Animal Ordinances in Anderson, IN (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Anderson, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Anderson's Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 2439, codified in Title XV) precludes keeping livestock and farm animals within city limits. Chickens and other fowl fall within the barred farm-animal category, so backyard poultry is not permitted in the City of Anderson.
Anderson IN Bans Chickens and Livestock in the City
Heavy RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Anderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.51(B) requires all animals to be kept under restraint. Sec. 91.51(F) makes it unlawful for an animal to be at large, and an at-large animal that injures a person or a lawfully restrained pet carries a $1,000 fine.
Anderson IN Restraint Rule; $1,000 Bite Fine (Sec. 91.51)
Heavy RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.51(F)
It shall be unlawful for an owner's animal to be at large. An owner of an animal which, while at large, caused bodily injury to another person shall pay a $1,000 fine.
Breed Restrictions
Anderson's animal code has no breed-specific ban. Dangerous dogs are handled by conduct under the vicious-animal provisions (Sec. 91.80 et seq.): the Board of Public Safety may designate any animal vicious after notice and a hearing, regardless of breed.
Anderson IN Uses Behavior-Based Vicious-Animal Rules, No Breed Ban
Some RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.01 (VICIOUS ANIMAL)
Any animal with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals.
Beekeeping
Anderson's animal chapter (Ch. 91) sets no beekeeping rule and no hive limits. The city instead regulates through its Zoning Ordinance, which precludes livestock and farm-type uses in city limits, so residential hives are best cleared with the Building/Planning department first.
Anderson IN Has No Beekeeping Ordinance; Zoning Limits Apply
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
Anderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.63 makes it unlawful to keep any wild or vicious animal for display, or to keep any wild animal as a pet. Exceptions cover zoos, circuses, and animals registered before the chapter took effect.
Anderson IN Bans Wild Animals as Pets (Sec. 91.63)
Heavy RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.63(A)
No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild animal as a pet.
Wildlife Feeding
Anderson has no standalone wildlife-feeding ban, but Sec. 91.01 defines 'harboring' so that feeding an animal for three consecutive days presumes you harbor it. Keeping any wild animal as a pet is prohibited under Sec. 91.63, so sustained feeding of wildlife carries legal risk.
Anderson IN: Feeding Wildlife Can Make You Its Harborer
Some RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.01 (HARBORING)
An animal shall be presumed harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days.
Livestock
Anderson's Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 2439, Title XV) precludes keeping livestock and farm animals within the city limits. Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, ponies, and similar marketable farm animals may not be kept on residential lots inside the city.
Anderson IN Zoning Precludes Livestock in City Limits (Ord. 2439)
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Anderson has no statute using the word 'hoarding,' but keeping four or more dogs and/or cats makes you a regulated 'kennel operator' (Sec. 91.01), and the public-nuisance and cruelty provisions of Chapter 91 let the city act against overcrowded, unsanitary animal keeping.
Anderson IN Caps Casual Keeping at the 4-Animal Kennel Threshold
Some RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.01 (KENNEL)
Anyone keeping more than a total of four or more dogs and/or cats six months of age shall be deemed a kennel operator.
Pet Limits
Anderson has no flat pet cap, but Sec. 91.01 deems anyone keeping four or more dogs and/or cats (six months or older) a 'kennel operator,' triggering kennel regulation. Altered cats confined to the owner's property are excluded from the count.
Anderson IN: 4+ Dogs/Cats Makes You a Kennel (Sec. 91.01)
Some RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.01 (KENNEL)
Anyone keeping more than a total of four or more dogs and/or cats six months of age shall be deemed a kennel operator. Specifically excluded are groups of cats all of which are altered and all of which are confined to the owner's premises.
Cat Rules
Cats in Anderson must be kept under restraint like other animals (Sec. 91.51). Sec. 91.72 adds a Community Cat (TNR) Program: ear-tipped, sterilized, vaccinated free-roaming cats trapped by volunteers are returned to where they were found rather than impounded.
Anderson IN Cat Restraint and Community Cat (TNR) Program
Some RestrictionsAnderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.72(A)
A community cat that has been impounded which has already been ear-tipped shall be returned immediately to the location at which it was found, unless veterinary care is required. Community cats shall not be impounded under other circumstances.