Animal Ordinances in Gary, IN (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Gary, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Gary, keeping chickens, poultry, pigeons, or livestock such as horses, cattle, goats, sheep, and swine within 200 feet of another person's dwelling house is unlawful under Municipal Code §§ 8-8 and 8-9(a). Poultry may never run at large in city streets or alleys, and licensed poultry dealers are exempt from the distance rule.
Gary's 200-Foot Rule for Poultry and Livestock
Significant RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-8, 8-9(a)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any poultry kept, possessed, or owned by that person to run at large upon any street, alley, or public place within the corporate limits of the city.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any poultry or pigeons or maintain any place where poultry or pigeons are kept, within 200 feet of the dwelling house of any person other than the keepe...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Gary, Municipal Code § 8-3 requires every animal, including dogs, to stay under restraint at all times, meaning securely fenced, housed, or on a leash whenever off the owner's property. Owners must keep dogs from becoming a public nuisance, and any dog the animal control center rules vicious must be muzzled or caged whenever it leaves the owner's premises.
Gary Dog Restraint and Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-1, 8-3
Restraint means any animal securely fenced in or in a building on the property of the owner or an animal secured by leash when off owner's property. ... All animals shall be kept under restraint at all times. An owner shall exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Every female animal in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclos...
Breed Restrictions
In the City of Gary, Article V of Chapter 8 (§§ 8-135 through 8-146) singles out the American Pit Bull Terrier and other potentially dangerous dogs for licensing, a $500,000.00 liability insurance requirement, and mandatory secure confinement. Section 8-140 requires indoor confinement or a locked, six-foot-high enclosure, with muzzling and a leash whenever the dog is not confined.
Gary Pit Bull and Dangerous Dog Rules
Heavy RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-137, 8-140(a)
In order to protect the public from the severe harm and injury which is likely to result from a pit bull attack, every owner of a pit bull or potentially dangerous dog shall at all times that he owns the dog, maintain in full force and affect a liability insurance policy of $500,000.00. ... Because of the pit bull's inbred propensity to attack other animals, and because of the danger posed to h...
Beekeeping
In the City of Gary, Municipal Code § 8-9(b) makes it unlawful to keep bees within 200 feet of another person's dwelling house unless that person is the beekeeper. The rule sits in Chapter 8's animal-keeping article alongside the identical 200-foot standard used for poultry and livestock, and it applies citywide with no acreage or hive-count exception.
Gary's 200-Foot Rule for Backyard Beekeeping
Significant RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 8-9(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep bees within 200 feet of the dwelling house of any person other than the keeper or owner of the bees.
Exotic Pets
In the City of Gary, Municipal Code § 8-5 bans keeping any wild animal as a pet and bars keeping a wild or vicious animal on the premises for display or exhibition, whether that display is free or paid. Section 8-1 defines wild animal broadly, covering monkeys, raccoons, skunks, foxes, poisonous snakes and big cats. Zoos and performing-animal exhibits are exempt from the display ban.
Gary Ban on Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-1, 8-5
Wild animal means any live monkey, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or other warm-blooded animal that can normally be found in the wild state. ... No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild or vicious animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not be construed to apply to ...
Pet Limits
Gary caps how many licensed animals a household can keep without becoming a kennel. Municipal Code § 8-69(d) makes it unlawful to hold more than three animal licenses for one household or noncommercial establishment at a time, and § 8-1 defines a 'kennel' as four or more animals kept at one address.
Gary Household Pet License Limit
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-1, 8-69(d)
Kennel means any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee, or selling dogs or cats; or any household or noncommercial animal establishment harboring four or more animals. ... It shall be unlawful to have more than three licenses for animals at any one time for the same household or noncommercial establishment unless ...
Cat Rules
In the City of Gary, Municipal Code § 8-40(a) lets animal control officers pick up and impound any unrestrained cat, and § 8-69(a) requires every cat over three months old to be licensed with the city controller's office. Small caged birds and aquatic or amphibian pets are the only animals exempt from licensing.
Gary Cat Licensing and At-Large Impoundment
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-40(a), 8-69(a)
Unrestrained dogs and cats, and animals which cause a public nuisance may be taken by the animal control officers and impounded. ... Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or having custody of any animal over three months of age within this city must obtain a license as herein provided. This provision shall not apply to the keeping of small cage birds, or aquatic and amphibian animals solely as...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Gary, a grooming shop qualifies as a commercial animal establishment under Municipal Code § 8-1 and must obtain a permit under § 8-70 before operating. The rabies control unit or animal control center sets permit regulations covering humane care, and the permit runs on the city's fiscal year alongside any required animal licenses.
Gary Permit Requirement for Pet Grooming Shops
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 8-1, 8-70(a)
Commercial animal establishment means any pet shop, grooming shop, zoological park, performing animal exhibition, or kennel. Grooming shop means a commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise groomed. ... No person, partnership, or corporation shall operate a commercial animal establishment without first obtaining a permit in compliance with this section, as...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Gary's zoning code permits animal and veterinary clinics only as a listed use in B4 General Service Districts. Sec. 123-195(b)(2)d admits clinics but excludes any animal kennel or boarding other than for pre- and post-clinical procedures or care, so overnight boarding beyond clinical needs a different district.
Veterinary Clinics Zoned to Gary's B4 District
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 123-195(b)(2)d
(2)Additional retail and service establishments, as follows:a.Ambulance service. ... d.Animal clinic, veterinary clinic, not including animal kennel or boarding other than for pre- and post-clinical procedures or care.
Looking for Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gary city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Lake County →