Animal Ordinances in Colorado Springs, CO (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Colorado Springs, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Colorado Springs regulates livestock kept on premises through City Code §§ 6.9.101–6.9.103: hoofed animals must be kept in sanitary, non-nuisance conditions subject to City or County inspection, manure must be removed at least every ten days, and the animals may only be kept where the City's Zoning Code allows and within its numeric limits.
Colorado Springs Livestock Sanitary & Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 6.9.101
A. Premises within the City upon which hoofed animals are kept shall be maintained in a condition which is not foul, dangerous or detrimental to public health, or a breeding ground for rodents, animals or insects capable of transmitting disease to humans. The premises shall be subject to inspection at all reasonable hours by representatives of the County or City. B. Conditions upon any premises...
Dog Leash Laws
City Code § 6.7.107 requires every dog or hoofed-animal owner or keeper to restrain the animal by confinement, collar and leash, or bridle to stop it running at large in any park or public place in Colorado Springs. An unrestrained animal is declared a nuisance and can be impounded, and letting a dog trespass or run loose is a separate offense.
Colorado Springs Dogs Must Be Restrained
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 6.7.107
It shall be the duty of any owner or keeper of any dog or hoofed animal to restrain the dog or hoofed animal by means of confinement, collar and leash, or bridle from running at large upon any park or other public place in the City, and to prevent the dog or hoofed animal from becoming a danger to persons or property, or from trespassing upon the property of another. The animal is hereby declar...
Breed Restrictions
Colorado Springs has no breed-specific dog ban; Colorado state law C.R.S. 18-9-204.5(5)(a) prohibits municipalities from regulating dangerous dogs in a manner specific to breed, so dogs are regulated by behavior, not breed.
No breed-specific dog ban; state law preempts BSL
Few RestrictionsC.R.S. 18-9-204.5(5)(a) (Unlawful ownership of dangerous dog - legislative declaration)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a municipality from adopting any rule or law for the control of dangerous dogs; except that any such rule or law shall not regulate dangerous dogs in a manner that is specific to breed.
Beekeeping
Colorado Springs allows accessory beehives on any residential lot, but the number you may keep, and how far each hive must sit from property lines, scales with lot size under UDC Table 7.3.3-A, and hives near a boundary require a six-foot flyway barrier plus a nearby water source.
Colorado Springs Backyard Beehive Rules by Lot Size
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code (UDC) Subsection 7.3.304B
B. Beehive, Accessory: 1. General Requirements: Beehives are permitted as an accessory use on any lot, with the number of beehives allowed and permitted location subject to the size of the lot as identified in Table 7.3.3-A. ... 2. Flyway Barrier: a. If the property is less than five (5) acres in size, and the beehive is located within fifty (50) feet of any property line, a flyway barrier loca...
Exotic Pets
Colorado Springs bars anyone from owning a wild, predatory or non-North-American animal inside city limits unless they first obtain an exotic animal permit under City Code § 6.7.111. Common pet-store birds, small rodents and small nonpoisonous reptiles under six feet are exempt, as are zoos, circuses and accredited research institutions.
Colorado Springs Exotic Animal Permit Required
Significant RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 6.7.111
A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no person shall own or keep within the City any animal which is not commonly domesticated or which is not common to North America or which, irrespective of geographic origin, is of a wild or predatory nature, without having first obtained a permit for the animal. B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to the ownin...
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding wildlife anywhere in Colorado Springs without authorization is a noncriminal civil infraction under City Code § 6.7.121, but the City must issue a written warning first: no one can be prosecuted unless already warned or cited within the preceding six months, and the offending condition must be cured within 24 hours of that warning.
No Feeding Wildlife In Colorado Springs
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 6.7.121
A. It shall be a noncriminal civil infraction for a person, without authorization, to feed any wildlife within the City. B. No person shall be subject to prosecution under this section unless, within six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the alleged violation, such person has been issued either: 1) a written warning stating that such feeding is prohibited by the provisions of this se...
Pet Limits
Colorado Springs allows up to four dogs and four cats over four months of age per property under City Code Subsection 6.7.106.F, and all dogs and cats must be vaccinated and licensed through the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
Up to four dogs and four cats per property
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code Subsec. 6.7.106.F, as published on the City's official 'City Regulations for Animals' page
The City of Colorado Springs allows up to four (4) dogs and four (4) cats over four (4) months of age per property. Both dogs and cats must be vaccinated and licensed through the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
Cat Rules
Colorado Springs requires every cat over four months old to carry a City license under City Code § 6.8.103, obtained within 30 days of the cat turning four months and renewed every one to three years. Feral cats enrolled in a nonprofit-run colony or trap-neuter-release program are exempt from licensing, and those colonies are also exempt from the at-large restraint rule.
Colorado Springs Cat Licensing & Feral Colony Exemption
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 6.8.103
A. Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog or cat over the age of four (4) months without obtaining a license. B. When any dog or cat owned or kept by any person residing within the City becomes four (4) months old, the owner or keeper of the dog or cat shall have it licensed within thirty (30) days of that date. C. Nonprofit animal welfare organ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Colorado Springs is the only place in this code that mandates spay or neuter surgery for a specific pet: City Code § 6.7.110.D.5 requires every potbellied pig kept in the city to be spayed or neutered by four months old, and bans keeping or breeding any unaltered pig within city limits.
Colorado Springs Potbellied Pig Spay/Neuter Mandate
Heavy RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 6.7.110.D.5
5. Female potbellied pigs shall be spayed and male potbellied pigs shall be neutered by the age of four (4) months. No unaltered male or female pigs shall be kept or permitted to breed within the City limits.
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet Services, the UDC's category for grooming, retail sales, and small-animal training, must be located entirely within a completely enclosed building under § 7.3.303.A.1.c. The category is permitted by right in listed commercial and industrial zone districts and excludes veterinary care, shelters, and kennels.
Colorado Springs Pet Grooming Enclosed-Building Rule
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 7.3.303.A.1.c
1. Animal Shelters, Kennels, Pet Services, and Veterinary Services: ... c. Pet Services. All operations must be located within a completely enclosed building. PET SERVICES: This category includes pet specific services and sales that do not include veterinary services. The primary uses associated with this category are sales and grooming of animals, incidental pet health services, and traini...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Colorado Springs zoning splits veterinary care into Small Animal and Large Animal Veterinary Services, and City Code § 7.3.303A.1.b requires all veterinary activity to happen inside a completely enclosed building. Outdoor treatment is allowed only for large-animal practices in the A (Agricultural) zone district, and only with an approved conditional use permit.
Colorado Springs Requires Vet Clinics to Stay Indoors
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code § 7.3.303A.1.b (Veterinary Services)
1. Animal Shelters, Kennels, Pet Services, and Veterinary Services: ... b. Veterinary Services. All veterinary activities must be conducted within a completely enclosed building. Outdoor veterinary activities may be allowed within the A zone district with a conditional use permitting the same. // VETERINARY SERVICES: An establishment for the medical treatment and care of animals by a licensed p...
Looking for El Paso County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Colorado Springs city rules.
Animal Ordinances in El Paso County →