Animal Ordinances in Auburn, AL (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Auburn, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Auburn allows backyard chickens by permit from the Planning Department. Lots must be at least 10,000 square feet with a single-family home. Four hens are allowed on smaller lots and six on lots of 20,000 square feet or more. Roosters and slaughtering are prohibited.
Auburn Backyard Chickens and Poultry
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Auburn requires dogs to be kept under restraint at all times. Restraint includes leashing, confinement in a fenced area or building, or proper tethering on the owner's property. Dogs may be off-leash only at designated City dog parks while under immediate and effective voice control.
Auburn Dog Leash and Restraint Rules
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Auburn does not impose breed-specific bans. Alabama's statewide dangerous-dog law (Emily's Law) regulates individual dogs by behavior, not breed, and defines a dangerous dog regardless of its breed. Owners remain liable for dog bites under state law.
Auburn Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Auburn's Zoning Ordinance does not specifically regulate beekeeping, so no city permit or hive limit is published. Beekeepers are governed by Alabama state law, which requires annual registration of colonies with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Auburn Beekeeping Rules
Few RestrictionsExotic Pets
Auburn's Zoning Ordinance prohibits keeping any wild animal or reptile that the Environmental Services Director finds poses a threat to human safety. Alabama state law additionally bans possessing non-native venomous reptiles, tegus, and Lacey Act injurious wildlife.
Auburn Exotic and Wild Pet Rules
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
The City of Auburn advises residents not to illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets, and not to feed strays, to avoid attracting animals. The Zoning Ordinance also bars keeping any wild animal the Environmental Services Director finds threatens human safety.
Auburn Wildlife Feeding Guidance
Some RestrictionsLivestock
Auburn prohibits horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, and similar livestock within the established stock district. Outside it, most livestock is allowed only on Rural (R) lots of three acres or more, and horses require at least two acres with one horse per acre.
Auburn Livestock and Stock District Rules
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Auburn caps residential dogs at three and chickens by lot size, limiting accumulation, while Alabama's cruelty statute is the primary tool against hoarding. Subjecting animals to cruel neglect or depriving them of food or shelter is a crime, with aggravated cruelty a felony.
Auburn Animal Hoarding and Cruelty
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
Auburn limits residential dwellings to no more than three dogs aged six months or older, except in the Rural (R) District. The Zoning Ordinance does not set a numeric limit on cats. Each chicken-keeping household is separately capped at four to six hens by lot size.
Auburn Limit on Number of Dogs
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Auburn has no published cat-specific leash or count limit, and Alabama leaves cat-at-large rules to municipalities. Cats must be vaccinated against rabies under state law. The City advises against feeding stray cats and lends humane traps for nuisance strays.
Auburn Cat Rules
Few RestrictionsLooking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Auburn city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Lee County →