Animal Ordinances in Ames, IA (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Ames, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Ames, Iowa, Sec. 3.103 of the Ames Municipal Code requires every dog owner to keep the animal from running at large. A dog stays compliant only if it is on the owner's or a consenting neighbor's property, confined in a cage or vehicle, or restrained by a leash strong enough to control it under Sec. 3.102(1)(c). Ames Animal Control officers can enter private property to recapture a loose dog and impound it under Sec. 3.104.
Ames Dog At-Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Secs. 3.102, 3.103
(1) At large means any animal off the premises of its owner and on other premises against the wishes of the person in possession of such other premises or upon the public streets, alleys, public grounds, school grounds or parks within the city. An animal shall not be deemed at large if: ... (c) the animal is restrained by a leash of sufficient strength to control its action; or ... Sec. 3.1...
Breed Restrictions
The City of Ames, Iowa does not ban any dog breed by name. Instead, Sec. 3.202 of the Ames Municipal Code lets the City Animal Control Officer designate any individual animal a 'Dangerous Domestic Animal' based on its own history of unprovoked injury, its role in animal fighting, or a behavior and disposition that poses a real risk of attacking people or other animals.
Ames Dangerous Dog Law, No Breed Ban
Significant RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 3.202
Sec. 3.202. DEFINITIONS AND DETERMINATION OF DANGEROUS DOMESTIC ANIMALS. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep a dangerous domestic animal except as otherwise provided in this section. For purposes of this section ADangerous Domestic Animal@ means: ... (d) Any animal which by breeding, training, disposition or behavior may pose a potential risk of attacking and inflicting injury w...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Ames, Iowa, Sec. 3.304 of the Ames Municipal Code bans keeping bears, large cats and wolves outright, along with imported mammals lacking quarantine-station documentation and rabies-or-plague-risk species such as skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats unless certified captive-born. Every other dangerous wild animal listed in Sec. 3.301, from monkeys to venomous snakes, needs annual City registration.
Ames Ban on Bears, Wolves, Large Cats
Heavy RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 3.304
Sec. 3.304. PROHIBITED ANIMALS. Registration and keeping of certain animals, as specified in this section, shall not be allowed. The keeping of such an animal shall be a violation hereof and punishable as such. Furthermore, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the animal control officer shall take such animals into protective custody pending appropriate disposition. (1) Bears, large cats...
Wildlife Feeding
In the City of Ames, Iowa, it is unlawful to place salt, grain, fruit, vegetable material or similar feed outdoors anywhere in the city for the purpose of feeding deer. The Ames Municipal Code lists prohibited items by name and creates a presumption of illegal feeding once a threshold quantity is placed low to the ground or in a feeder.
Ames Bans Feeding Deer
Significant RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 3.701
Sec. 3.701. FEEDING OF DEER. No person may place any salt, mineral, grain, fruit, or vegetable material outdoors on any public or private property within the City limits for the purpose of feeding deer. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, salt, corn, apples, cabbage, potatoes, acorns, oats carrots, beets, straw, hay, fodder, or any combination thereof. No person shall intentionall...
Cat Rules
In the City of Ames, Iowa, every cat owner must get the animal a rabies vaccination between three and four months of age under Sec. 3.107 of the Ames Municipal Code, repeated on the schedule the vaccine's manufacturer sets. Sec. 3.110 then requires cats over four months old to wear a collar or harness carrying a valid rabies tag at all times, with a narrow exemption for cats at kennel club events.
Ames Cat Rabies Vaccination and Tag Law
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Secs. 3.107, 3.110
Sec. 3.107. RABIES VACCINATION. Every owner of a dog, cat or horse shall obtain a rabies vaccination for each animal between three (3) and four (4) months of age and at such intervals thereafter as stipulated by the manufacturers of the vaccines used. This section applies to all dogs, cats and horses kept within the city, brought into the city for shows, exhibitions or performance, or in transi...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Ames does not require every dog or cat to be spayed or neutered, but Sec. 3.206(a) of the Ames Municipal Code lets the Animal Control Officer order the procedure, by a specific date and at the owner's expense, once an animal has been designated a Dangerous Domestic Animal under Sec. 3.202. Proof of the completed surgery must then go to Animal Control.
Ames Spay/Neuter Order for Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 3.206(a)
Sec. 3.206. ADDITIONAL HANDLING REQUIREMENTS In addition to insurance and confinement, the Animal Control Officer shall have the authority to place additional handling requirements on any animal which is within the scope of Section 3.202(1) and to require timely compliance with the requirements. Any or all of the following conditions may be imposed: (a) the requirement that the animal be sp...
Microchipping
Ames does not require every pet to be microchipped, but Sec. 3.206(b) of the Ames Municipal Code lets the Animal Control Officer order an animal designated a Dangerous Domestic Animal to be photographed and implanted, at the owner's expense, with a microchip carrying owner identification. The microchip information must then be registered with Animal Control before the requirement is satisfied.
Ames Microchipping for Dangerous Animals
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 3.206(b)
Sec. 3.206. ADDITIONAL HANDLING REQUIREMENTS In addition to insurance and confinement, the Animal Control Officer shall have the authority to place additional handling requirements on any animal which is within the scope of Section 3.202(1) and to require timely compliance with the requirements. Any or all of the following conditions may be imposed: ... (b) the requirement that the animal be ...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Ames, Iowa, animal grooming salons are classified as a Retail Sales and Services -- General use under Ames Municipal Code Sec. 29.501(195), permitted with Minor Site Development Plan approval from city staff in commercial zones such as the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) district. Dog grooming salons are separately listed by name in the Village Residential floating zone use table, allowed only in that zone's Neighborhood Center area.
Ames Pet Groomer Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 29.501(195); Table 29.801(2); Table 29.1201(5)
(195) Retail Sales and Services -- General: See Table 29.501(4)-3. ... Retail Personal, Business and Repair Services: Animal grooming salons ... Kennels ... Retail Sales and Services – Y SDP Staff General Minor ... Dog Grooming Salons Y N N
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Ames, Iowa, veterinarian offices are classified as a Retail Sales and Services -- General use under Ames Municipal Code Sec. 29.501(195), requiring Site Development Plan approval in the zones where that category is permitted. Separately, Sec. 29.1304(6)(c) expressly bars veterinary hospitals, along with animal boarding houses, kennels, and stables, from operating as a Home Occupation inside a residential dwelling.
Ames Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 29.1304(6)(c)
(6) Prohibited Uses. In addition to Home Occupations that do not comply with the criteria, the following uses are prohibited for Home Occupations: ... (c) Animal boarding houses, kennels, stables, and veterinary hospitals (i) Exception. An in-home animal boarding house is allowed as a Home Occupation for the boarding of up to six (6) animals. Use of the yard for the keeping of boarded ani...
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