Animal Ordinances in Lee's Summit, MO (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Lee's Summit, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Lee's Summit allows up to six hens per property with no roosters. The coop must sit at least 10 feet from any property line and 40 feet from the nearest neighboring residence, and no more than 3 cubic feet of manure may be stored.
Lee's Summit Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. VII (Chickens); Animal Control Regulations
Residents are allowed to keep six hens on their property as long as they are properly contained and no closer than ten feet from the property line or forty feet from the next nearest residence. Chicken pens must remain clean and impervious to predators.
Dog Leash Laws
Lee's Summit makes it unlawful to let any dog, cat or other animal run at large: the animal must be under restraint, meaning inside a fenced yard, on a hand-held or fixed leash, or contained by an electronic collar system. Animals found loose can be picked up and impounded, and owners face fines that climb with repeat violations.
Lee's Summit Dogs at Large and Leash Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances §§ 5-2, 5-3
It shall be unlawful for an owner, keeper, harborer or maintainer of any animal to allow or permit any such animal to run at large. An animal shall be considered to be running at large if such animal is not under restraint as defined in Section 5-2. ... Under restraint shall mean an animal is within a fully enclosed or fenced area or under the hand-held leash of the owner, keeper, harborer or m...
Breed Restrictions
Lee's Summit doesn't ban dogs by breed; it declares an individual dog 'dangerous' after a bite, an unprovoked attack, or a documented pattern of aggressive behavior. A dangerous dog must then wear an orange collar, live in a locked pen, carry $300,000 in liability insurance, and be muzzled and leashed off the owner's property.
Lee's Summit Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-83(A), § 5-84(I)
A. Any dog with the following characteristics may be classified as dangerous: 1. Any dog that has inflicted a severe or fatal injury on a human being on public or private property... 7. Any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury, or to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings, domestic animals, dogs or cats. ... I. The owner or keeper of ...
Beekeeping
Lee's Summit requires an annual City license to keep bees and caps small lots at two hives, set back at least 25 feet from a neighbor's property line and 50 feet from any building, tethered animal or public sidewalk. Hives taller than six feet, closer setups, or an unlicensed apiary all violate Section 5-7.
Lee's Summit Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-7(B), (C), (D)(4)(a)
B. Compliance with provisions. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, establish or maintain any hive, stand, box or apiary or keep any bees in or upon any premises within the corporate limits of the City, unless the bees are kept in accordance with the provisions of this section. C. License required; fee. Any person keeping hives, stands, boxes or apiaries in accordance with Section 5-7 ...
Exotic Pets
Lee's Summit bans keeping lions, tigers, bears, wolves, coyotes, nonhuman primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes and any dangerous or poisonous reptile as pets anywhere in the City. The only exception is a licensed zoo, circus, research lab, veterinary hospital or refuge that registers the animal with the Supervisor of Animal Control.
Lee's Summit Dangerous and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-5(A)-(B)
A. The following animals are hereby declared to be dangerous and the keeping or harboring of such animals within the City is prohibited, except as provided in Subsection B. of this section: 1. Lions, tigers, bears, leopards, ocelots, jaguars, cheetahs, margays, mountain lions, Canada lynx, bobcats, jaguarundi, hyenas, wolves, and coyotes; 2. Nonhuman primates, raccoons, skunks, and foxes; 3. An...
Wildlife Feeding
Lee's Summit bans feeding or leaving any attractant for wild animals like deer, raccoons or coyotes anywhere within city limits, and it's equally unlawful to store food where wildlife can reach it. Bird feeders, farm animal feeding, gardens and City or state wildlife-management work are specifically exempted.
Lee's Summit Wildlife Feeding Ban
Significant RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-11(A), (B)(3)
A. Prohibitions. 1. No person shall feed or in any manner provide any attractant to any wild animal within the corporate limits of the City. 2. No person shall leave, store, or maintain any attractant in a manner, area, or location accessible to any wild animals within the corporate limits of the City. B. Exceptions. ... 3. Any person with a bird feeder intended to feed song birds, provided the...
Pet Limits
Lee's Summit residents may keep up to three dogs or cats on a lot with no special permit. A household with four or five needs a hobby-kennel or hobby-cattery avocation permit from the Supervisor of Animal Control, sited well off the property line. Six or more classifies the property as a kennel or cattery, requiring City registration and a business license.
Lee's Summit Dog and Cat Ownership Limits
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-2 (Definitions: "Hobby-kennel or hobby-cattery avocation"; "Kennel or cattery")
Hobby-kennel or hobby-cattery avocation shall mean the care, breeding, showing or sale of dogs or cats by an adult natural person who maintains a hobby-kennel or hobby-cattery containing more than three (3), but less than six (6) dogs or cats or a combination thereof over the age of six (6) months on the premises on which such person is resident or on a contiguous tract, which tracts are not zo...
Cat Rules
Every cat over six months old in Lee's Summit must carry a current City license and rabies tag, and an unlicensed cat can be impounded on sight. Licensing runs through the Finance Department or Animal Shelter, costs an annual fee, and must be renewed by May 1 each year unless the owner buys a one-time lifetime license.
Lee's Summit Cat Licensing and Restraint Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-106(A)-(C)
A. It shall be unlawful for a person to own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog or cat within the City limits unless such dog or cat is licensed as provided in this division. Dogs and cats that are intended to be sold, given away or turned over to an animal control or humane agency before they reach the age of six (6) months are exempt from the provisions hereof. B. The licensing provisions of th...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Lee's Summit requires every dog over six months old to be spayed or neutered, or the owner must buy an annual unaltered dog license under Sec. 5-142. Exemptions cover competition dogs, law-enforcement dogs, service animals and licensed breeders. Missing a veterinarian-certified medical exemption deadline still requires a license.
Lee's Summit Mandatory Dog Spay/Neuter Law
Significant RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-141
A.No person may own, keep, or maintain a dog over the age of six (6) months in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with Section 5-142.B.The owner or custodian of a dog which is unable to be spayed or neutered without a reasonable likelihood of suffering bodily harm or death due...
Microchipping
Lee's Summit doesn't require every pet to be microchipped, but it does mandate it in two situations: any dog or cat covered by a one-time lifetime license, and any dog declared dangerous. Both must be implanted with a chip approved by the Supervisor of Animal Control and registered with the national database.
Lee's Summit Pet Microchipping Rule
Light RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances § 5-114(D)
D. Any person who receives a lifetime license must have such dog or cat implanted with an identifying microchip in a manner approved by the Supervisor of Animal Control. The owner or keeper shall then provide the Supervisor of Animal Control the microchip number, and shall notify the supervisor and the registry applicable to the implanted chip of any change of ownership of the dog or cat, or an...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Lee's Summit requires every veterinary clinic to sit at least 100 feet from any residentially zoned or residentially used property under UDO Section 6.550, one of the "uses permitted with conditions" in the zoning code. Clinics that keep all activity fully inside the building instead follow the standard district setback, and an accessory kennel with outside runs faces the same 100-foot buffer under Section 6.1430.
Lee's Summit Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Unified Development Ordinance § 6.550
A.A veterinarian, with respect to which, all buildings and activities are located at least 100 feet from any property zoned or used for residential purposes.B.When all activity is conducted totally inside of the building the standard district setback shall apply.
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