Animal Ordinances in New Haven, CT (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for New Haven, Connecticut, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
New Haven allows up to six hens as an accessory use in the RS-1, RS-2, RM-1, and RM-2 districts, with enclosure size, setback, coop, and no-rooster requirements under Section 34.
New Haven Backyard Hen Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Haven Zoning Ordinance § 34
(b) No more than six (6) hens may be kept on any property located in the following residence zoning districts as a non-commercial accessory use: RM-2, RS-1, RS-2, RM-1. (c) The use shall be confined to a fenced enclosure of no more than 200 square feet in area, located in a rear yard. The fenced enclosure shall be at least 25 feet from any street line, at least 15 feet from any residential dwel...
Dog Leash Laws
New Haven requires owners to keep animals under control with a leash and bars letting pets run at large on city streets or others' property, except in designated dog parks.
New Haven Dog Leash Requirement
Some RestrictionsNew Haven Code of Ordinances § 7-4
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any animal to fail to keep his or her animal under his or her control with a leash or other methods designed for such purposes, or to permit any animal to run at large upon the streets and public ways of the city or upon property other than that of the owner or keeper, except designated dog parks.(e)The provisions of this section shall not apply t...
Exotic Pets
New Haven bans possessing potentially dangerous wild animals like bears, alligators, monkeys, wolves, and coyotes without authorization; illegal animals can be seized under state and city authority.
New Haven Dangerous Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsNew Haven Code of Ordinances § 7-2
Unless otherwise authorized, no person shall possess a potentially dangerous animal, such as a bear, alligator, monkey, wolf, coyote, or others as defined in C.G.S. Section 26-40a, as amended from time to time. Any such animal illegally possessed may be seized and disposed of as determined by the commissioner of energy and environmental protection or other lawfully authorized federal, state, or...
Cat Rules
New Haven animal control can seize any cat that damages someone else's property or creates an unsanitary or offensive condition unless the cat is owned or belongs to a registered feral cat colony keeper.
New Haven Feral Cat Seizure Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Haven Code of Ordinances § 7-12(b)
Pursuant to C.G.S. Section 22-332d, as amended from time to time, any city animal control officer may take into custody any cat found to be damaging property other than that of its owner or keeper, or causing an unsanitary, dangerous, or unreasonably offensive condition, unless such cat can be identified as under the care of its owner or keeper, or a registered keeper of feral cats. The officer...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
New Haven requires owners of dogs the animal control officer declares 'potentially dangerous' to spay or neuter the animal within 14 days and prove sterilization to that officer, under Code of Ordinances § 7-10(1)(d). The same declaration also triggers 'Beware of Dog' signage, mandatory police registration, and a leash-and-muzzle rule off the owner's property.
New Haven Potentially Dangerous Dog Spay Rule
Significant RestrictionsNew Haven Code of Ordinances § 7-10(1)(d)
(1)Potentially dangerous dogs. No person shall maintain a potentially dangerous dog without a license or otherwise in violation of this section.a.Signs. "Beware of dog" signs shall be posted on the residence where the dog is located. Signs shall be posted in a manner as to be highly visible to the public from the street, at all angles.b.The dog must be registered with the animal control divisio...
Microchipping
Owners of dogs New Haven's animal control officer classifies as 'dangerous' must microchip the animal within 10 days of the determination and register the chip with the police department's animal control division, under Code of Ordinances § 7-10(2)(i). The same 10-day window also requires two color photographs, spay/neuter proof, and posted 'Beware of Dog' signage.
New Haven Dangerous Dog Microchip Rule
Significant RestrictionsNew Haven Code of Ordinances § 7-10(2)(i)
(2)Dangerous dogs. No person shall maintain a dangerous dog without a license or otherwise in violation of this section.a.The dog must be registered with the animal control division of the city police department as a dangerous dog....i.Microchip. All owners must within ten (10) days of determination microchip the dog and provide microchip information to the animal control division of the city p...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
New Haven's zoning Use Table allows veterinary clinics, pet daycares, and pet groomers with fully enclosed facilities by right in most business districts, but requires added approval downtown and bars them from Marine and Heavy Industry zones.
New Haven Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Haven Zoning Ordinance § 42, Table 3 (Use Table)
Veterinarian, pet daycare and pet groomer (excluding establishment where care, breeding or sale of animals is the enterprise's main purpose and/or where animals are boarded overnight) with all facilities within fully enclosed building(s): R R R R X R SE X R R SP SP R X X [BA/BA-1/BA-2/BB/BC/BD/BD-1/BD-2/BD-3/BE/MULW/CGD/IL/IM/IH]. R: Permitted as of right. SE: Permitted only by special exceptio...
Bird Protection
New Haven bans hunting, harming, or trapping birds and other wildlife in city parks, and also bans taking eggs, nests, or young birds from park grounds.
New Haven Park Wildlife Protection Rule
Significant RestrictionsNew Haven Code of Ordinances § 19-5(6)
Wildlife. No person shall hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile or bird; nor remove or have in his/her possession the young of any wild animal, nor the egg, nest or young of any reptile or bird. However, any snake known to be deadly poisonous may be killed on sight. (7) Disturbing conduct. No one shall engage i...