Animal Ordinances in Arvada, CO (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Arvada, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Arvada lets chickens and turkeys be kept in every zoning district, but outside the RA and RN-32.5 agricultural districts they must stay 35 feet from any neighboring dwelling, out of front setbacks, and capped at five hens or three hens plus two turkeys per household. Roosters and toms are banned citywide outside those two districts under City Code sections 14-92 and 14-123(4).
Arvada Backyard Chicken and Turkey Rules
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code §§ 14-92(a)(2), 14-123(4)
(2)Livestock—Chickens and turkeys. In addition to being kept in the RA and RN-32.5 zoning districts, chickens and turkeys may be kept in any other zoning district. ... a.Distance restriction. It shall be unlawful for any person or household to keep, have custody of, or allow a chicken or turkey within 35 feet of any dwelling unit, except that of the owner or custodian. ... c.Maximum number allo...
Dog Leash Laws
Arvada makes it unlawful for the owner or custodian of a dog, or almost any other animal, to let it run, go, or be at large on a street, public place, or another person's property without written permission. City Code Section 14-54 also bans tethering an animal on someone else's property without consent, with a carve-out for the city's designated off-leash dog parks.
Arvada Dogs Running at Large Law
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-54(a), (b)
(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal, excepting cats, to permit the same to run or go or be at large on any street or public place within the city, or upon the premises of any other person, without prior written permission of such other person...(b)It shall be unlawful to tether any animal on any property other than that of the owner or custodian without prior writte...
Breed Restrictions
Arvada declares a dog or other animal "dangerous" by conduct, not breed: causing bodily injury, menacing a person, killing another animal off its owner's property, or attacking someone lawfully on the owner's property. City Code Section 14-51 lets an animal management officer destroy a dangerous animal immediately, without notice, if needed to protect public safety, subject to a narrow unlawful-entry defense.
Arvada Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-51(a), (d)
(a)Any animal exhibiting behavior set forth in this section is hereby declared to be a dangerous animal. It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of an animal to permit or allow said animal, without intentional provocation, to:(1)Cause bodily injury to any person at any place within the city;(2)Approach any person in a menacing or terrorizing manner, or in an apparent attitude of attack,...
Beekeeping
Arvada allows residential beekeeping but caps hive box size and colony count by lot size under Section 38-403, from two colonies on a quarter acre up to eight on more than an acre, plus a 25-foot setback from property lines.
Arvada Backyard Beekeeping Hive and Density Rules
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code § 38-403(a)(1)-(2)
(1)Hive boxes and supers.(i)All bee colonies shall be kept in a hive box with removable frames to facilitate inspection. All hive boxes, frames, and other equipment shall be kept in sound and usable condition.(ii)No hive box shall contain more than ten frames.(iii)No hive box shall have inside dimensions that exceed ten inches in height, 14 inches in width, or 19 inches in depth.(iv)No colony s...
Exotic Pets
Arvada bans owning, having custody of, selling, or trafficking a list of wild and exotic species citywide. City Code Section 14-91 names venomous snakes and snakes over six feet, nonhuman primates, non-domesticated felines, bears, crocodilians, raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves, and coyotes, with any animal of uncertain status presumed prohibited until the owner proves otherwise.
Arvada Prohibited Wild and Exotic Animals
Heavy RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-91(a), (b)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to own, have custody of, sell, or in any other manner traffic in the following species of animals:(1)All poisonous reptiles, all venomous and poisonous snakes, and all snakes longer than six feet;(2)Nonhuman primates;(3)Any species of feline other than ordinary domesticated house cats;(4)Bears of any species;(5)All crocodilians;(6)Raccoons, porcupines, sku...
Wildlife Feeding
Arvada makes it unlawful to feed, provide food to, or help feed wildlife or any wild animal in, from, or upon a city park or golf course, under Code section 14-128. The only carve-out is a bird feeder placed with prior written approval from the city's parks manager or the North Jeffco Metro Park and Recreation District.
Arvada Feeding Wildlife in Parks Ban
Significant RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-128
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, provide food, or assist another person in the feeding of wildlife or any wild animal in, from, or upon any park or golf course within the city. Exception: Bird feeders may be placed on a park or golf course within the city with the prior written approval of the manager of parks for the city or for the North Jeffco Metropolitan Park and Recreation Di...
Pet Limits
Arvada caps ownership at three dogs, four cats, or four dogs and cats combined per household under City Code section 14-126, with a separate two-pig limit for pot-bellied pigs. On top of those caps, households may keep no more than a combined 15 other animals such as chickens, turkeys, or miniature goats, regardless of age.
Arvada Household Pet Limits: Dogs and Cats
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-126
(a)No person or household shall own or have custody of more than:(1)Three dogs of more than four months of age; or(2)Four cats of more than four months of age; or(3)Two pot-bellied pigs of more than four months of age; or(4)A total of four dogs and cats of more than four months of age in any combination; or(5)A total of three dogs and pot-bellied pigs of more than four months of age in any comb...
Cat Rules
Arvada's running-at-large law does not apply to cats. City Code Section 14-54(a) bans letting a dog or almost any other animal run loose on a street, public place, or someone else's property without permission, but the section expressly carves cats out of that requirement, so a roaming cat does not by itself violate the ordinance that binds dog owners.
Arvada Cats Exempt From Leash Law
Few RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-54(a)
(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal, excepting cats, to permit the same to run or go or be at large on any street or public place within the city, or upon the premises of any other person, without prior written permission of such other person. Exception: This section shall not apply to areas designated by the city as dog training areas or off-leash dog park sites. ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Arvada requires every pot-bellied pig to be registered with the animal management office within 14 days of acquisition, with male pigs castrated and female pigs spayed before they reach four months old. Pigs must also be tattooed and tagged before four months and harnessed whenever outside the home. Pigs over 70 pounds are declared a nuisance outright, and no other pet species faces a citywide spay or neuter mandate under Chapter 14.
Arvada Pot-Bellied Pig Spay and Neuter Mandate
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-93(b)-(c)
(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, pasture, house, maintain, or harbor a pot-bellied pig within the city unless the owner or custodian registers said pot-bellied pig with the animal management office within 14 days of acquiring said pig and complies with the following requirements:(1)Male pot-bellied pigs must be castrated prior to the age of four months and female pot-bellied pigs...
Microchipping
Arvada requires every cat to wear an identification tag on its collar or harness, or to carry a surgically implanted microchip, or a similar form of ID, under City Code Section 14-43(b). The tag or microchip must list the current owner's name, address, and phone number, a separate requirement from the dog-license tag rule in the same section.
Arvada Cat ID Tag and Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-43(b)
(b)It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any cat to fail to cause the cat to wear an identification tag affixed to the cat's collar or harness, or to have an identification microchip surgically implanted into the cat, or to wear some other similar type of identification. Such tag or microchip shall clearly set forth the current owner's name, address, and telephone number.
Pet Store Rules
Arvada doesn't ban pet stores from selling dogs or cats, but every pet shop, kennel, animal hospital, or shelter must keep facilities sanitary, properly heated and ventilated, and appropriately spaced for each animal, and may release for sale, trade, or adoption only animals free of disease or injury, under City Code section 14-174. Commercial sellers also need a city kennel license.
Arvada Pet Shop and Kennel Sale Standards
Some RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-174
It shall be unlawful for any owner, manager, or employee of a pet shop, kennel, animal hospital, or shelter to fail to maintain the facilities in a sanitary condition, provide proper heating and ventilation, provide space appropriate to the size, weight, and species of animal, provide adequate nutrition, provide adequate veterinary care for all animals in their care, or to fail to take reasonab...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Arvada's ban on owning wild and exotic animals does not reach a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, falconer, or scientific collection permit holder. City Code Section 14-91(c) exempts anyone currently licensed by Colorado's wildlife agency, and a state-licensed veterinary hospital, from the prohibited-animals list in Section 14-91(a), as long as they still comply with all other city Code and zoning provisions.
Arvada Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit Exemption
Light RestrictionsArvada City Code § 14-91(c)
(c)Nothing herein shall prohibit the bona fide activities of the following:(1)A wildlife rehabilitator, falconer, or scientific collection permit holder currently licensed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, so long as such licensee or permit holder complies with all applicable city Code and zoning ordinance provisions; or(2)A veterinary hospital operated by a veterinarian currently licensed ...
Looking for Jefferson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Arvada city rules.
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