Animal Ordinances in Georgetown, KY (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Georgetown, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Georgetown prohibits keeping livestock or poultry in the city, with two exceptions: a permitted commercial animal establishment, or a farming operation on property zoned for agricultural use. The code lists chickens as livestock. An owner found in violation gets a written notice and ten days to remove the animals before the city impounds them.
Georgetown Chickens and Livestock Keeping Rules
Heavy RestrictionsGeorgetown Code §§ 6-19, 6-20(c), 6-24(b)
Livestock means farm animals, including horses, ponies, cows, swine, sheep, chickens and other animals customarily kept as part of a farming operation. ... (c) Livestock and poultry prohibited. The keeping of livestock or poultry in the city is prohibited, except as part of a commercial animal establishment permitted pursuant to this article or as part of a farming operation conducted on proper...
Dog Leash Laws
In Georgetown, no dog can run at large unless it is under the immediate control of its owner or handler. Off the owner's premises that means a leash, portable pet carrier or other humane physical restraint. A first violation draws a written warning, and a second within 12 months can bring a fine of $25 to $250 plus impound costs.
Georgetown Dog Leash and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown Code § 6-22
(a) Dogs running at large. (1) No dog shall be permitted to run at large, except under the immediate control of its owner or handler. Keeping a dog under the immediate control of its owner, handler or other person in charge of the animal shall be accomplished in one of the following ways: a. Confined within an enclosure that complies with the requirements in subsection (b) of this section; ... ...
Breed Restrictions
Georgetown does not regulate dogs by breed. Sec. 6-23 prohibits keeping any vicious animal, defined by conduct: attacking, biting or injuring people or domesticated animals without adequate provocation, or a known propensity to do so. A first violation is a Class B misdemeanor, and each later violation is a Class A misdemeanor.
Georgetown Vicious Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsGeorgetown Code §§ 6-19, 6-23, 6-30(c)
Vicious animal means any animal that attacks, bites or injures human beings or domesticated animals without adequate provocation, or which, because of temperament, conditioning or training, has a known propensity to attack, bite or injure human beings or domesticated animals. ... The keeping of a vicious animal is prohibited. ... (c) Any person violating the provisions of section 6-2 ... 3 of t...
Exotic Pets
Georgetown bans keeping a vicious animal outright under Section 6-23, and Section 6-26 bars anyone from owning, possessing or having custody of a wild or vicious animal for display, training or exhibition. The code defines wild animal broadly, including animals born in captivity, and exempts AAZPA accredited or educational facilities. Wild animal fines run $250.00 to $500.00 per animal per day.
Georgetown KY Wild and Vicious Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsGeorgetown Code §§ 6-19, 6-23, 6-26
Vicious animal means any animal that attacks, bites or injures human beings or domesticated animals without adequate provocation, or which, because of temperament, conditioning or training, has a known propensity to attack, bite or injure human beings or domesticated animals. Wild animal means any living member of the animal kingdom, including those born or raised in captivity, except the follo...
Cat Rules
Georgetown requires every female cat in heat to be confined in a building or secure enclosure so she cannot contact another animal, unless the owner plans a breeding. An impounded cat costs its owner $10.00 plus $2.00 for each day held, doubled for impoundments within 12 months of an earlier one, and the city keeps non-livestock animals at least five working days.
Georgetown KY Cat Rules: Heat Confinement and Impound Fees
Light RestrictionsGeorgetown Code §§ 6-22(c), 6-24(a), (c), (e)
(c) Female dogs and cats in heat to be confined (related to dogs, KRS 258.255). Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in a manner that prevents the animal from coming into contact with another animal, except for a planned breeding. For the purpose of this regulation, an underground fence system is not a secure enclosure. ... (a) Animals running at l...
Pet Store Rules
Georgetown allows dogs and cats to be sold at retail only through a pet store, stockyard or breeding establishment licensed by the city. Section 6-28 adds care standards, including 140 degree hot water and daily cage cleaning, and bars selling a puppy, dog, kitten or cat unfit for purchase, with refund, exchange or treatment-cost remedies for the buyer.
Georgetown KY Pet Shop Rules and Puppy Sale Standards
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown Code §§ 6-19, 6-20(e)(1), 6-28(a)(1), 6-28(b)(1)
Pet shop means any person, partnership, or corporation, whether operated separately or in connection with another business enterprise (except for a licensed kennel), that buys, sells or boards any species of animal. ... (1) It shall be unlawful to sell, exchange, trade, barter, or display any horses, cattle or other livestock, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, chickens, or other poultry or fowl, except...
Bird Protection
Georgetown makes it unlawful to kill, injure, pursue, molest or attempt to injure any bird within the city, other than birds of a predatory nature. The same sentence covers squirrels and rabbits running at large. The prohibition applies at any time, and a violation is a misdemeanor under the animal chapter's penalty section.
Georgetown Bird Protection Ordinance
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown Code §§ 6-20(b), 6-30(a)
(b) Killing, injuring or pursuing squirrels, rabbits, or birds. It shall be unlawful for any person, at any time within the city, to kill, injure, pursue, molest or attempt to injure any squirrels or rabbits running at large in the city, or any birds other than birds of a predatory nature. ... (a) Any person violating any provision of this chapter, for which another penalty is not provided, sha...