Animal Ordinances in Flint, MI (2026)
5 verified animal ordinances for Flint, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Flint doesn't zone horses, cattle, sheep, or hogs out of residential areas outright, but its nuisance code bans confining them in ways that create unwholesome, malodorous conditions.
Flint Livestock Nuisance Rules
Some Restrictions§ 30-3
No person shall collect or confine any horse, cattle, sheep, hog, fowl or other domestic or undomesticated animal, bird or fowl in pens, cages, stables, coops or otherwise so as to create an unwholesome, unsightly, malodorous, obnoxious or offensive condition except as otherwise allowed by Chapter 9, Article III. (c) An unwholesome, offensive or obnoxious smell or condition is one that is ...
Dog Leash Laws
The City of Flint bans dogs from running at large, wandering unrestrained on streets, alleys, parks, or private property that isn't the owner's, anywhere within city limits.
Flint Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some Restrictions§ 9-7
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning, keeping, harboring or having charge of any dog or dogs to suffer or permit such dog or dogs to run at large within the limits of the City of Flint.
Breed Restrictions
Flint doesn't regulate dogs by breed: instead it declares a dog 'vicious' based on bite history or dangerous behavior, then imposes strict leash, muzzle, confinement, and insurance rules.
Flint Vicious Dog Regulations
Significant Restrictions§ 9-14.6
No person shall permit a vicious dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length. No person shall permit such a dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person is in physical control of the leash. ... all such dogs on a leash outside of the animal's kennel must be muzzled...
Exotic Pets
Flint bans keeping wild, exotic, dangerous, or venomous animals as pets citywide, including primates, raccoons, foxes, and big cats, with narrow exceptions for zoos and research facilities.
Flint Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy Restrictions§ 9-14.4
It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess within the corporate limits of the City of Flint: (a) Any warm-blooded, carnivorous or omnivorous, wild or exotic animals, dangerous or undomesticated animals which are not of a species customarily used as an ordinary household pet ... including, but not limited to nonhuman primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes and wild and exotic cats...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Flint's zoning code permits animal hospitals and veterinary clinics outright in the D-6 general and highway commercial-service district, provided animal areas sit at least 50 feet from any residence district.
Flint Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Some Restrictions§ 50-64(d)
(d) Animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and the like. Animals hospitals, kennels for display, boarding or treatment of pets and other domestic animals; provided, that any structure or area used for such purposes, including pens and exercise yards shall be located at least 50 feet from any residence district.
Looking for Genesee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Flint city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Genesee County →