Animal Ordinances in Caldwell, ID (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Caldwell, Idaho, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Caldwell allows residents to keep fowl, guineas and poultry only if the birds stay on the owner's own premises inside a shed, pen or other enclosure sufficient to keep them from trespassing onto neighboring property. There is no permit process; the enclosure requirement itself is the rule.
Caldwell Backyard Fowl and Poultry Rule
Some RestrictionsCaldwell City Code § 08-03-17(4)
(4) Fowl Or Poultry: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep fowl, guineas or poultry unless such fowl or poultry are at all times kept upon his own premises, within a shed, pen or other enclosure sufficient to restrain said fowl, or poultry from trespassing upon the property of others.
Dog Leash Laws
Caldwell bans letting any animal, canine or livestock run at large on city streets, alleys or public places, or on property that is not its own, whether or not it is licensed. 'At large' means off the owner's premises and not under immediate control by leash, cord, chain or similar restraint.
Caldwell Dog At-Large and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsCaldwell City Code §§ 08-03-05, 08-03-17(1)
AT LARGE: An animal off the premises of its owner and not under the immediate control of the owner or member of the owner's household, either by leash, cord, chain or other means of physical restraint. ... (1) Animals At Large: It shall be unlawful for any animal, canine or livestock owned or possessed by an individual to be at large upon the roads, streets or alleys of the City or any public...
Breed Restrictions
Caldwell does not ban any dog breed by name. Its dangerous-animal definition lists breed as one of several factors, alongside size, temperament and training, that can support an individualized dangerous-animal finding, but breed alone cannot support the designation and every case requires a court adjudication.
Caldwell Dangerous Animal Breed Factor Rule
Light RestrictionsCaldwell City Code §§ 08-03-05, 08-03-25(3)
DANGEROUS ANIMAL: ... Any animal which, due to its size, breed, temperament, health, training or lack of training, location, use, or other circumstance poses a risk of injury to any person is dangerous. No animal is or may be declared dangerous if the animal is startled, abused, harassed or otherwise provoked. ... It is unlawful to own, possess or have custody of a ... dangerous animal anywhere...
Exotic Pets
Caldwell bans keeping most wild mammals, dangerous reptiles and agricultural pest insects as pets, including wolves, wild cats, venomous snakes and crocodilians, along with any state- or federally listed threatened or endangered species, under City Code Section 10-12-03-3(7).
Caldwell Prohibited Exotic and Wild Animals
Heavy RestrictionsCaldwell City Code § 10-12-03-3(7)
(7) Animals Prohibited: A. It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, keep, maintain or possess within the city any of the following animals: 1. Mammals: All marine mammals. All marsupials except Virginia opossum, sugar gliders, and bettongs. All members of the family Canidae (dog family), including, but not limited to, wolves, foxes, jackals and coyotes, except domesticated dogs. All mem...
Cat Rules
Caldwell caps most households at five pet cats under the zoning code's animal regulations, and a household keeping cats along with other pet species cannot have more than three different types of pets, unless the lot is at least half an acre or the owner gets a special use permit.
Caldwell Household Pet Cat Limit Rules
Some RestrictionsCaldwell City Code § 10-12-03-3(6)(D)(2)
2. Animals defined as pets or kept as companion animals may be kept in the numbers prescribed below regardless of the size of the parcel if the performance standards listed in this section are complied with and no individual household shall have any more than three (3) different types of pets: Cats 5 ... Note: ... Example - One (1) household could have five (5) cats, ten (10) chickens and one g...
Microchipping
Caldwell does not require microchipping outright, but its collar-and-tag law lets a canine skip the required collar and metal license tag only if the owner proves to the Animal Control Director that the dog carries a current, valid, functioning microchip carrying the same information as a tag.
Caldwell Canine Microchip Tag Exception
Light RestrictionsCaldwell City Code § 08-03-13(1)
(1) Collar And Tag Required; Exception: Every canine shall at all times wear a substantial and durable collar to which shall be securely attached the required metal license tag. If a canine cannot safely wear a collar and/or metal license tag it shall be excepted from such requirement upon application and upon proof to the Animal Control Director that it has implanted a current, valid and fun...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Caldwell zoning splits veterinary uses into a large-animal clinic/hospital category, which needs a Special Use Permit in the C-2 commercial district, and a small-animal clinic/hospital category, permitted by right in C-1, C-2, and C-3 under Table 10-06-03.
Caldwell, ID Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsCaldwell City Code §§ 10-01-10, 10-06-03 (Table 10-06-03)
CLINIC / HOSPITAL - LARGE ANIMAL: Any building or portion thereof or business establishment designed or used for the care or administration of veterinary services for any agricultural or exotic animals. This use can also include veterinarian uses. CLINIC / HOSPITAL - SMALL ANIMAL: Any building, or portion thereof, or business establishment designed or used for the care or administration of vete...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Caldwell's ban on keeping prohibited wild animals does not apply to a rehabilitator, breeder or exhibitor who holds a proper license or permit from the city, the Idaho Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under City Code Section 10-12-03-3(7)(C).
Caldwell Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit Exception
Significant RestrictionsCaldwell City Code § 10-12-03-3(7)(C)
C. The provisions of subsections A and B of this section shall not apply to the keeping of such animals by any bona fide licensed veterinary hospital for treatment, bona fide educational or medical institutions, museums, bona fide zoos, or by rehabilitators, breeders, or exhibitors who are properly licensed or permitted by the city, the Idaho department of agriculture, the U.S. fish and wildl...
Looking for Canyon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Caldwell city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Canyon County →