Animal Ordinances in Grand Rapids, MI (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Grand Rapids, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Grand Rapids prohibits horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and poultry within any dwelling or within 100 feet of a home, well, or drainage ditch, effectively barring livestock on typical residential lots citywide.
Grand Rapids Bans Farm Animals Near Homes
Significant RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 1102 (Property Maintenance Code, Ch. 140)
No farm animal shall be kept or allowed to be kept within any dwelling or dwelling unit or within one hundred (100) feet of any dwelling, dwelling unit, well, spring, stream, drainage ditch or drain. For purposes of this Chapter, farm animals shall mean any horse, swine, cattle, sheep, goat, llama, chicken, goose, duck or turkey. Farm animal also means any other Animal, raised for commercial pr...
Dog Leash Laws
Grand Rapids bars dogs from city parks and playgrounds unless leashed on a line no longer than 8 feet, and requires owners to pick up their animal's waste on park grounds.
Grand Rapids Dogs Must Be Leashed in Parks
Some RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code Section 3.15 (Chapter 41, Parks and Recreation)
No person shall permit or allow any domestic animal to be at large or unrestrained or to run at large within any public park or other grounds under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation. No dog shall be permitted in any City Park or playground unless on a leash not over 8 feet long. Owners of domestic animals shall remove their animal's fecal discharges from park property.
Beekeeping
Grand Rapids requires a City Manager permit before keeping bees, limits placement to the rear yard at least 25 feet from homes, and caps hives at two per lot under 11,000 square feet.
Grand Rapids Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 9.201 (Chapter 155, Article 2)
No person shall keep, harbor or raise any bees in or upon any premises within the City unless in a hive or box located and kept: (1) More than twenty-five (25) feet from any residence, hospital, sanitarium, school, church, office building, store, hotel, apartment house, rooming house or any place of habitation; and (2) Not less than five (5) feet from the edge of his or her own lot or property ...
Exotic Pets
Grand Rapids Code Compliance treats any animal that is not on the domestic or farm-animal lists, including reptiles, exotics, and other wild species, as a prohibited wild animal on any city property.
Grand Rapids Bans Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 1103 (Property Maintenance Code, Ch. 140)
Any animal not a domestic animal or farm animal, as defined by this Chapter, is a wild animal, and shall not be kept or allowed on any property in the City of Grand Rapids.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In Grand Rapids' Mixed-Use Commercial Zone Districts, opening a veterinary clinic or hospital, including one that boards animals, requires Planning Commission special-land-use approval, not simple by-right permitting.
Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 5.6.06.A.2 (Chapter 61 — Zoning Ordinance, Table 5.6.06.B.)
Special Land Uses. Uses which may be allowed subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission in accordance with Section 5.12.09., and with all other applicable requirements of this Chapter. These uses are identified with an "S."
Bird Protection
Grand Rapids makes it illegal to cruelly treat, abuse, or poison any bird within city limits, extending the same anti-cruelty and anti-poisoning rules that protect domestic and farm animals under its Urban Agriculture chapter.
Grand Rapids Bird Cruelty Ban
Heavy RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code §§ 9.192(1), 9.193
Sec. 9.192. - Cruelty to Animals. (1)No person shall cruelly treat or abuse any animal or bird.(2)No person shall beat, kick, hit, bite, burn or in any other manner cause an animal to suffer needlessly.(3)No person shall cause abusive injury to an animal.(4)No person shall tease or entice a dog or other animal.(5)No person shall give an animal any alcoholic beverage unless prescribed by a vete...
Looking for Kent County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Grand Rapids city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Kent County →