Animal Ordinances in Salt Lake City, UT (2026)
16 verified animal ordinances for Salt Lake City, Utah, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Salt Lake City may allow backyard chickens with limits. Roosters typically banned in residential areas. Livestock requires agricultural zoning.
Salt Lake City Chickens & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Dogs must be leashed (max 6 ft) in all public areas in Salt Lake City per SLC 8.04.390. Off-leash only in designated dog parks like Memory Grove, Parley's, and Tanner.
Animals: Dog Leash Laws
Heavy RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Salt Lake City has NO breed-specific legislation. Dangerous dog designation is behavior-based under SLC 8.04.340 and Utah Code 18-1-3.
Animals: Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Beekeeping allowed on residential lots in Salt Lake City under SLC 8.08. Up to 2 hives on lots under 10,000 sq ft; registration with Utah Dept of Ag required.
Animals: Beekeeping
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
Salt Lake City prohibits keeping wild, dangerous, or exotic animals including big cats, bears, primates, venomous reptiles, and constrictors over 8 ft under SLC 8.04.230.
Animals: Exotic Pets
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Intentional feeding of deer, raccoons, coyotes, and other wildlife prohibited in Salt Lake City per SLC 8.04. Bird feeding allowed but must not attract rodents or big game.
Animals: Wildlife Feeding
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Salt Lake City Animal Services responds to suspected hoarding under Title 6 cruelty and welfare provisions, working with mental health partners when residents accumulate animals beyond their ability to provide adequate food, sanitation, and veterinary care.
Animal Hoarding Triggers Welfare Investigation
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
Salt Lake City limits households to 2 dogs and 4 cats (6 total) per dwelling unit under SLC 8.04.280. Kennel license required beyond these limits.
Animals: Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Salt Lake City requires every cat over four months to be licensed and rabies vaccinated under Title 6, and prohibits owners from allowing cats to trespass on neighboring property or run at large in public areas.
Cats Need License, Vaccination, And Confinement
Some RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Salt Lake City does not blanket-mandate spay or neuter, but Title 6 sharply discounts licenses for altered pets and requires sterilization for animals adopted from the city shelter or impounded multiple times for running at large.
Spay/Neuter Discounts, Mandatory For Repeat Strays
Some RestrictionsMicrochipping
Salt Lake City does not universally mandate microchipping, but Animal Services microchips every animal adopted, redeemed, or licensed at the shelter and requires chips before release for repeat at-large impound cases.
Microchip Strongly Encouraged, Required After Impound
Few RestrictionsCoyote Management
Salt Lake City defers most coyote management to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources under state code Title 23A, but Animal Services responds to aggressive incidents and the city actively promotes hazing techniques to keep urban coyotes wary.
Coyotes Managed By State, Hazing Encouraged
Some RestrictionsPet Store Rules
Salt Lake City prohibits pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits, restricting retail to animals sourced from shelters or 501c3 rescues, mirroring a model used by Sandy and other Utah cities.
Pet Stores Limited To Rescue-Source Dogs Cats
Heavy RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic Zoning
Salt Lake City zoning Title 21A allows veterinary offices and small-animal clinics by right in most commercial and mixed-use districts, with conditional-use review when overnight boarding, kennels, or large-animal practices are involved.
Vet Clinics Allowed In Most Commercial Zones
Few RestrictionsBird Protection
Salt Lake City defers to the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Utah wildlife code to protect native birds, prohibiting take or nest disturbance, while local Title 6 covers bird-keeping nuisance and sanitation.
Migratory Birds Protected, Nest Disturbance Restricted
Some RestrictionsWildlife Rescue Permits
Salt Lake City does not issue wildlife rehabilitation permits; residents who find injured wildlife must contact a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources licensed rehabilitator, since possession of native wildlife without a state permit is unlawful under Utah Code 23A.
Wildlife Rehab Requires State Permit, Not City
Some RestrictionsLooking for Salt Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salt Lake City city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Salt Lake County →