Animal Ordinances in Lexington, KY (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Lexington, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Lexington-Fayette County Code § 4-11 makes it unlawful to keep hogs, goats or pigs anywhere in the Urban County Government's jurisdiction except land zoned agricultural. The fine is only $5, but it accrues daily, every day the animal stays on non-farm land is a new offense, and neighboring sections separately restrict loose horses and noisy cattle.
Lexington Bans Hogs, Goats, Pigs Outside Farm Zones
Heavy RestrictionsLexington-Fayette County Code of Ordinances § 4-11
The keeping of hogs, goats or pigs within any area of the urban county except those zoned agricultural is hereby prohibited and declared to be unlawful. A violation of the provisions of this section shall subject the offender to a fine of five dollars ($5.00) and each day such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
Dog Leash Laws
Every dog in Lexington-Fayette must be confined on the owner's property or kept on a leash off it. LFUCG Code Sec. 4-19 bans dogs running at large county-wide, requires a properly fitted collar or harness attached to a leash or tether whenever a dog leaves its own yard, and fines owners on an escalating scale from fifty dollars for a first offense up to five hundred dollars for repeat violations.
Lexington-Fayette Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsLFUCG Code of Ordinances § 4-19
It shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large within the urban county; provided that a hound or hunting dog may be unrestrained when engaged in lawful hunting activities while on private or public property designated or authorized for that purpose. Dogs shall be confined behind a fence or within an enclosed area or otherwise securely restrained at all times while on the owner's or harborer's...
Breed Restrictions
Lexington-Fayette has no breed ban; instead LFUCG Code Sec. 4-14 lets a court declare any individual dog vicious after it bites a person or animal without provocation or is kept for fighting. Once declared, the dog must live in a locked outdoor pen at least five by ten feet and seven feet high, or indoors, and may leave the property only muzzled on a leash no longer than six feet.
Lexington-Fayette Vicious Dog Kenneling and Muzzle Rules
Significant RestrictionsLFUCG Code of Ordinances § 4-14
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor within Lexington-Fayette County a dog declared vicious by a court of competent jurisdiction unless it is at all times kept on the owner's or harborer's property securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked outdoor pen or shelter suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the dog from escaping. S...
Exotic Pets
Lexington-Fayette County Code § 4-11.1 makes it unlawful to keep any wildlife the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has identified as inherently dangerous to human health and safety anywhere in the urban county. Accredited zoos, licensed theatrical exhibits, carnivals, circuses, authorized wildlife rehabilitators, licensed veterinary hospitals treating injured animals, and federally licensed research institutions are exempt; everyone else risks a $200-to-$500 fine plus seizure costs.
Lexington Bans Owning Dangerous Wildlife as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsLexington-Fayette County Code of Ordinances § 4-11.1
The keeping or holding of wildlife that have been identified by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource as inherently dangerous to human health and safety within any area of the urban county is hereby prohibited and declared to be unlawful. This section shall not apply to any zoological garden accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, appropriately ...
Cat Rules
Lexington-Fayette County Code § 4-12.3 requires every dog or cat six months or older to carry an annual county license, with rabies vaccination required starting at four months. Licenses cost $8 for an altered pet and $40 for an unaltered one, renew yearly, and an unlicensed animal can draw a fine of up to $200 per day of noncompliance.
Lexington Requires Dog and Cat Licenses
Some RestrictionsLexington-Fayette County Code of Ordinances § 4-12.3
Any owner of dogs or cats within the urban county shall apply to the designated license facility for the appropriate license... Licenses shall be required for each dog or cat six (6) months of age or older and rabies vaccination shall be required for each dog or cat four (4) months of age or older... The fee for each dog and cat license shall be eight dollars ($8.00) for an altered dog or cat a...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Lexington-Fayette County Code § 4-1.1 requires any person or nonprofit placing ten or more dogs or cats in a calendar year to register as an adoption agency and, at minimum, spay or neuter, rabies-vaccinate, and microchip every animal before adoption. A veterinarian-certified medical exception allows a four-month grace period, but agencies must document compliance to the adopter and post signage at each adoption site.
Lexington Adoption Agencies Must Spay, Neuter Pets
Some RestrictionsLexington-Fayette County Code of Ordinances § 4-1.1
Any person who in any calendar year offers ten (10) or more animals for adoption within Fayette County shall be considered an adoption agency and shall comply with the following conditions: Provide the adopter with a comprehensive list of medical care and services provided to the animal as of the date of adoption and the adoption agency's policy for returning animals. Shall, at a minimum, spay ...
Microchipping
Lexington-Fayette does not require microchipping of dogs generally, but LFUCG Code Sec. 4-14 makes it mandatory for any dog a court has declared vicious. Within thirty days of the declaration the owner must present the dog to animal control to be tagged with a microchip identifier and added to the county's photographic registry of vicious dogs, alongside proof the dog has been spayed or neutered.
Lexington-Fayette Microchip Rule for Declared-Vicious Dogs
Some RestrictionsLFUCG Code of Ordinances § 4-14(h)–(i)
The urban county animal control officer shall maintain a photographic registry of all dogs in Lexington-Fayette County that have been declared vicious by a court of competent jurisdiction, which registry shall contain the following information for each dog: The legal name, date of birth, and permanent address of the dog's owner; The address for each location at which the dog is regularly kept; ...
Pet Store Rules
Lexington-Fayette County Code § 4-13, adopted in June 2024, makes it unlawful for any retail pet store to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat. Stores may still host an animal rescue organization or adoption agency to showcase adoptable pets, but only if the store takes no ownership interest and charges no fee for the space.
Lexington Bans Retail Pet Stores Selling Dogs, Cats
Heavy RestrictionsLexington-Fayette County Code of Ordinances § 4-13
It shall be unlawful for a retail pet store, as defined in subsection (a)(1), to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat. Nothing in subsection (b) shall prevent a retail pet store from providing space to either an animal rescue organization, as defined in this section, or an adoption agency, as defined in Section 4-1.1, for the purpose of showcasing adoptable dogs or cats to the public, provided t...