Animal Ordinances in Kirkwood, MO (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Kirkwood, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Kirkwood lets residents keep poultry and livestock, but only confined to their own premises: § 4-6 bars poultry from running at large, and any livestock yard under § 4-9 must sit at least 100 feet from a residential building and provide 0.5 acre for the first animal, 1.5 acres for a second, and two acres for a third.
Kirkwood Poultry and Livestock Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 4-6, 4-7, 4-9
Owners of poultry in the City shall keep the poultry confined upon their own premises. ... No owner or person having charge of any horse, cow, swine, goat or other grazing animal shall permit the animal to go at large in any street or public place. ... No livestock yard shall be maintained within 100 feet of any residential building or dwelling, other than a residential building or dwelling own...
Dog Leash Laws
Kirkwood requires dogs off their owner's property to be under restraint, defined in § 4-37 as controlled by a leash no longer than six feet held by a capable handler, or they're legally 'at large.' Section 4-53 makes it unlawful to let a dog run at large anywhere in the city.
Kirkwood Leash and Restraint Requirements for Dogs
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 4-37, 4-53
(b) Any dog shall be deemed at large when off the premises of the owner's real property and: 1. Not restrained by a competent person; or 2. When creating a public nuisance. ... RESTRAINT Any dog is considered under restraint if it is controlled by a line or leash not more than six feet in length when said line or leash is held by a competent person, that is, a person capable of controlling or g...
Breed Restrictions
Kirkwood doesn't restrict dogs by breed, but § 4-52 imposes a strict bite-based dangerous dog standard: a dog that has bitten before and bites again, or a dog with no history that attacks and causes serious injury or death, must be seized immediately and is destroyed after a 10-business-day hold unless the owner appeals to Circuit Court.
Kirkwood's Dangerous Dog Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 4-52
(a) A person is guilty of keeping a dangerous dog and commits an ordinance violation if he or she owns or possesses a dog that has previously bitten a person or a domestic animal without provocation and that dog bites any person on a subsequent occasion. (b) If any dog that has previously bitten a person or a domestic animal without provocation bites any person on a subsequent occasion or if a ...
Wildlife Feeding
Kirkwood's parks ordinance makes it unlawful to feed waterfowl or wildlife in any city park. The same section also bars giving animals or birds noxious substances and prohibits hunting, molesting, trapping or killing wildlife, or removing eggs, nests or young, anywhere on park property.
Kirkwood Bans Feeding Wildlife in City Parks
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 18-4(g)-(h)
§ 18-4. Damaging park property or injuring wildlife. ... It shall be unlawful for any person in a City park to: ... (g) Give or offer, or attempt to give any animal or bird any noxious substances. (h) Feed any waterfowl or wildlife in any park.
Pet Limits
Kirkwood caps households at three cats and three dogs. Section 4-5 makes keeping more than three cats on one premises a nuisance subject to abatement, and § 4-30 flatly bars keeping more than three dogs, with both sections making a narrow exception for a nursing litter.
Kirkwood Caps Dogs and Cats Per Household
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 4-5, 4-30
The keeping, harboring or housing on any one premises within the City of more than three cats shall constitute a nuisance and shall be subject to the procedures established in this Code for the abatement of nuisances, except upon the occasion of the birth of a litter of cats, in which event, the litter may be kept together with their mother until they reach the age of two months. ... No person ...
Cat Rules
Kirkwood requires every cat kept anywhere in the city, even part-time, to be vaccinated against rabies and to wear a current registration tag under § 4-38. A cat is legally 'at large' under § 4-37 whenever it's off its owner's property without a tagged collar or is creating a public nuisance, which can trigger impoundment.
Kirkwood Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 4-37, 4-38
AT LARGE (a) Any cat shall be deemed at large when off the premises of its owner's real property and: 1. Not wearing a collar with appropriate tags attached; or 2. When creating a public nuisance. ... Every person who owns any dog or cat, whether in a kennel or not, that is kept any time during the year within the City of Kirkwood, or who permits a dog or cat to come up on, on or in Kirkwood, s...
Pet Groomer Rules
Kirkwood's zoning code puts pet grooming shops and doggy day cares in the 'animal facility, minor' category, defined as grooming and daytime boarding of animals or pets. Table 35-1 marks this use 'P' in the districts where it is listed, so a groomer needs only the standard occupancy or building permit rather than City Council approval.
Kirkwood Pet Groomers Are Permitted by Right
Light RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 25-35(b)(1), 25-104
A "P" indicates that a use type is allowed by right in the respective zoning district. Permitted uses are subject to all other applicable standards of this Code. ... Animal facility, minor P P P P P P ... ANIMAL FACILITY, MINOR Any building, structure, or land used, designed, or arranged for grooming and daytime boarding of animals or pets. This term includes pet day cares and grooming facilities.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Kirkwood's zoning code classifies veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, kennels, and overnight animal boarding as an 'animal facility, major' use. Table 35-1 marks this use with an 'S,' meaning it is allowed only through special use permit review by the City Council, never by right, in any zoning district where it appears on the table.
Kirkwood Vet Clinics Need a Special Use Permit
Significant RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 25-35(b)(3), 25-104
An "S" indicates that a use may be permitted if approved through the special use permit review procedure (See § 25-20.). Special uses may be subject to use-specific standards as identified in the last column of Table 35-1. ... Animal facility, major S S S S ... ANIMAL FACILITY, M ... AJOR Any building, structure, or land used, designed, or arranged for the boarding, breeding, or medical care of...
Bird Protection
Kirkwood Code of Ordinances § 4-2 makes it unlawful to injure, molest, take, or disturb in any way any small bird found within the city, carving out only one exception: sparrows. The rule sits in Chapter 4, Animals and Fowl, and applies citywide regardless of whether the bird is on public or private property.
Kirkwood Bans Injuring or Molesting Wild Birds
Significant RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 4-2
No person shall injure, molest, take or disturb in any way any small birds, except sparrows.
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