Animal Ordinances in Canton, OH (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Canton, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Canton, Ohio, Codified Ordinances Sections 505.08 and 505.11 set minimum setback distances for keeping farm animals near homes: chicken and rabbit pens must sit at least fifty feet from any residence, goats at least 100 feet, and horses or ponies at least seventy-five feet, with goats and horses also required to be tethered within those limits. Violation is a minor misdemeanor.
Canton, Ohio Backyard Chicken And Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsCanton Codified Ordinances §§ 505.08, 505.11
KEEPING GOATS AND HORSES; DISTANCE FROM DWELLINGS. (a) Goats. ... The owner or harborer of any goat shall not house the same within 100 feet of the nearest dwelling or residence and shall keep such goat tethered so that it cannot roam within 100 feet of the nearest dwelling or residence. (b) Horses. The owner or harborer of any pony or horse shall not house it within seventy-five feet of the ne...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Canton, Ohio, Codified Ordinances Section 505.01 bars owners from letting a dog run at large on any public place or another's property and requires every dog be confined on the owner's premises or under reasonable control at all times. Female dogs in heat must stay leashed off-property. Violators face a minor misdemeanor citation.
Canton, Ohio Dog Leash And At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsCanton Codified Ordinances § 505.01
No person being the owner of or having charge of any dog, whether wearing a registration tag or not, shall permit it to run at large upon any public place or upon the premises of another. No owner, keeper or harborer of any female dog shall permit such dog to go beyond the premises of such owner or keeper at any time such dog is in heat, unless such dog is properly in leash. The owner or keeper...
Breed Restrictions
Canton, Ohio does not regulate dogs by breed; Codified Ordinances Section 505.24 instead punishes owners whose dog commits a defined vicious, dangerous or nuisance dog act, tracking Ohio R.C. 955.21-955.22. Penalties escalate from a minor misdemeanor for a nuisance act to a second-degree misdemeanor for a first vicious-dog act, doubling for repeat offenses, and a felony if a person is injured or killed.
Canton, Ohio Dangerous And Vicious Dog Law
Significant RestrictionsCanton Codified Ordinances § 505.24
No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog that is not an animal shelter for dogs shall negligently, and no animal shelter for dogs that keeps or harbors a dog shall recklessly, fail to prevent the dog from committing a vicious dog act. Whoever violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the second degree on each subsequent offense...
Exotic Pets
Codified Ordinances Section 505.13 bars anyone in the City of Canton, Ohio from knowingly keeping a dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile, or any animal of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities. A long, named list of species, including bears, wolves, big cats, venomous snakes and certain spiders, is irrebuttably presumed dangerous. Licensed menageries, zoos and Director of Public Safety permit holders are exempt. Violation is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Canton, Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsCanton Codified Ordinances § 505.13
No person shall knowingly keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the City any dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile, any vicious or dangerous domesticated animal, or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities, except to the extent that an exemption may be applicable pursuant to subsections (e) or (f) hereof. ... there shall be ...
Pet Limits
Codified Ordinances Section 505.14 caps most Canton, Ohio households at five dogs or cats, in any combination, over four months old, per dwelling unit or structure. Anyone in a business or industrial zone who wants more must get an annual City permit under Section 505.15. Only the Police Department or Law Department, not the general Nuisance Inspector, may enforce the five-animal cap.
Canton, Ohio Five Dog Or Cat Limit
Some RestrictionsCanton Codified Ordinances § 505.14
Except as provided in Section 505.15, a person may not keep or harbor in or about any dwelling unit or structure a total of more than five dogs or cats, in any combination, over four months of age. "Keep and "Harbor have the same meaning as in Ohio Revised Code 955.28. "Dwelling unit" and "structure" are defined in Chapter 1123 of the Codified Ordinances. ... Notwithstanding Section 505.19, onl...
Microchipping
Under Canton Codified Ordinances Section 505.29, anyone convicted of a qualifying violent, weapons, or drug felony committed on or after May 22, 2012, may not knowingly own, possess, or live with a dog lacking a permanently implanted microchip bearing a unique identification number for three years after release or conviction. The same ban covers unspayed or unneutered dogs over twelve weeks old and any dog already declared dangerous or vicious. Canton Police enforce it as a first-degree misdemeanor.
Canton Felon Dog Microchip Ban
Significant RestrictionsCanton Codified Ordinances § 505.29(a)(3)
(a) No person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony offense of violence committed on or after May 22, 2012, or a felony violation of any provision of Ohio R.C. Chapter 959, Ohio R.C. Chapter 2923, or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2925 committed on or after May 22, 2012, shall knowingly own, possess, have custody of, or reside in a residence with any of the following for a period of three years...
Looking for Stark County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Canton city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Stark County →