Animal Ordinances in Blue Hill, NE (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Blue Hill, Nebraska, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Blue Hill's zoning ordinance confines livestock pens, hog houses, hatcheries and poultry houses to the Agricultural (AG) district: Article Four's Use Regulation Matrix marks them prohibited everywhere else, including the Residential (R), General Commercial (GC), Downtown (DT) and Light Industrial (LI) districts. Keeping chickens, hogs or other livestock on a residential lot in Blue Hill or its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction is not a permitted use.
Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules in Blue Hill, NE
Significant RestrictionsBlue Hill Zoning Ordinance Art. 4, Use Regulation Matrix
Livestock pens or hog houses P — —— — AG = Agriculture; R = Residential; CG = Commercial General; DT = Downtown; LI = Light Industrial; P = permitted use; C = conditional use permit required; A = accessory uses. A dash (“—“) = prohibited uses. ... Use/Activity AG R GC DT LI Hatcheries and poultry houses P — —— —
Dog Leash Laws
Blue Hill Municipal Code § 3-209 forbids letting a dog run at large anywhere in the city, defining that as being off the owner's premises and not restrained by leash, cord, chain, wire, rope, cage or similar means. Loose dogs are impounded by the animal control authority.
Blue Hill Bans Dogs Running at Large
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 3-209
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to allow such dog or cat to run at large at any time within the corporate limits of the city. It shall be the duty of the animal control authority to cause any dog or cat found to be running at large within the city to be taken up and impounded. “Running at large” shall mean a dog or cat was found off the premises of the owner and not under c...
Breed Restrictions
Blue Hill Municipal Code §§ 3-216 to 3-219 regulate dogs by behavior, not breed: a dog is "dangerous" if it has injured a person, killed a domestic animal, or repeated potentially-dangerous conduct. Owners must confine it securely, post a warning sign, and get it spayed/neutered and microchipped.
Blue Hill Dangerous Dog Rules, Not Breed Bans
Significant RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code §§ 3-216, 3-217
“Dangerous dog” shall mean any dog that, according to the records of the animal control authority: A. Has killed or inflicted injury on a human being on public or private property; ... ... B. Has killed a domestic animal without provocation; or C. Has been previously determined to be a potentially dangerous dog by an animal control authority and the owner has received notice of such determinati...
Beekeeping
Blue Hill's zoning ordinance permits apiaries in every zoning district: Article Four's Use Regulation Matrix marks 'Apiary and other related structures' with a 'P' in the Agricultural, Residential, General Commercial, Downtown and Light Industrial columns alike. Beekeeping is a permitted use by right on a residential lot in Blue Hill and its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, with no conditional-use permit required.
Beekeeping Allowed in All Blue Hill, NE Districts
Few RestrictionsBlue Hill Zoning Ordinance Art. 4, Use Regulation Matrix
AG = Agriculture; R = Residential; CG = Commercial General; DT = Downtown; LI = Light Industrial; P = permitted use; C = conditional use permit required; A = accessory uses. A dash (“—“) = prohibited uses. ... Use/Activity AG R GC DT LI ... Apiary and other related structures P P PP P
Exotic Pets
Keeping a wild animal anywhere inside Blue Hill's corporate limits is against the law. Section 3-302 of the Municipal Code bars wild animals citywide, carving out only one exception: animals kept for exhibition purposes by circuses and educational institutions, so private ownership of exotic or wild species as pets isn't allowed in town.
Blue Hill Bans Wild Animals As Pets
Heavy RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 3-302
No wild animals may be kept within the corporate limits except such animals kept for exhibition purposes by circuses and educational institutions.
Pet Limits
Blue Hill Municipal Code § 3-204 bars any owner from keeping more than four dogs and/or cats total on their residential premises at one time, though a litter's offspring don't count toward the cap for the first four months after birth.
Blue Hill Caps Dogs and Cats at Four Total
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 3-204
No owner or keeper of any dogs or cats shall keep, harbor, or maintain in, about or upon the premises occupied by such owner as his or her residence, more than four dogs and/or cats total at any one time. The offspring of any dog or cat shall not count toward the maximum number of dogs or cats allowed, for a period of four months after the birth of said offspring.
Cat Rules
Blue Hill Municipal Code § 3-203 requires anyone who owns, keeps or harbors a cat over six months old to license it annually with the city clerk by January 15, with proof of rabies vaccination and, if applicable, spay/neuter status on file before a tag is issued.
Blue Hill Cat Licensing and Rabies Rules
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 3-203
Any person who shall own, keep, or harbor a dog or cat over the age of six months within the city shall within 30 days after acquisition of the animal acquire a license for each animal annually by or before January 15 each year. Application shall be made upon a printed form provided by the city, upon which the owner shall state his or her name and address and the name, breed, color and sex of e...
Microchipping
Blue Hill does not require microchipping for pets in general, but any dog formally declared a dangerous dog must be spayed or neutered and implanted with a microchip within 30 days of that declaration. The owner covers the cost of both procedures and must file written proof, including the microchip number, with the animal control authority.
Blue Hill Dangerous Dog Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 3-218
A. A dangerous dog that has been declared as such shall be spayed or neutered and implanted with a microchip identification number by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days after such declaration. The cost of both procedures shall be the responsibility of the owner of the dangerous dog. Written proof of both procedures and the microchip identification number shall be provided to the animal cont...