like big cats, bears, large constricting snakes, and venomous reptiles. Common exotic pets like hedgehogs and certain reptiles may be kept without permits.
Akron Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Revised Code Section 935.02 — Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited
Section 935.02 | Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited. Effective: September 5, 2012 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 310 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall possess a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014. (B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, sell, ...
Wildlife Feeding
Akron declares the common Asiatic pigeon a public nuisance and bans feeding large flocks of them. City Code § 92.21 makes "harborage" of the birds, including feeding flocks that create a nuisance, or failing to pigeon-proof a building, a violation, separate from the narrower loft-keeping rule for licensed racing pigeons in § 92.18(E).
Akron Pigeon Feeding Nuisance Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsAkron City Code § 92.21
The common Asiatic pigeon is declared to be a public nuisance. No person shall keep or harbor such pigeon. Harborage shall be considered to include the feeding of large flocks of common Asiatic pigeons creating a public nuisance and/or failure of a property owner to maintain structures and buildings in such a manner that would exclude their entrance by pigeons.
Pet Limits
Akron treats any household with more than four dogs over six months old as an unlicensed kennel. City Code § 92.28 defines a "kennel" as a pack of more than four such dogs kept together, and bans operating one anywhere in the city unless it is permitted under the zoning code, Chapter 153.
Akron Kennel and Pet Limit Rules
Some RestrictionsAkron City Code § 92.28
A.For the purpose of this section, "kennel" shall mean and include any pack or group of dogs over the amount of four and over the age of six months kept together for any purpose.B.No person shall operate a kennel within the corporate limits of the City unless said kennel is permitted under Chapter 153.
Cat Rules
Akron treats cats the same as dogs, livestock, and fowl under its at-large ban: City Code § 92.01(B) bars letting a cat roam off its owner's property unrestrained on any public way or another person's land. A stray or loose cat can be picked up by an Animal Control Warden and impounded at the county shelter under § 92.16, which sets fixed pickup, boarding, and disposal fees.
Akron Cat At-Large and Impoundment Rules
Some RestrictionsAkron City Code §§ 92.01(B), 92.16(A)-(B)
B.No person being the owner, keeper or harborer of or having charge of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, dogs, cats, geese, or other fowl or animals shall permit the same, except homing pigeons bearing official bands, to run at large on any public way or on any public ground or upon the private property of another. ... A.The owner, keeper or harborer of any licensed dog or cat, or wil...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Akron's only mandatory spay/neuter rule is narrow: § 92.18 requires any miniature potbellied pig kept as a pet to be spayed or neutered once it reaches three months old, and a pygmy goat can be kept without an acreage permit only if it too is spayed or neutered. There is no city-wide spay/neuter mandate for dogs and cats.
Akron Spay/Neuter Rule for Pigs and Goats
Some RestrictionsAkron City Code § 92.18(C)(1)(e), (D)(1)
e.Miniature potbellied pigs must be spayed or neutered if three months or older... D.Other Hoofed Animals.1.No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any horse, pony, cow, calf, goat or other hoofed animal other than hogs in the city, except that the keeping, harboring or maintaining of any such animals may be authorized by the Director of Neighborhood Assistance for the City by permit duly issu...
Microchipping
Akron keeps a voluntary microchip registry for cats and dogs under City Code § 92.155. Owners are never required to chip a pet, but those who do can register the owner's name, address, phone number, and the pet's microchip number with the City, and Animal Control Wardens can pull that information anytime they are handling a found or impounded animal.
Akron Voluntary Pet Microchip Registry
Light RestrictionsAkron City Code § 92.155
A.The City shall create and maintain a database containing information about cats and dogs that are identified by microchip and belong to Akron City residents who comply with subsection B of this section.B.Residents of the City who choose to microchip their cats or dogs may register the owner's name, address, telephone number and the microchip number of each cat or dog that is identified by mic...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Akron's Form-Based Zoning Code (approved March 11, 2024) treats veterinary offices, animal hospitals, kennels, pet boarding and pet grooming as one "Animal Care" use category. It is a permitted use with additional standards in the MX3, MX-S3 and MX-F mixed-use districts, and outdoor animal areas face specific limits under Sec. 3.3.3.B.
Akron Veterinary & Animal Care Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Akron Form-Based Zoning Code § 3.3.3.B (Animal Care)
B. Animal Care 1. Definition A facility providing care and boarding of domesticated animals for compensation. 2. Examples of Included Uses - Animal hospital - Doggy day care - Kennel, animal shelter - Pet boarding - Pet grooming - Pet training facility - Veterinary office 3. Additional Use Standards a. Mixed-Use and Mixed-Use Shopfront Districts - outdoor spaces for animals are limited to...
Looking for Summit County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Akron city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Summit County →