Animal Ordinances in Lake Charles, LA (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Lake Charles, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Lake Charles allows chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits only if penned at least 50 feet from any residence or commercial building, kept sanitary, and open to health inspection. Larger livestock like swine, horses, goats, and cattle need a city council special exception permit with 300-foot residence and 150-foot property-line setbacks.
Lake Charles Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsLake Charles, LA Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-4, Sec. 4-5, Sec. 4-7
Sec. 4-4. Keeping swine; proximity to other premises. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any swine within the city without having first obtained a special exception permit from the city council of the City of Lake Charles. ... (a)The swine [shall] be kept in an enclosed area designated by the permit, which such area shall not be located less than 300 feet from the nearest neighboring r...
Dog Leash Laws
Lake Charles requires every dog to be securely confined by fence, enclosure, building, leash, or approved tether, and bans letting a dog run at large on unenclosed land or trespass on another's property under Sec. 4-41. Fines run $40 first offense up to $500 for a fourth, plus mandatory sterilization encouragement after a second at-large impoundment.
Lake Charles Dog At-Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsLake Charles, LA Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-41
Sec. 4-41. - Dogs running at large—Prohibited. No person shall allow any dog in his possession, or kept by him about his premises, to run at large on any unenclosed land or trespass upon any enclosed or unenclosed lands of another. ... Any person owning, harboring, or controlling a dog, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, licensed or unlicensed, shall always keep such animal from running at lar...
Breed Restrictions
Lake Charles has no breed-specific ban; instead Sec. 4-38 imposes strict confinement, muzzling, and microchipping on any animal formally declared "dangerous" for demonstrated aggressive behavior, incorporating Louisiana's dangerous-dog definition at R.S. 14:102.14. Violating confinement carries a $500.00 civil penalty and impoundment.
Lake Charles Dangerous Dog Confinement Rules
Significant RestrictionsLake Charles, LA Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-38 (dangerous animal defined at Sec. 4-32, incorporating R.S. 14:102.14)
Sec. 4-38. - Dangerous animals. The owner of any animal deemed dangerous as defined in this article, shall be subject to the following: (a)Shall effectively confine and control the animal at all times in accordance with the dangerous confinement requirements. ... (d)Shall have the animal microchipped and two color photographs will be provided for ID purposes, and the information shall be turned...
Beekeeping
Lake Charles caps backyard hives by lot size under City Code Sec. 4-108: two colonies on a quarter acre or less, rising to eight colonies on a full acre, with no numeric cap once every hive sits 200 feet from all property lines. Beekeepers must register annually with the state and post ID signage on the apiary.
Lake Charles Beekeeping and Apiary Rules
Some RestrictionsLake Charles City Code § 4-108
(a)It shall be unlawful to keep more than the following number of colonies on any tract within the city, based upon the size or configuration of the tract on which the apiary is situated:(1)¼) acre or less tract size—two colonies;(2)More than (¼) acre but less than (½) acre tract size—four (4) colonies;(3)More than (½) acre but less than one acre tract size—six colonies;(4)One acre or larger tr...
Exotic Pets
Lake Charles bans owning, keeping, possessing or harboring any wild and exotic animal within city limits under Sec. 4-20, naming lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bears, poisonous snakes over seven feet, alligators, raccoons, foxes, wolves, monkeys and other non-domesticated species. Limited exceptions exist for helpless animals in licensed care and traveling shows.
Lake Charles Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLake Charles, LA Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-20
Sec. 4-20. - Wild and exotic animals prohibited. It shall be unlawful to own, keep, possess, maintain, or harbor any "wild and exotic" animal. For purposes of this section "wild and exotic animal" shall mean: (i)Any animal or fowl which is not normally domesticated or kept as a pet;(ii)Any animal or fowl, the majority of which members of the same species are not domesticated;(iii)Any animal or ...
Pet Limits
Lake Charles caps outdoor pet-keeping at three dogs or cats over six months old per property under Sec. 4-45's private kennel restriction, unless the zoning code specifically permits more. The Code's definitions section separately pegs the private-kennel threshold at more than three dogs or cats over four months of age.
Lake Charles Household Pet Limit
Some RestrictionsLake Charles, LA Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-45
Sec. 4-45. - Private kennel restricted. It shall be unlawful to keep more than three dogs or cats over six months of age on any area on a person's property outside the principal building unless permitted to do so under the provisions of the zoning code in Appendix A of this Code.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Lake Charles's Pet Overpopulation Control article, Sec. 4-81, requires every dog or cat sold or released for adoption from a public or private shelter be sterilized before release, or covered by a signed agreement guaranteeing sterilization within 30 days of adoption. It does not mandate sterilizing pets already owned outright.
Lake Charles Shelter Pet Sterilization Rule
Some RestrictionsLake Charles, LA Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-81
Sec. 4-81. - Sterilization required. (a)Provisions shall be made for the sterilization of all dogs and cats sold or released for adoption or purchased from any public or private animal shelter or animal control agency by either:(1)Providing sterilization by a Louisiana licensed veterinarian before relinquishing custody of the animal;(2)Entering into a written agreement with the adopter or purch...