Animal Ordinances in Evansville, IN (2026)

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.030(B)(10)(a),(d)

(a) No person shall possess or maintain a large animal without obtaining a large animal permit. Permits shall only be issued by the commission upon the recommendation of the Operations Manager or his designee for compliance with this chapter. (b) The owner shall send a notice that the issuance of a large animal permit will be considered by the commission with the date, time and location of t...

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.060(F); see also § 6.05.040(A)(4)

An animal shall be leashed when it is off the owner’s property. One end of the leash shall be attached to the collar or harness and the other end attached to the person accompanying the animal. This provision shall not apply to an animal that is otherwise physically restrained at any facility. (G) Trap-neuter-return (TNR) shall be permitted within the City of Evansville. [Ord. G-2015-19, pas...

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.020

“Dangerous animal” means any animal which presents a substantial threat of bodily harm to any person or pet in its vicinity or if it were to escape its primary enclosure or escape from the control of its owner or custodian. Such determination is to be made from past acts of aggressive behavior justifying the determination that it is a dangerous animal. A dog’s breed shall not be considered in d...

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.050

Maintenance of all controlled animals, as defined in EMC 6.05.020, is prohibited except by special application to the commission and its approval thereof. No wild or exotic animal shall be kept within the City without the necessary State and/or Federal permits.

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.060(D)(2),(4)

In addition to the provisions of the preceding subsections, each dog or cat housed in any primary enclosures shall be provided a minimum of 40 square feet of floor space for an animal 10 pounds or less; for each additional 10 pounds an additional 10 square feet shall be added to the total enclosure. ... Not more than six adult cats (over eight weeks of age) shall be housed in the same primary e...

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.190(A)-(B); see also § 6.05.200

A community cat program is established in order to encourage the stabilization of the free-roaming cat population in the city by utilizing a trap, neuter, and return methodology. A person may trap any free-roaming cat in a humane manner...in order to have the free-roaming cat evaluated, sterilized, ear-tipped, and vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and released to the vicinity...

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.130(J)

An animal that has been previously impounded stray or at large and is now redeemed for the second or subsequent redemption will be required to be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense. Arrangements to perform the procedure must be made within 24 hours of reclaim and enforcement action pending spay/neuter will be issued at the time of reclaim. (K) Any dog or cat...

Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.030(A)(2)(a)

(a) Requirement. Owners or custodians must have their dog, cat or ferret microchipped unless medically contraindicated (meaning the dog, cat or ferret’s veterinarian determined it unsafe to do so). Animals without a microchip are subject to fines under EMC 6.05.180. (b) Limited Veterinarian Exception. The burden is on the owner or custodian of the dog, cat or ferret to show written proof fro...

Evansville Municipal Code § 18.125.220 (Use Group 19)

List of uses permitted with SU 25 in the A, C-4, M-1, M-2, AIR and W-R districts, which meet the requirements and restrictions of those zones: (A) The following recreational and service uses: (1) Amusement park or theme park; (2) Animal or vehicle racetrack; (3) Campground. Premises used for temporary parking of trailers, campers, or recreational vehicles; (4) Child care centers;...

Evansville Municipal Code § 2.45.070(C)(8)

Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot, or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile, or bird; or remove or have in one's possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs, nest, or young of any reptile or bird.