Animal Ordinances in Lakewood, CO (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Lakewood, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Lakewood permits up to six hens or six ducks, or five ducks and a drake, per property with a City permit, bans roosters, and caps enclosures at 32 square feet and 10 feet tall.
Lakewood, CO Backyard Hens and Ducks Rule
Some RestrictionsLakewood Zoning Ordinance § 17.4.3.D(2)(a), Article 4 (adopted June 10, 2024)
A permit for the keeping of hens, ducks, and drakes must be obtained from the City. A maximum of six hens or six ducks or 5 ducks and one drake shall be allowed on a single property. Roosters shall be prohibited. A predator-resistant enclosure must be provided... the total size of an enclosure shall not exceed 32 square feet and shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
Dog Leash Laws
Lakewood makes it unlawful for a dog owner, or the owner of most other animals, to let the animal run at large in the city. Cats are specifically excepted. A dog picked up loose three times in 12 months is deemed a habitual offender and can be cited.
Lakewood, CO Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 6.03.010(A)-(B)
A.It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or other animal, excepting cats, to permit the same to run at large within the city. As used herein, animal means any animal brought into domestic use so as to live and breed in a tame condition, including but not limited to dogs, other household pets, horses, livestock, and animals generally regarded as farm or ranch animals.B.It is unlawful for ...
Beekeeping
Lakewood's Zoning Ordinance allows one beehive per 6,000 square feet with a City permit, side- or rear-yard placement in residential zones, and mandatory flyway barriers and setbacks.
Lakewood, CO Beekeeping & Apiary Rules
Some RestrictionsLakewood Zoning Ordinance § 17.4.3.1.E
Where identified as a limited use, apiaries shall be accessory to the permitted use, and subject to the following: 1. A permit for the keeping of an apiary must be obtained from the City. 2. One beehive shall be allowed for each 6,000 square feet of lot area. 3. Beehives in R zone districts shall be located in a side or rear yard only, and no ...
Exotic Pets
Lakewood bans keeping, selling, or harboring wild and exotic animals, big cats, bears, wolves, and venomous reptiles, anywhere in the city, with a narrow exception for licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
Lakewood, CO Exotic & Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 6.05.010
It is unlawful for any person to import, offer for sale, keep, possess, release, or harbor in the city any skunk, raccoon, jaguar, leopard, lynx, tiger, lion, ocelot, bobcat, cheetah, mountain lion, wildcat, panther, bear, coyote, wolf, fox, badger, porcupine, alligator, caiman, crocodile, poisonous or venomous amphibian, poisonous or venomous invertebrate, poisonous or venomous reptile, or non...
Wildlife Feeding
Lakewood makes it unlawful to knowingly place or provide food for wildlife such as deer, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, skunks, raccoons, elk and non-domesticated waterfowl anywhere in the city, under Municipal Code § 6.05.050. Squirrels and birds are excluded. Violators face Title 6's penalty schedule, and repeat offenders risk a habitual animal offender charge.
Lakewood, CO Wildlife Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 6.05.050
It shall be unlawful to knowingly place or provide food for any wildlife. As used herein, wildlife includes but is not limited to skunks, raccoons, deer, coyotes, mountain lions, fox, elk, and non-domesticated waterfowl. This prohibition shall not apply to squirrels or birds.
Pet Limits
Lakewood caps household pets at five total per residence, with no more than three of the same species. Service animals don't count toward the limit, and up to three female dwarf goats can be kept per residence with a permit.
Lakewood, CO Household Pet Limit
Some RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 6.05.015(A)-(B)
A.It is unlawful to keep more than a total of five regulated species of household pets per residence; however the total cannot exceed three animals of the same species. Service animals as defined in 28 C.F.R. Section 35.104 and 28 C.F.R. Section 35.136 (i) shall be allowed in addition to household pets.B.Pursuant to a permit as set forth in Title 17 of the Lakewood Municipal Code, a maximum of ...
Cat Rules
Lakewood does not license cats or require them to be leashed, but it does require every cat over four months old to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and to carry a current, non-transferable rabies tag.
Lakewood, CO Cat Rabies and At-Large Rules
Light RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 6.04.010(A)
A.Owners of dogs, cats, and ferrets over the age of four months shall have said dogs, cats, and ferrets inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and re-vaccinated thereafter, at the expiration of the vaccination used, and shall, at the time of inoculation, obtain a copy of the certificate of inoculation and a valid rabies tag from the veterinarian. The owner acquiring a dog, cat, o...
Microchipping
Lakewood does not require microchips for pets generally, but a court that convicts an owner of possessing a dangerous animal must order that the animal be microchipped, at the owner's expense, and registered with Police Department Animal Control before it can be possessed again.
Lakewood, CO Dangerous Animal Microchip Rule
Significant RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 6.05.030(A)(2)
A.Upon conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or no contest or entry into a deferred judgment to a charge of possession of a dangerous animal by the owner, the court shall order that the animal subject to the charge shall only be possessed upon the owner's compliance with the following conditions:1.The owner shall, at the owner's expense, have the animal spayed or neutered and shall provide pr...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Lakewood zones veterinary and other animal care facilities as a limited or special use, requiring animals to be confined indoors and exterior pens set back at least 20 feet from side and rear lines.
Lakewood, CO Animal Care Facility Standards
Some RestrictionsLakewood Zoning Ordinance § 17.4.3.B, Article 4 (adopted June 10, 2024)
All animals shall be confined indoors. Any exterior pens shall only be used during the daytime for supervised exercise and training use and shall not be located in front of the primary structure and shall be located a minimum of 20 feet from any side or rear property line. When adjacent to an existing residential use, indoor areas containing cages or pens are not permitted to have operable wind...
Bird Protection
Lakewood, Colorado bans willfully shooting, capturing, harassing, injuring, or killing any wild bird, and bans disturbing a wild bird's nest, eggs, or young, anywhere in the city under Municipal Code § 9.36.010.
Lakewood Wild Bird Protection Law
Significant RestrictionsLakewood Municipal Code § 9.36.010(A)-(B)
A.It is unlawful for any person to willfully and unnecessarily shoot, capture, harass, injure or destroy any wild bird or animal or to attempt to shoot, capture, harass, injure or destroy any such wild bird or animal anywhere within this city.B.No person shall willfully destroy, rob or disturb the nest, nesting place, burrow, eggs or young of any wild bird or animal anywhere within this city.C....
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