Animal Ordinances in Huntsville, AL (2026)

Sec. 5-105

It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in charge to keep any animal or fowl in the city in any corral, stable or pen any part of which is within 150 feet of a dwelling occupied by a person other than the owner or person in charge of the animal or fowl...; however, this section shall not apply to enclosures in which animals or fowl have been continuously kept before May 10, 1979.

Sec. 5-44(a)

It shall be the duty of every owner or person in charge of a dog to keep the animal under effective restraint, while the dog is within the city, whether or not the dog is upon or away from his premises. It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in charge of any dog to fail to keep the animal under effective restraint. Proof that a dog is not properly restrained, whether on or off the premise...

Sec. 5-1 (definitions); see also Sec. 5-171 through Sec. 5-176

Dangerous animal means an animal, except a dog used by law enforcement officials for legitimate law enforcement purposes, regardless of its species or breed, that has bitten, attacked, or caused physical injury to a human being or a domesticated animal without provocation; has repeatedly bitten or caused physical injury to humans or domesticated animals; has attacked in a manner which requires ...

Sec. 5-104(a)-(b)

It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in charge to keep any wild or exotic animal on his premises unless such animal is registered with the HAS. Registration shall be required within 30 days of residency within the city.(b)It shall be unlawful for a private individual to keep, maintain or house a venomous reptile.

Huntsville, AL Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-43

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor, control, or keep more than three dogs or cats, four months old or older, which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises. This section is not applicable to community cats, or a community cat caregiver, as designated by the director.

Sec. 5-44(b)

It shall be unlawful for the owner or any person having custody or control of any cat within the city to allow such cat to be a nuisance, cause destruction or damage to the property of another, or to run at large; however, no prosecution shall be commenced and no arrest made pursuant to this section except upon affidavit made before and warrant issued by a judge or magistrate of municipal court...

Sec. 5-41

The owner or person in charge of any dog and/or cat which is more than four months of age and resides in the city shall annually register the dog and/or cat as to sex, breed, description, name and address of the owner or person in charge, and name of the dog and/or cat if any. At the time of such registration, such owner or person in charge shall, upon providing proof of a valid rabies vaccinat...

Sec. 5-72(b)

Upon confinement of a dog or cat, HAS shall scan the animal for a microchip, and check for tags, tattoos or other identifying information to make reasonable efforts to ascertain the identity of and notify the owner or person in charge of such dog or cat of its confinement and of the conditions under which possession of such animal may be regained. Unless determined otherwise by the director, st...

Sec. 5-50

A pet shop or pet supply store may offer for sale only those dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens obtained from and in cooperation with HAS, an animal shelter, or an animal rescue organization or agency as defined in section 5-1.(b)Every pet shop or pet supply store offering for sale any dog, cat, puppy or kitten shall display a label stating the name and address of the organization supplying said ...

Huntsville Zoning Ordinance § 70.1.3 (Code Appendix A)

Animal grooming salon: At least one space for each 400 square feet of building floor area Animal hospital: At least one space for each 400 square feet of building floor area Animal shelter: At least one space for each 600 square feet of building floor area Animal training facility: At least one space for each 1,500 square feet Automobile, boat, motorcycle and machinery sales and rentals: At...

Huntsville Zoning Ordinance §§ 24.1.1, 43.2 (Code Appendix A)

24.1.1.Land and buildings shall be used only for the following uses: Accessory structures and uses as permitted herein. ... Animal hospital or veterinary clinic, pet shops. ... 43.2. - Uses specifically prohibited. The intent of this section is to prohibit those industries which could be obnoxious or offensive to other uses permitted in and adjacent to the district by reason of noise, smoke, d...

Sec. 5-108

It shall be unlawful for any person to pursue, injure, capture, kill or destroy any songbird of any kind, at any time, within the city. This section shall not be construed so as to apply to the director, the HAS officers or to any law enforcement officer when a nuisance exists or when there is a hazard to health or safety which in the judgment of such officer cannot be otherwise remedied.(b)The...