Animal Ordinances in Allentown, PA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Allentown, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Allentown bans keeping livestock and fowl within the City. City Code Chapter 163 makes it unlawful to keep or maintain any cattle, swine, sheep, goats or fowl except at licensed slaughtering or laboratory locations, so backyard chickens, roosters, ducks and similar poultry are not permitted in residential areas.
Keeping cattle, swine, sheep, goats or fowl prohibited
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances, Chapter 163 (Animals), Article I — Animal Control (former Art. 700.13, Sec. 3)
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any cattle, swine, sheep, goats or fowl in the City except at such places as are provided for slaughtering or laboratory purposes.
Dog Leash Laws
Allentown bars animals from running at large: on public property they must be on a leash no longer than six feet, controlled by a person, and on private property they need the owner's consent. Violators face a violation ticket or citation.
Allentown Leash Law: Six-Foot Max on Public Property
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances § 163-4.C(1) (At-large animals prohibited), Ord. No. 15882, 3-15-2023
No owner or custodian of an animal shall permit the animal to run at large in the City. For the purposes of this section, an animal is considered to run at large if it is not secured by a leash no longer than six feet controlled by a human when on public property, including but not limited to streets, sidewalks and parks or with or without a leash if on private property without the consent of t...
Breed Restrictions
Allentown cannot ban or restrict any dog breed. Pennsylvania's Dog Law (3 P.S. Sec. 459-507-A) expressly abrogates local dangerous-dog ordinances and forbids any municipality from prohibiting or limiting a specific breed, so breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers are legal citywide and are regulated only by behavior under the state dangerous-dog law.
No breed bans allowed; PA preempts breed-specific rules
Few Restrictions3 P.S. Sec. 459-507-A(c) — Pennsylvania Dog Law, Construction of article (local ordinances)
Those provisions of local ordinances relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated. A local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog.
Beekeeping
Allentown requires a no-fee registration certificate from the Bureau of Health to keep domestic bees. Hives are capped at one per 2,500 square feet of lot, five per lot maximum, and must sit 25 feet from property lines unless screened by a six-foot fence or hedge.
Allentown Beekeeping: Free Permit, 5-Hive Cap, 25-Ft Setback
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances § 163-29.B, C (Registration certificate terms and conditions)
The density of colonies on any lot may not exceed one colony of domestic bees for each 2,500 square feet of lot area. No lot shall have more than five colonies located thereon. Hives shall not be located within 25 feet of any property line, public street, sidewalk, or alley except: (1) When situated behind a solid fence or hedge at least six feet in height, parallel to the property line, and ex...
Exotic Pets
Allentown bans keeping any wild or exotic animal outside a zoo, veterinary clinic, humane society, or circus with adequate enclosures. The list covers wild canids, big cats, bears, weasels, raccoons, primates, venomous snakes, crocodilians, and venomous fish or invertebrates.
Allentown Bans Wild and Exotic Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances § 163-13.A (Keeping of certain animals prohibited)
Wild or exotic animals prohibited. No person shall keep a wild or exotic animal in any place other than a zoological park, veterinary hospital or clinic, humane society, or circus, sideshow, amusement show or facility used for educational or scientific purposes, which provides proper cages, fences and other protective devices adequate to prevent such animal from escaping or injuring the public.
Wildlife Feeding
Section 425-6 of Allentown's Code prohibits feeding waterfowl anywhere in the city's parks and at the municipal golf course. Rangers and police enforce the ban alongside the companion rule against releasing animals into park waters, and violators face citation fines up to $1,000 under Chapter 425's penalty schedule.
Allentown Bans Feeding Waterfowl in City Parks
Some RestrictionsAllentown City Code § 425-6 (Ord. No. 13824, 4-24-2000)
No person shall feed any water fowl in the City's parks and the municipal golf course.
Pet Limits
Allentown does not cap household pets by number directly, but City Code Chapter 163 defines any place keeping more than six dogs or domesticated animals over four months old as a 'kennel,' which is barred from residential zones. Pennsylvania's Dog Law also requires a state kennel license once an owner keeps a regulated number of dogs.
Over 6 dogs/animals (4+ mo) = kennel; license required
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances, Chapter 163 (Animals), Article I — Animal Control (kennel definition)
A kennel is a place, including a dwelling unit, in which more than six dogs or domesticated animals more than four months old are housed, bred, boarded, or sold. Kennels and pet shops shall not be permitted in residential areas as defined in Chapter 660, Zoning.
Cat Rules
Allentown does not license cats, but it does regulate them: cats over three months must have current rabies vaccination, and declawing is banned except for therapeutic reasons. Ear-tipped community cats and their caregivers are exempt from licensing, at-large, nuisance, and abandonment rules.
Allentown Exempts Ear-Tipped Community Cats From Rules
Light RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances § 163-1 (Definitions, "COMMUNITY CAT"), added by Ord. No. 15882, 3-15-2023
COMMUNITY CAT: Any free-roaming cat without visibly discernible or microchip identification that may be cared for by one or more people, known or unknown. Community cats that are ear-tipped indicate the animal is sterilized and vaccinated against rabies at least one time. A community cat that is not yet ear-tipped is eligible for sterilization, vaccination, ear-tipping and return to the locatio...
Pet Store Rules
Allentown pet shops cannot sell dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs at all; only adoption partnerships with shelters or rescues are allowed. Shelters and rescues also cannot buy animals from breeders or auctions.
Allentown Bans Retail Sale of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances § 163-33 (Prohibition on sale of dogs, cats and rabbits or guinea pigs by pet shops), Ord. No. 15848, 10-19-2022, amended by Ord. No. 15982, 3-20-2024
It shall be unlawful for a pet shop, as defined in § 163-1, to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat or rabbit or guinea pig. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a retail pet shop from providing space to either an animal shelter or to an animal rescue organization, whether such shelter or organization is located within or outside the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of di...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet groomers in Allentown are zoned under the "animal service" use category, § 660-37.B, alongside boarding, training and veterinary care. The ordinance splits the use into Indoor, Outdoor Limited (up to 12 pets, no overnight stays) and Outdoor General (more than 12 pets or overnight boarding) subcategories, each allowed in different zones under Table 660-4, so where a groomer can operate depends on which subcategory it fits.
Allentown Pet Groomers Zoned as Animal Service Use
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Zoning Ordinance § 660-37.B (Ord. No. 16166, adopted Oct. 15, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026)
B. Animal service. (1) Use category description. Establishments that provide services for the care of customary household pets, including boarding, training, grooming, breeding, and veterinary services. Includes pet day cares but excludes dog walking and similar pet care services not carried out at a fixed location. Keeping and caring for livestock or draft animals is not included in the animal...
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