Animal Ordinances in Gaithersburg, MD (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Gaithersburg, Maryland, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Gaithersburg allows up to 6 hens on residential properties under Chapter 4 (Animals and Fowl). Chickens must be housed at least 30 feet from neighboring homes and 5 feet from lot lines. Roosters are prohibited. Flock registration with the Maryland Department of Agriculture is required.
Gaithersburg Chickens and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Gaithersburg enforces Montgomery County Code Chapter 5 leash requirements throughout all city parks, sidewalks, trails, and public spaces. Dogs must be restrained by a leash or confined to the owner's property at all times when outside the home. There is no maximum leash length specified in the county code, but the owner must maintain physical control of the animal at all times. At-large fines start at $100 for the first offense and rise to $500 for subsequent violations within the same calendar year. Off-leash exercise is only permitted at designated county dog parks, including the Olde Towne Dog Park within Gaithersburg city limits. All dogs over four months of age must be licensed annually through Montgomery County and carry a current rabies vaccination certificate. License fees are reduced for spayed or neutered animals, incentivizing responsible pet ownership across the community.
Gaithersburg Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Gaithersburg and Montgomery County do not impose breed-specific restrictions on dogs. Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article 3-1901 eliminated breed-specific strict liability after the legislature overturned the 2012 Tracey v. Solesky ruling. All dog breeds are treated equally under a rebuttable presumption standard.
Gaithersburg Dog Breed Restriction Rules
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Beekeeping in Gaithersburg is permitted under Maryland Agriculture Article 5-501, which requires every beekeeper to register each apiary annually with the Maryland Department of Agriculture before April 1. There is no Gaithersburg-specific ban or municipal permit requirement for keeping bees. The state registration allows the State Apiary Inspector to track colony health and inspect for diseases such as American foulbrood and varroa mite infestations. Montgomery County zoning (Chapter 59) may impose accessory-use conditions in specific residential zones, and hive placement should follow general nuisance setback principles to avoid creating disturbances for neighbors. Best management practices recommended by the Maryland Beekeepers Association include maintaining a flyway barrier of at least 6 feet near property lines, providing an on-site water source, and keeping colony numbers appropriate to the lot size. The MDA Apiary Inspection program provides free guidance and disease testing for registered beekeepers throughout the state.
Gaithersburg Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsMaryland Department of Agriculture – Apiary Inspection; COMAR 15.07.01 (Apiary Inspection Regulations)
Apiary Inspection. Maintaining healthy honey bee colonies is very important to Maryland agriculture. Crops valued in excess of $40 million require or benefit from honey bee pollination in the State. Managed colonies are increasingly important since most wild honey bees have died due to parasitic mites. Apiary inspectors work with beekeepers to help them maintain healthy colonies. Inspectors vis...
Exotic Pets
Gaithersburg follows Montgomery County Code Chapter 5 (Section 5-202), which prohibits possession of dangerous wild animals including large cats, bears, wolves, venomous reptiles, crocodilians, and non-human primates. The prohibition covers both ownership and harboring of these animals within county limits. Maryland Natural Resources Article 10-901 through 10-905 adds state-level restrictions on importing, possessing, and breeding non-native wildlife species, requiring permits from the Department of Natural Resources for regulated species. Exotic bird aviaries must be set back at least 100 feet from any neighboring dwelling or workplace to minimize noise and odor impacts. Ferrets are legal in Maryland and not classified as dangerous animals. Common exotic pets such as non-venomous reptiles, small rodents like hedgehogs and chinchillas, and tropical fish are generally permitted as household pets without special licensing. Violations of the dangerous animal prohibition result in civil citations, animal seizure by Montgomery County Animal Services, and fines up to $500 per offense.
Gaithersburg Exotic Pet Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Montgomery County discourages and can enforce against feeding deer and other wildlife that creates a nuisance, public health risk, or property damage in Gaithersburg neighborhoods. The county operates one of the largest suburban deer management programs in the Mid-Atlantic region, conducting managed archery hunts in multiple Gaithersburg parks and green spaces each winter to control the overabundant white-tailed deer population. Residents must secure trash containers with tight-fitting lids to prevent attracting raccoons, foxes, opossums, and the occasional black bear that wanders into western Montgomery County from the Appalachian corridor. Bird feeders are generally permitted but should be designed to minimize attraction of rodents and other non-target wildlife. Feeding feral cats outside of organized trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs managed by licensed rescue organizations can create code enforcement issues related to sanitation, odor, and animal congregation. Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service handles complaints about wildlife damage and can issue nuisance wildlife removal permits to qualified operators.
Gaithersburg Wildlife Feeding Rules
Some RestrictionsLivestock
Livestock including goats, sheep, horses, cattle, and pigs are generally prohibited on standard residential lots in Gaithersburg. Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance Chapter 59 restricts livestock keeping to agricultural (AR) and rural residential zones with minimum lot sizes that far exceed typical Gaithersburg residential parcels. Most of Gaithersburg is zoned R-60, R-90, R-200, or townhouse/multifamily, none of which permit traditional livestock. Miniature goats and pygmy goats have been discussed in county zoning text amendments, but no broadly applicable residential exception currently exists for Gaithersburg's zoning categories. Chickens are regulated separately under the county's poultry provisions with specific conditions on numbers, setbacks, and rooster prohibition. Rabbits kept as household pets in small numbers are generally permitted, but breeding operations or large colonies would require agricultural zoning. Any animal kept on residential property must comply with nuisance, odor, and sanitation standards. Montgomery County Animal Services enforces livestock restrictions and responds to complaints about prohibited animals on residential properties.
Gaithersburg Livestock Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Montgomery County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gaithersburg city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Montgomery County →