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Animal Ordinances in Anderson, IN (2026)

6 verified animal ordinances for Anderson, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Dog 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 Restrictions

Anderson 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 Restrictions

Anderson 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.

Exotic 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 Restrictions

Anderson 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 Restrictions

Anderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.01 (HARBORING)

An animal shall be presumed harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days.

Pet Limits

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 Restrictions

Anderson 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.

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 Restrictions

Anderson 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.