Animal Ordinances in Norman, OK (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Norman, Oklahoma, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Norman allows up to four chickens or laying hens per parcel in the R-1 zoning district under NCC 4-301, but bans roosters outright and requires a predator-resistant coop and run in the backyard, set back at least five feet from property lines and 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling.
Norman Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsNorman City Code (NCC) § 4-301
Except, as provided otherwise, chickens or laying hens may be kept and maintained in the R-1 zoning district so long as: The provisions of NCC ch. 36 pertaining thereto are complied with; Such chickens or laying hens are maintained on land upon which the owner or occupant resides; No more than four chickens or laying hens are allowed per R-1-zoned parcel unless additional setback conditions can...
Dog Leash Laws
Norman flatly bans letting a dog run at-large anywhere in the city under NCC 4-503: any dog off its owner's property and not physically restrained by harness, leash, or similar device can be impounded and its owner cited, regardless of whether the owner meant to let it loose.
Norman Dog At-Large / Leash Law
Some RestrictionsNorman City Code (NCC) § 4-503
At-large means a phrase indicating that an animal is: Off the premises of its owner and not securely and physically restrained by means of harness, leash, or other device designed to restrain such animal. Not confined on the premises of the owner or at heel on those premises. ... No person shall knowingly or unknowingly permit his dog to be at-large anywhere within the City limits; and such dog...
Breed Restrictions
Norman does not ban or single out any dog breed. NCC 4-101 defines a dangerous animal purely by behavior, temperament, and circumstance, and NCC 4-408 requires anyone keeping an animal individually adjudicated dangerous to obtain a permit and meet confinement, muzzle, insurance, and microchipping rules regardless of breed.
Norman Dangerous Animal Permit, Not Breed
Significant RestrictionsNorman City Code (NCC) §§ 4-101, 4-408
Dangerous animal means any animal whose behavior, temperament, size, or any combination thereof, when considered under the totality of the circumstances, including the nature of the surrounding area, constitutes a reasonable risk of injuring a human or animal or damaging personal or real property... However, this definition shall not apply to any animal that has been subject to provocation or i...
Beekeeping
Norman requires a permit before keeping any hive outside the A-1, A-2, or R-E zoning districts, under NCC 20-601. Colonies are capped at one per 2,500 square feet of lot area, hives must be movable-frame with two full-depth brood chambers, and hives need a 35-foot setback from every property line unless raised or screened.
Norman Beekeeping Permit And Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsNCC §§ 20-601 to 20-605
Except in those areas zoned A-1, A-2, and R-E, no person shall keep or maintain any colony or hive of bees without complying with all provisions of this article and without having obtained a permit, as provided in this chapter. No person shall keep or maintain more than one colony of bees per 2,500 square feet of lot area. No person shall keep or maintain bee colonies in other than movable fram...
Exotic Pets
Norman bans keeping exotic wildlife, native wildlife, or any venomous species under NCC 4-301(d): an Animal Services Officer can seize and impound a prohibited animal on sight, and it only goes back to the owner if the owner can prove somewhere legal to keep it.
Norman Exotic and Venomous Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsNorman City Code (NCC) § 4-301(d)
Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, or allow to be maintained any exotic wildlife or species defined in this chapter, or native wildlife or any species of animal which is venomous to human beings, whether its venom is transmitted by bite, sting, touch or other means. If a person is found in possession of a prohibited animal, the animal may be i...
Pet Limits
Norman caps unaltered pets at two dogs or three cats per property without a kennel license, and altered pets at four dogs or six cats. A licensed foster home working with a registered Animal Welfare Group can exceed those numbers for up to six months per animal.
Norman Household Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsNorman City Code § 4-506
No person shall harbor or keep any dogs or cats if any are unaltered that exceed the following: More than two dogs, more than six months of age, may be kept on any lot, premises or in any structure, or any combination thereof, without a commercial, rescue, or private kennel license. No more than one litter of puppies may be kept on any lot or premises or kept in any structure, without a kennel ...
Cat Rules
Norman does not require a cat license, but an unaltered cat running at-large is a citable offense unless it is spayed or neutered, current on rabies vaccination, wearing a collar tag, and carrying a registered microchip. Community cats under a registered TNR program are exempt from the at-large rules entirely.
Norman Cat At-Large and Community Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsNorman City Code § 4-503
No person shall knowingly or unknowingly permit his cat to be at-large unless the cat is altered, current on its vaccinations, as required in this chapter, has a collar with an identification tag andhas a registered microchip containing accurate and current information for the owner, notwithstanding that the cat could still be determined to be a nuisance animal by its actions as defined in NCC ...
Microchipping
Norman does not require routine microchipping of pets, but a dangerous-animal conviction triggers a mandatory microchip order. The Municipal Court Judge must direct the owner to have the animal chipped by a licensed veterinarian within 15 days, with proof filed within 20 days or the owner faces contempt of court.
Norman Court-Ordered Pet Microchipping
Some RestrictionsNorman City Code § 4-408
Microchipping of animal. Upon conviction of a violation of this section, the Judge of the municipal Court shall order the owner, possessor, harborer or keeper of such animal to have an identification microchip implanted in such animal by a licensed veterinarian no later than 15 calendar days after the conviction at the owner's expense. The owner, possessor, harborer, or keeper shall file proof ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Norman treats a veterinary clinic or hospital as a discretionary special use, not a by-right use, in its agricultural and rural-commercial zones. Owners in the A-2 Rural Agricultural and CR Rural Commercial Districts need City Council approval before opening; only the I-1 Light Industrial District allows one outright.
Norman Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsNorman City Code § 36-512 (A-2, Rural Agricultural District, Special Use)
Special use. The following uses may be permitted, after review, in accordance with NCC 36-560: ... One, and only one, of the specific uses permitted in the M-1, Restricted Industrial District, except NCC 36-531(b), for which application is made. Veterinary clinic/hospital. Zoological park, with limited auxiliary uses, currently licensed by the federal government as an exhibitor with a Class "C"...
Bird Protection
Norman bans trapping, hunting, shooting, killing, capturing, or otherwise molesting any wild bird or its nest under NCC 4-302, with narrow carve-outs for lawfully regulated game-bird hunting and for City employees clearing nuisance flocks of starlings or pigeons.
Norman Wild Bird Protection Ordinance
Some RestrictionsNorman City Code (NCC) § 4-302
No person shall trap, hunt, shoot, kill, destroy, capture, or molest any wild bird, or rob or molest any such bird's nest. Persons excepted from subsection (a) of this section are: Those persons hunting and killing game birds as defined and regulated by the laws, rules and regulations of the U.S. Government, the State of Oklahoma, the City, their agencies or branches; and within those areas per...