Animal Ordinances in Rochester Hills, MI (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Rochester Hills, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Rochester Hills lets homeowners keep livestock and poultry without a permit if they meet strict acreage and headcount limits: up to three livestock animals on at least two acres, or up to 12 poultry birds on at least one acre. The Zoning Ordinance treats both as accessory uses tied to lot size, and neighbors can force a nuisance hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals if the animals become a problem.
Backyard Chickens and Livestock in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Zoning Ordinance § 138-4.430
A.The keeping of the following animals will be allowed without a permit under the following circumstances in any zoning district, unless there are other sections in this ordinance which are in conflict, and the raising and keeping of such animals is not for the purpose of breeding or selling them as a source of income: ... 2.Livestock, as long as there are no more than three animals and the par...
Dog Leash Laws
Rochester Hills bars any dog from running at large and requires that a dog in a public place, park or building be 'held securely by a leash of suitable strength and length' under the owner's reasonable control, per Code § 14-43. A dog found loose or unlicensed is declared a nuisance and impounded by Oakland County.
Dog Leash and At-Large Law in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Code §§ 14-1, 14-43
Reasonable control means with a secure leash of suitable strength and length, in the hands of one able to restrain or move the animal if necessary, so as to enable the attendant to bring the animal to the attendant's side immediately on command; in addition, an enclosed vehicle or container or the owner's occupied property shall be deemed reasonable control. ... No person owning, possessing or ...
Breed Restrictions
Rochester Hills is explicitly breed-neutral: Code § 14-48(b) says no dog can be found dangerous 'solely because it is a particular breed.' But once a court determines a dog dangerous, § 14-49 imposes a $200.00 annual registration, mandatory spay/neuter, permanent ID, warning signs, obedience training and $250,000.00 of liability insurance.
Dangerous Dog Rules in Rochester Hills
Significant RestrictionsRochester Hills Code §§ 14-48(b), 14-49(a)-(b)
(b)No dog shall be found to be a dangerous dog solely because it is a particular breed, nor is the ownership of a particular breed of dog prohibited. ... (a)The owner of any dog found to be a dangerous dog shall, within 30 calendar days of such determination, obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from the city clerk for a fee of $200.00, in addition to other fees that may be authorize...
Wildlife Feeding
Rochester Hills bars placing food, bait or salt within five feet of the ground where it may reasonably attract deer (Code § 14-91) or geese (§ 14-94), to curb traffic accidents, disease and property damage. Bird feeders, natural vegetation and authorized wildlife officials are exempt under §§ 14-92 and 14-95.
Deer and Geese Feeding Ban in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Code §§ 14-91, 14-92, 14-94
No person may place or permit placement on the ground or within five feet of the ground any fruit, berries, grain, vegetables, nuts, salt or other edible material or bait which may reasonably be expected to attract or feed deer unless such materials are covered or protected in a way to prevent deer from feeding on them. ... The foregoing prohibition of deer feeding does not apply to: (1)Natural...
Pet Limits
Rochester Hills caps common household pets, such as dogs and cats, at three of any one species per home before the property legally becomes a kennel. The limit sits inside the Zoning Ordinance's animal-keeping rules, and going over it triggers the City's kennel licensing and siting standards under Section 138-4.422 instead of the by-right pet allowance.
Household Pet Limits in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Zoning Ordinance § 138-4.430(A)(1)
A.The keeping of the following animals will be allowed without a permit under the following circumstances in any zoning district, unless there are other sections in this ordinance which are in conflict, and the raising and keeping of such animals is not for the purpose of breeding or selling them as a source of income:1.Common household pets such as dogs, cats, etc., but not including fish or m...
Cat Rules
Rochester Hills has no cat-specific licensing or leash chapter. Cats fall under the chapter 14 definition of 'animal,' so a cat owner must still comply with the general cruelty, unclean-housing, noise and pickup-of-feces provisions that apply to any animal in the city.
Cat Ownership Rules in Rochester Hills
Light RestrictionsRochester Hills Code §§ 14-1, 14-7, 14-9(a), 14-12
Animal means dogs, cats, livestock, poultry or any vertebrate animal other than man. ... No person shall harbor or keep any animal that disturbs the peace by loud noises at any time of the day or night. ... (a)Dangerous animals. No person shall permit a dangerous animal of any kind to run at large within the city. ... It shall be unlawful for any person in control of an animal upon a public pro...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary hospitals and clinics in Rochester Hills must run entirely inside a fully enclosed building, and in the NB or CB business districts they need a 40-foot setback plus a Type C landscape buffer wherever the site borders an R, RCD, RM-1 or RMH residential zone.
Veterinary Hospital Zoning Rules, Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Zoning Ordinance § 138-4.439
A.All activities shall be conducted within a totally enclosed building.B.Veterinary hospitals or clinics located in the NB or CB districts shall be set back at least 40 feet from any R, RCD, RM-1, or RMH zoning district with a Type C buffer provided along any common property line.
Bird Protection
Rochester Hills makes it unlawful to injure, capture or kill any bird, using traps, snares, nets, poison or similar devices, or even to molest, harass or annoy one, anywhere within the city. Section 70-2 of the code also bans hunting wild game or fowl with a gun or other weapon under Section 70-1, so backyard trapping or shooting at nuisance birds is off-limits.
Rochester Hills Bans Injuring Wild Birds
Heavy RestrictionsRochester Hills Code §§ 70-1, 70-2
No person shall hunt wild game or fowl or in any manner carry any gun, weapon or firearm within the city for the purpose of hunting any wild game or fowl at any time. ... No person shall, by use of any pit, pitfall, deadfall, cage, snare, trap, net, baited hook, or any similar device or of any drug, poison, chemical or explosive, injure, capture or kill any bird, wild game or furbearing animal,...
Looking for Oakland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rochester Hills city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Oakland County →