Animal Ordinances in Detroit, MI (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Detroit, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Detroit prohibits owning, keeping, selling, or transferring any farm animal such as chickens, goats, or horses anywhere in the city, with a narrow exception for approved urban farms under Article VIII.
Detroit Farm Animal Ownership Ban
Heavy RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-1-5
Except as provided in Article VIII of this chapter, no person shall own, harbor, keep, or maintain, sell, or transfer any farm animal, or any wild animal, on their premises or at a public place within the City, provided, that such farm animal or wild animal may be kept in circuses, zoos, or laboratories, or non-profit organizations for educational purposes, subject to the approval of the City...
Dog Leash Laws
Detroit dog owners must keep dogs on their own property or under a six-foot leash or restraint in public; retractable leashes are banned for dogs over 60 pounds.
Detroit Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-2-2(b)
No owner to of a dog shall allow the dog to stray on public or private property, other than the private property of the owner, unless held properly by a leash, which is extended no more than six feet in length, or under restraint, provided, that police dogs accompanied by their handler while actively engaged in activities for which such dogs are trained are not subject to this prohibition.
Breed Restrictions
Detroit's Animal Care and Control Division can declare a dog "potentially dangerous," "dangerous," or "vicious" after an investigation, triggering strict confinement, muzzling, and insurance rules, and vicious dogs cannot be kept in the city at all.
Detroit Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Heavy RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-3-2(a)(3)
When the animal is on the owner's property, the animal must be confined securely indoors or securely outdoors within a locked enclosure, pen, or structure that prevents the entry of any person and the escape of the confined animal. Any enclosure, pen, or structure used to confine an animal that has been issued a potentially dangerous animal or dangerous animal determination shall be a minimum o...
Exotic Pets
Detroit prohibits owning, keeping, or selling any wild animal or farm animal within city limits, with narrow exceptions for zoos, circuses, and approved educational programs under trained supervision.
Detroit Bans Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-1-5
Except as provided in Article VIII of this chapter, no person shall own, harbor, keep, or maintain, sell, or transfer any farm animal, or any wild animal, on their premises or at a public place within the City, provided, that such farm animal or wild animal may be kept in circuses, zoos, or laboratories, or non-profit organizations for educational purposes, subject to the approval of the City...
Wildlife Feeding
Detroit bans feeding wild birds except from feeders elevated at least 48 inches, and bars non-owners from feeding stray cats or dogs outdoors except brief owner-permitted or capture-assist exceptions.
Detroit Wild Bird and Stray Feeding Rules
Significant RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 8-15-105(g)-(h)
(g)A person shall not feed wild birds other than from bird feeders that can only be accessed by birds and that are elevated at least 48 inches above ground level. (h)A person who is not the owner of any cat or dog shall not intentionally feed, make food available, or assist another person to make food available, outdoors on public or private property for the animal except...
Pet Limits
Detroit limits residents to two animals of the same species over four months old per single residence, a cap enacted in 2020 to curb hoarding and overcrowding complaints.
Detroit Caps Animals at Two Per Household
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-2-1(d)
No person shall own, harbor, keep, or shelter more than two animals of the same species over the age of four months in a single residence. Animals shall be properly licensed and registered on the effective date of the ordinance that amended this section, which is September 27, 2020. New licenses shall not be issued for animals over the limit of two upon death or rehoming of animals formerly lic...
Cat Rules
Detroit limits any residence to two animals of the same species over four months old, covering cats, and unlike dogs, cats carry no city license requirement; a loose cat can still be impounded by Animal Care and Control.
Detroit Caps Household Cats at Two
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-2-1(d)
No person shall own, harbor, keep, or shelter more than two animals of the same species over the age of four months in a single residence. Animals shall be properly licensed and registered on the effective date of the ordinance that amended this section, which is September 27, 2020. New licenses shall not be issued for animals over the limit of two upon death or rehoming of animals formerly lic...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Detroit does not require pet owners citywide to spay or neuter dogs or cats. The mandate applies only to animals issued a dangerous or potentially dangerous determination, and to dogs and cats adopted from the city's Animal Control Shelter.
Detroit's Limited Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rule
Light RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-3-2(a)(2)
Where the animal was capable of reproduction prior to the potentially dangerous animal or dangerous animal determination, the animal must be altered as defined in Section 6-1-2 of this Code;
Microchipping
Detroit does not require dog owners to microchip their pets. Animal Care and Control may implant chips in licensed dogs for a fee, and owners must file a written registration transfer whenever a chipped dog is sold, gifted, or otherwise transferred.
Detroit Dog Microchip Registration Rules
Light RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-5-6
(f)The Animal Care and Control Division is authorized to implant and utilize microchips to identify licensed dogs and to collect a fee that is established and approved in accordance with Section 6-1-4(k) of this Code for such services.(g)Any person owning any a dog which has been implanted with a microchip pursuant to this section shall transfer, in writing, the microchip registration with the ...
Pet Store Rules
Detroit licenses pet shops rather than banning retail sales of dogs and cats. Chapter 6, Article VII sets facility, sanitation, and humane-treatment standards, but the code has no citywide ban on selling dogs or cats and no adoption-only sourcing mandate.
Detroit Pet Shop Sale Rules
Light RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 6-7-2
(a)A pet shop may operate only in a permanent building or structure.(b)The permanent building or structure used in the operation of a pet shop shall be provided with proper sanitary refuse receptacles and with floors that can be properly cleansed and flushed.(c)The operator of a pet shop must conform to the rules and regulations of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development an...
Pet Groomer Rules
Detroit requires animal-grooming shops to operate inside a fully enclosed, soundproof building and eliminate odors reaching neighboring properties, with extra limits in the MKT District.
Detroit Animal-Grooming Shop Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 50-12-212
All facilities of an animal-grooming shop, including all grooming areas, cages, pens and kennels, shall be maintained within a completely enclosed, soundproof building. All animal-grooming shops shall be designed and constructed in a manner that eliminates any emission of odor offensive to persons owning, occupying, or patronizing properties adjacent to the use. ... In the MKT District, animal ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Detroit requires small-animal veterinary clinics to operate entirely inside a soundproof, enclosed building, control odors reaching neighboring properties, and keep any outdoor exercise run at least 50 feet from residential-zoned land under the city's zoning code.
Detroit Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 50-12-321
Veterinary clinics for small animals shall be subject to the following requirements: ... (2) All facilities of a veterinary clinic, including all grooming areas, cages, pens, and kennels, shall be maintained within a completely enclosed, soundproof building; ... and (4) No outdoor exercise run area shall be permitted less than 50 feet from any land zoned R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, or residential PD.
Bird Protection
Detroit bans feeding wild birds except from a feeder that only birds can reach, mounted at least 48 inches above ground level: ground feeding and low feeders are both prohibited.
Detroit Elevated Bird Feeder Requirement
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 8-15-105(g)
A person shall not feed wild birds other than from bird feeders that can only be accessed by birds and that are elevated at least 48 inches above ground level.(h)A person who is not the owner of any cat or dog shall not intentionally feed, make food available, or assist another person to make food available, outdoors on public or private property for the animal except:(1)Where the owner permits...
Looking for Wayne County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Detroit city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Wayne County →