Animal Ordinances in Chattanooga, TN (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Chattanooga, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Chattanooga lets residential lots keep up to eight female laying hens in a fenced rear-yard enclosure, bans roosters outside agricultural zones, and requires a predator-proof henhouse set back from property lines.
Chattanooga Urban Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-145(b)
Only female chickens (hereinafter "laying hens") are allowed. No roosters shall be allowed to be kept in any zone other than an A-1 agricultural zone. There is no restriction on urban chicken breeds of the species gallus domesticus. However, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep ducks, geese or other fowl and poultry, other than laying hens which are allowed subject to the limitations of ...
Dog Leash Laws
Chattanooga bans letting any dog, cat, or other animal run loose and unrestrained; animals caught at large more than once a year can't be reclaimed until microchipped and spayed or neutered.
Chattanooga Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-36(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal belonging to him, under his care, or habitually found on premises occupied by him or immediately under his control to go unrestrained or be allowed to be not directly under control. This section shall not apply to any Community Cats or Feral Cats in the City. Any animal found running at large in violation of this section is declared to be ...
Breed Restrictions
Chattanooga's dangerous-dog law is breed-neutral by design: the City Code bars any Potentially Dangerous, Dangerous, or similar dog designation from being recognized if it rests solely on the dog's breed.
Chattanooga Bars Breed-Based Dog Bans
Few RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-73(c)
No such designation as a Potentially Dangerous Dog or Dangerous Dog or any similar such designation shall be recognized by the City of Chattanooga if such designation is based solely on the breed of the dog.
Beekeeping
Chattanooga's zoning code confines backyard beehives to rear yards, set back 25 feet from every lot line, and requires a flyway barrier plus state apiary registration.
Chattanooga Apiary & Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 38-51(b)
(b)Apiary .....(1)All apiaries must comply with and register as required with the Tennessee Apiary Act of 1995. .....(2)Hives are allowed only in rear yards. .....(3)Hives must be set back 25 feet from all lot lines. .....(4)When the apiary is located within a yard not bounded by a solid wall or solid fence, a flyway of at least six feet in height comprising of a lattice fence, dense hedge, or ...
Exotic Pets
Chattanooga bans keeping exotic animals inside city limits outright. City Code § 7-115 makes it unlawful to have, keep or permit any exotic animal on your premises, and § 7-2 defines that to include every Class I animal under Tennessee law, wolf-hybrids, and specific large constrictor snakes once they reach six feet long. Narrow carve-outs exist for accredited zoos, licensed vets, labs and colleges.
Chattanooga Exotic Animal Keeping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-115 (definition at § 7-2)
No person shall have, keep or permit to be kept on his or her premises within the City any exotic animal as defined in this chapter. ... "Exotic animal: All animals classified as Class I animals under T.C.A. § 70-4-403, as amended, and any relevant state regulations propagated thereunder, as well as any wolf-hybrid and the following species of non-venomous snakes when such snakes reach six (6) ...
Pet Limits
Chattanooga's animal code defines an 'animal hoarder' as anyone keeping a large number of animals in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, and treats that conduct as unlawful neglect subject to Animal Services investigation, citation, and seizure of the animals.
Animal Hoarding Rules in Chattanooga
Significant RestrictionsChattanooga City Code §§ 7-2, 7-32(b)
Animal hoarder: A person who possesses a large number of animals and who (i) keeps animals in severely overcrowded conditions where they are unable to be in a state of good health; (ii) displays the inability to recognize or understand the nature of, or has reckless disregard for, the conditions of the animals; or (iii) lives in unsanitary, unhealthful or potentially dangerous conditions and fa...
Cat Rules
Chattanooga exempts Community Cats and Feral Cats from its at-large law, while owned cats must stay under control or face impoundment and mandatory spay/neuter.
Chattanooga Feral Cat At-Large Rule
Light RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-36
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal belonging to him, under his care, or habitually found on premises occupied by him or immediately under his control to go unrestrained or be allowed to be not directly under control. This section shall not apply to any Community Cats or Feral Cats in the City. Any animal found running at large in violation of this section is declared to be ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Chattanooga requires every dog or cat adopted from the Animal Center or a shelter to be spayed or neutered first, and repeat at-large animals must be fixed before they can be reclaimed.
Chattanooga Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-85(a)
No person shall adopt a dog or cat from a releasing agency, including the Animal Center or private organization operating a shelter from which animals are adopted or reclaimed, unless the dog or cat has first been spayed or neutered.(b)The releasing agency may require the new owner to pay a fee for the spaying or neutering of the animal. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons...
Microchipping
Chattanooga requires every dog and cat sold for profit in the city to be microchipped before the sale, with the seller registering the chip with the national registry within 48 hours.
Chattanooga Microchip Rule for Pet Sales
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-23(e)
All dogs and cats sold for profit in the City shall have a microchip implanted prior to sale. The seller shall register the microchip with the national registry associated with the microchip within forty-eight (48) hours of the sale of the dog or cat, providing all information about the new owner that is required to effectuate the registration.(f)No Person may sell or transfer any dog or cat th...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Chattanooga zones veterinary clinics and pet boarding as Animal Care Facilities, requiring overnight boarding indoors and any outdoor exercise yards fenced, covered, and placed to the side or rear of the building.
Chattanooga Veterinary Facility Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 38-42(b)
(1)Animal care facilities and shelters must locate all overnight boarding facilities indoors. (2)Animal care facilities and shelters must locate any exterior exercise areas to the side or rear of the building. A fence a minimum of six feet and a maximum of eight feet in height is required for all exterior exercise areas. (3)Exterior exercise areas must provide covered areas as shelter against s...
Bird Protection
Chattanooga designates the entire city a wild bird sanctuary, making it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot at, or otherwise molest any wild bird or rob a bird's nest, with an exception for legal state-permitted hunting.
Chattanooga Wild Bird Sanctuary Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-141
The entire area embraced within the City is hereby designated as a sanctuary for wild birds. It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any wild bird or to rob any bird's nest. When any species of wild bird is found to be congregating in such numbers in a particular locality that they constitute a nuisance or menace to health or property, and if such a...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Chattanooga requires a free Animal Rescuer Permit for any nonprofit that takes in more than ten animals a year, including wildlife, to place in permanent homes, with one permit needed per location.
Chattanooga Animal Rescuer Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsChattanooga City Code § 7-461(a)
An Animal Rescuer must have a valid Permit for each location within the City at which it accepts, keeps or maintains animals as part of its rescue operations. Each location must have its own individual Permit.
Looking for Hamilton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chattanooga city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Hamilton County →