Animal Ordinances in Boise, ID (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Boise, Idaho, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Boise requires at least one acre to keep horses, cows, or other livestock at a home, with tighter rules for poultry and rabbits.
Boise Backyard Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 11-03-03.I
I. Livestock and Animals, Accessory: (1) Accessory Livestock Uses: The keeping of livestock shall comply with the following standards. ... (3)(a) A minimum of one acre is required to keep livestock. For poultry and rabbits, the minimum area is one half acre. ... (b) The keeping of any Rooster is prohibited unless allowed per the provisions of an established overlay zone or other approval by the...
Dog Leash Laws
Boise requires dogs to be leashed in public and bans letting a dog run at large on city streets, alleys, or private property without consent.
Boise Dog Leash And At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-7
B. Leash Requirements: All dogs must be restrained by a leash in public except as provided in this chapter... D. Dog Running At Large Prohibited: Any person who owns, harbors, or has in his or her control a dog which animal is found at large upon the City's streets, alleys, or public places, or upon any other private premises without the consent of the person in possession of such premises, is ...
Breed Restrictions
Boise regulates dogs by behavior, not breed: there is no breed-specific ban. A dog is declared dangerous or potentially dangerous only after a bite, attack, or fighting history.
Boise Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-11
Dangerous dog means any dog that: 1. Without justified provocation, has inflicted serious injury or kills a person on public or private property... 5. The animal is owned or harbored for the purpose of fighting or has been trained to fight.
Beekeeping
Boise allows accessory beekeeping on any residential lot with no minimum parcel size, capped at three colonies per quarter-acre plus permitted nucleus colonies.
Boise Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 11-03-02.4.B
Beekeeping, Accessory: ... (b) Density of Hives and Colonies: There is no minimum parcel size for beekeeping, but the maximum density is three colonies per one-fourth acre. Higher densities may be permitted by Conditional Use Permit. ... (e) Flyway Barriers: For colonies located within 25 feet of a property boundary, a flyway barrier at least six feet in height ... is required. (f) Setbacks And...
Exotic Pets
Boise bans keeping wild and exotic animals as pets under Boise City Code section 5-1-12, listing dozens of species by family, from big cats and primates to venomous snakes, birds of prey and elephants. State- or federally listed threatened and endangered species are barred the same way, and only accredited zoos, licensed vets, schools and permitted wildlife rehabilitators may lawfully keep any of them.
Boise Exotic & Wild Animal Ownership Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-12
5-1-12: PROHIBITED ANIMALS: A. Prohibited Animals: It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, keep, maintain, or possess within the City any of the following animals: 1. Mammals: a. All members of the family Felidae (cat family), except domesticated cats. b. All members of the family Canidae (dog family), except domesticated dogs. c. All nonhuman primates. ... r. All members of the family U...
Wildlife Feeding
Boise bans feeding wildlife and birds in city parks, including animals confined at Zoo Boise, under the park conduct code.
Boise Park Wildlife Feeding Ban
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 7-7A-2(C)
Feeding Animals: Give or offer, or attempt to give to any reptile, bird, waterfowl, or other wildlife any tobacco, alcohol or other known noxious substances. Feeding of animals within Zoo Boise is prohibited unless otherwise permitted by duly authorized Zoo Boise personnel. ... Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, annoy, feed, shoot or throw missiles or objects at any animal,...
Pet Limits
Boise households may keep up to four dogs or five cats without a permit; more requires a noncommercial kennel license capped at 10 animals total.
Boise Household Pet Limit: 4 Dogs, 5 Cats
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-9(A)
It shall be unlawful to keep, maintain, harbor or possess upon the premises of any one household more than four (4) dogs, or five (5) cats or combination of four (4) such animals, unless the owner or person in charge first procures a noncommercial kennel license as provided by this chapter. The maximum number of dogs, cats or combination of both allowable under a noncommercial kennel license is...
Cat Rules
Boise bans unspayed cats over 4 months from roaming and lets the Animal Shelter spay, neuter, and release seized feral cats instead of destroying them.
Boise Cat At-Large and Feral Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-8(B); § 5-1-13(E)
Cats At Large: It shall be unlawful for any owner of a cat that is four (4) months of age or older and has not been spayed or neutered to permit such animal to run at large... Nuisance Feral Cat Prevention: Any cat not spayed or neutered, over the age of four (4) months that is permitted to be out of doors not under the direct control of its owner is deemed a nuisance... may spay or neuter such...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Boise makes it illegal to let a cat four months or older roam the streets or alleys unless it has been spayed or neutered: unaltered cats must stay confined to the owner's property.
Boise Requires Spay/Neuter for Roaming Cats
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-8(B)
It shall be unlawful for any owner of a cat that is four (4) months of age or older and has not been spayed or neutered to permit such animal to run at large upon the streets, alleys or other public places of the City; or regardless of age or being spayed or neutered to permit such feline upon private property without the consent of the owner or person in possession of such property. C. Do...
Microchipping
Boise doesn't require microchips for all pets, but any dog ruled dangerous or potentially dangerous must be permanently microchipped at the owner's expense.
Boise Dangerous Dog Microchipping Rule
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 5-1-11(F)(1)(b)
A dog found to be dangerous or potentially dangerous shall be permanently identified by means of a microchip or other method used for the identification of companion animals at the expense of the owner. Microchip registration shall be reported in a timely manner to the Animal Shelter. Photographs of the dog may be required by the Animal Shelter. Upon demand, the dog's owner shall provide access...
Pet Groomer Rules
Boise's zoning code classifies pet grooming shops under the "Animal Daycare or Kennel" land use, which is allowed only in certain zoning districts and must meet enclosed-structure, noise, odor, and setback standards.
Boise Pet Groomer Zoning & Facility Rules
Significant RestrictionsBoise City Code § 11-03-03.4.A
Those parts of structures in which animals are boarded shall be fully enclosed, with solid core doors and no operable windows, and shall be sufficiently insulated to minimize the noise or odor that can be detected off the premises. All boarded animals shall be kept within a totally enclosed part of a structure between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Any outdoor animal areas shall be locat...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Boise's Development Code treats animal hospitals and veterinary clinics as a distinct land use, permitted outright in some zoning districts and requiring a conditional use permit in others under the citywide Table of Allowed Uses.
Boise Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 11-06-03
ANIMAL HOSPITAL OR CLINIC: An establishment where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment and are cared for during the time of such treatment. This use does not include a "Kennel," and overnight boarding of animals shall only be permitted when incidental to such medical treatment and limited to short periods of time. ANIMAL UNIT: A unit of measure for determining livestock densi...
Bird Protection
Boise bans hunting, harming, feeding, or taking eggs or nests of any bird in city parks, greenbelt, and Zoo Boise grounds.
Boise Park Bird Protection Rules
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 7-7A-2(C)
Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, annoy, feed, shoot or throw missiles or objects at any animal, reptile or bird including those confined to the Zoo Boise; nor shall any person remove or be in possession of the young of any wild animal, or the eggs or nest, or young of any reptile or bird...
Looking for Ada County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boise city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Ada County →