Animal Ordinances in Dearborn, MI (2026)

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 4-1

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or allow to be kept within the city any farm animals, including but not limited to cows, horses, pigs, potbellied pigs, goats, sheep, pigeons or fowl, or any other domestic animals or insects, except birds, dogs, cats and other harmless domestic pets, without first obtaining a permit from the director of residential services. On the granting of this p...

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 4-22

(a) Dogs are not permitted in city parks except the Dearborn Dog Park. (1) This subsection does not apply to verified service dogs. (b) Dogs are not permitted on public highways or streets unless held securely by a leash of suitable strength and length by the dog's owner or other responsible person and unless the dog has been immunized against rabies. (c) The owner of a dog shall be liable for ...

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 4-27

Dangerous dog means: (1) Any individual dog anywhere other than upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog that behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal; or (2) A dog that, without justification, bites a person and does not cause serious physical in...

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 4-1

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or allow to be kept within the city any exotic, wild and dangerous animals including but not limited to hedgehogs, skunks, raccoons, chipmunks, alligators, tigers, lions, monkeys, constrictor snakes.    It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or allow to be kept within the city any farm animals, including but not limited to cows, horses, pigs, pot...

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 13-2(19)

The encouragement of lingering, roosting, and/or congregating of pigeons by offering or providing food; the ground-feeding of any bird shall be considered a nuisance per se.       (20)   The possession, harboring, or providing shelter for an excessive number of animals. The term "excessive number" shall be determined on a case- by-case basis; the criteria to be applied in making such determinat...

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 13-2(20)

The possession, harboring, or providing shelter for an excessive number of animals. The term "excessive number" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis; the criteria to be applied in making such determination shall include, but is not limited to, violations of subsections 21-28.

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 4-27A(c)

If deemed dangerous, the owner shall: (1) Have the dog spayed or neutered within 14 days at the owner's expense and microchipped, if not already; and (2) Have an evaluation of the dog by a certified applied behaviorist, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, or other recognized expert in the field and completion of training or other treatment as deemed appropriate by the expert.

Dearborn Code of Ordinances § 4-23(b)

The application for a license under this article shall be made with the city clerk unless otherwise indicated, and shall be accompanied with proof that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies by a valid certificate of vaccination for rabies signed by an accredited and licensed veterinarian, and payment of a nonrefundable fee identified in section 12-6 of the Code of Ordinances based on the t...

Dearborn Zoning Ordinance § 7.02.T, § 7.02.U

T. Veterinary clinics. Veterinary clinics shall comply with the following requirements: 1. Enclosure. All activities shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building. 2. Setbacks. All buildings shall be set back at least fifty (50) feet from abutting land that is zoned for residential use. 3. Treatment facilities. No veterinary clinic shall contain exterior facilities for boarding of an...