Animal Ordinances in Cleveland, OH (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Cleveland, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Cleveland may permit backyard chickens with limits on flock size and setbacks. Roosters typically banned in residential zones. Livestock restricted by zoning.
Cleveland Chickens & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Cleveland requires dogs to be leashed or confined. ORC §951.02 makes owners liable for dogs running at large. Dog licensing required through county auditor.
Cleveland Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsOhio Rev. Code § 955.22 - Confining, restraining, debarking dogs
"Nuisance dog act" means one of the following actions committed by a dog without provocation and while off the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, other than by a police dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties: (a) Chasing or approaching a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack; (b) ...
Breed Restrictions
Cleveland does not have a breed-specific dog ban. In 2012, Ohio amended Revised Code §955.11 to remove pit bulls from the statutory definition of "vicious dog," effectively preempting breed-specific legislation statewide. Dogs in Cleveland are classified based on individual behavior as "nuisance," "dangerous," or "vicious" under state law, not by breed. Owners of dogs designated dangerous or vicious must comply with confinement, leash, muzzle, and liability insurance requirements.
Cleveland Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsOhio Revised Code Section 955.11
(A) Upon the transfer of ownership of any dog, the seller of the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership certificate that shall be signed by the seller. The certificate shall contain the registration number of the dog, the name of the seller, and a brief description of the dog. Blank forms of the certificate may be obtained from the county auditor. A transfer of ownership shall be reco...
Beekeeping
Cleveland §347.02 allows beekeeping — 1 hive per 2,400 sq ft of lot area, minimum lot size 2,400 sq ft. Hives must be 5 ft from lot lines and 10 ft from dwellings, with entrance facing away from nearest residential property.
Cleveland Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsOhio Rev. Code § 909.02 - Registration of apiaries
Any person owning or possessing bees shall on or before the first day of June of each year, or thereafter within thirty days after coming into ownership or possession of bees, or upon moving bees into this state from outside the state, file with the director of agriculture an application for registration setting forth the exact location of the person's apiaries and such other information as is ...
Exotic Pets
Ohio's Dangerous Wild Animal Act (Revised Code Chapter 935), enacted in 2012 after the Zanesville incident, bans private ownership of most dangerous wild animals statewide, including big cats, bears, elephants, non-human primates, crocodiles, alligators, and certain venomous snakes. Cleveland residents cannot legally acquire these animals, and owners who had them prior to the law had to register and comply with permit, caging, insurance, and microchipping rules. The state Department of Agriculture enforces Chapter 935.
Cleveland Exotic Pet Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Revised Code Section 935.02
Section 935.02 | Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited. Effective: September 5, 2012 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 310 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall possess a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014. (B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, sell, ...
Wildlife Feeding
Cleveland does not maintain a blanket ban on feeding wildlife, but the city prohibits feeding that creates a public nuisance, attracts rats and other vermin, or contributes to unsanitary conditions under its property maintenance and health codes. Ohio Department of Natural Resources regulations prohibit baiting or feeding white-tailed deer during certain seasons, and feeding black bears or other dangerous wildlife is generally discouraged. Bird feeders are permitted but must be maintained to avoid attracting rodents.
Cleveland Wildlife Feeding Rules
Some RestrictionsLivestock
Cleveland's Urban Agriculture Overlay District, established in 2010, allows chickens, ducks, rabbits, bees, and limited goats on residential lots meeting minimum size and setback requirements. Roosters, pigs, cattle, and horses are generally prohibited in residential districts. Keepers must comply with CCO Chapter 347, which sets caps on animal numbers by lot size and requires humane housing, sanitation, and neighbor setbacks. Beekeeping is regulated under ORC Chapter 923 and requires registration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Cleveland Livestock and Urban Agriculture
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Cleveland treats animal hoarding as a cruelty matter under Chapter 121 and Ohio Revised Code 959, with Animal Care and Control, the APL humane agents, and Cleveland Department of Public Health collaborating on inspections, removals, and prosecution.
Cleveland Animal Hoarding Investigation Process
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
Cleveland Codified Ordinance Chapter 121 limits the number of dogs and cats kept at one residential address without a kennel permit, with thresholds that trigger nuisance review and Animal Care and Control inspection.
Cleveland Limit on Dogs and Cats per Household
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Cleveland Codified Ordinance Chapter 121 treats cats less strictly than dogs, but cats running at large, depositing waste on neighbors property, or creating nuisances may trigger citations under public nuisance and animal control provisions.
Cleveland Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Few RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Cleveland does not mandate spay or neuter for owned pets but partners with the Cleveland Animal Protective League and Cuyahoga County to subsidize low-cost sterilization, particularly for residents in income-qualified ZIP codes.
Cleveland Spay-Neuter Voucher Program
Few RestrictionsMicrochipping
Cleveland does not require pet microchipping, but Cleveland Animal Care and Control and the APL routinely chip impounded and adopted animals to support reunification under Cuyahoga County dog licensing.
Cleveland Microchipping Recommended Not Required
Few RestrictionsCoyote Management
Cleveland follows Ohio Department of Natural Resources guidance on urban coyotes, treating them as resident wildlife under ORC 1531; the city does not trap or relocate but supports hazing and reporting of bold animals.
Cleveland Coyote Coexistence and Reporting
Few RestrictionsLooking for Cuyahoga County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cleveland city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Cuyahoga County →