Animal Ordinances in Sedona, AZ (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Sedona, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Sedona allows up to six hens, no roosters, and two beehives per lot as a permitted accessory use under Land Development Code § 3.4.D(2), with coop, setback, and neighbor-notice standards. Larger farm animals need a full acre and are capped at three animals on the first acre plus one per additional half-acre under § 3.4.D(1).
Sedona Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsSedona Land Development Code § 3.4.D(1)-(2)
The keeping or raising of chickens or bees shall be allowed as an accessory use subject to City permitting requirements. ... It is unlawful to keep chickens and/or bees without a permit pursuant to City Code. ... The maximum number of chickens permitted is six. ii. Roosters shall be prohibited. ... The coop size shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall provide at least four square feet of spa...
Dog Leash Laws
All dogs in Sedona "shall be kept under restraint" under SCC § 6.05.040(A), meaning on a leash under a handler's control, or confined to the owner's property or vehicle. Unrestrained dogs are "animals at large," subject to impoundment or a $25.00 violation notice due within 96 hours.
Sedona Dog Restraint and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsSedona City Code §§ 6.05.040, 6.05.020, 6.05.030(G)
All dogs shall be kept under restraint. ... “Restraint” means secured by a leash or lead under the control of a responsible person and obedient to that person’s commands, or within the real property limits or the vehicle of its owner, or when actively engaged in a kennel club or event, or being trained, or races approved by the Arizona Racing Commission or an obedience class, or when used for c...
Breed Restrictions
Sedona regulates dangerous animals by behavior, not breed. SCC § 6.05.020 defines a "vicious animal" as one that attacks, bites, or injures without provocation or has a "known propensity" to do so, and § 6.05.040(D) requires the licensing authority to order confinement and muzzling once that determination is made.
Sedona Vicious-Dog Rules, No Breed Bans
Light RestrictionsSedona City Code §§ 6.05.020, 6.05.040(D)
“Vicious animal” means any animal that attacks, bites or injures human beings or other animals without adequate provocation, or which, because of temperament, conditioning or training has a known propensity to attack, bite or injure human beings or other animals. ... Every vicious animal, as determined by the licensing authority, shall be confined by the owner within a building or secure enclos...
Beekeeping
Sedona allows backyard beekeeping as an accessory use but caps every lot at two hives, requires a five-foot setback from side and rear lines, and mandates a six-foot flyway barrier so bees fly above head height before crossing a property line. A permit and a 15-day mailed neighbor notice are required before hives go in.
Sedona Backyard Beekeeping Standards
Significant RestrictionsSedona Land Development Code § 3.4.D(2)(d)
No more than two hives shall be allowed on a lot. ... Hives shall be located in the area behind the primary structure and in the front of the rear lot line and set back from the side and rear property lines a minimum of five feet. ... A flyway barrier made of common building materials or natural vegetation shall be provided to adjust the flight path of honey bees causing them to fly above where...
Exotic Pets
SCC § 6.05.080 makes it unlawful to keep or harbor any wild animal within Sedona city limits "except as provided by state law," an outright ban on private wild-animal ownership. A separate chapter, 6.20, bans public display or performance of wild or exotic animals without a USDA or state wildlife license.
Sedona Ban on Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsSedona City Code §§ 6.05.080, 6.20.030, 6.20.060
No wild animal shall be kept or harbored within the city limits except as provided by state law. ... Subject to the exceptions provided in SCC 6.20.040, no person may display or sponsor a display or allow the performance of any wild or exotic animal within the Sedona city limits. ... If there is a violation of this chapter and the person has previously been issued a warning, the new violation i...
Wildlife Feeding
SCC § 6.15.020 makes it unlawful to "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feed wildlife or to attract wildlife" anywhere within Sedona, covering bears, javelina, deer, elk, coyotes, bobcats, skunks, foxes, and mountain lions. Penalties escalate from a written warning to fines up to $500.00 and eventually a class 3 misdemeanor.
Sedona's Ban on Feeding Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsSedona City Code §§ 6.15.020, 6.15.080
It is unlawful for any person to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feed wildlife or to attract wildlife. ... If there is a violation of this chapter and the person has previously been issued a warning within 90 days from the date a warning was issued, the new violation is a civil offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $150.00, plus any other penalties, assessments or surcharges authori...
Pet Limits
Sedona sets no blanket household pet cap, but SCC § 6.05.020 legally reclassifies any premises keeping five or more dogs as a "kennel." A fifth dog moves a home from ordinary pet-keeping into a regulated kennel use, while cats carry no numeric limit at all under the chapter.
Sedona's Dog Limit Before Kennel Rules Apply
Some RestrictionsSedona City Code §§ 6.05.020, 6.05.030
“Kennel” means any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire or selling animals, and in addition means an enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals, in which a person keeps, harbors or maintains five or more dogs under controlled conditions. ... Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog over three ...
Cat Rules
Sedona's animal-control chapter treats cats differently from dogs: SCC § 6.05.030 requires a license only for dogs, so cats never need a city tag. Cats still count as "animals at large" under § 6.05.020 and can be impounded under § 6.05.050. Feeding a stray cat for four straight days legally makes the feeder its owner, responsible for nuisance and restraint violations.
Sedona Cat Ownership and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsSedona City Code §§ 6.05.020, 6.05.050
“Owner” means any person, partnership or corporation owning, keeping or harboring one or more animals or any person acting for the owner. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for four consecutive days or more. ... “Animal at large” means any animal not under the restraint of a person capable of controlling the animal or off the premises of the owner, excluding bees...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary hospitals and clinics are permitted by right in Sedona's M2, M3, CO and IN districts, and allowed with a conditional use permit in M1. Every clinic must meet the same enclosed-building and 150-foot outdoor-kennel setback standards as a commercial kennel, and the CO district caps kennel or boarding space at half the building.
Sedona Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSedona Land Development Code § 3.3.C(3)
(1) Kennel, Commercial a. Enclosed Building Requirement The parts of a building where animals are boarded shall be fully enclosed, with solid core doors and no operable windows, and shall be sufficiently insulated so no unreasonable noise or odor can be detected off premises. b. Kennels with Outdoor Facilities Outdoor facilities, including outdoor runs, shall not be located with...
Bird Protection
It's unlawful to harass, capture or throw objects at wildlife in Sedona's parks, trails and open spaces, and disturbing or moving a bird's nest or its eggs is banned outright under SCC 12.30.181, with a narrow exception for permitted wildlife rescue work.
Sedona Park Wildlife & Bird Protection
Some RestrictionsSedona City Code § 12.30.181
A. It is unlawful to harass, chase, harm, capture, or to shoot or throw an object at any animal. This does not apply to the chasing or capture of domestic animals such as dogs or cats to bring them under appropriate control of the owner, caretaker, or animal control officers. B. It is unlawful to disturb or move birds’ nests or eggs. C. This section shall not apply to persons performing wildlif...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Feeding birds or animals at Sedona's wastewater wetlands is unlawful unless the public works director or city manager has given written permission for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, education or wetlands management under SCC 12.30.182.
Sedona Wildlife Rescue Feeding Permission
Light RestrictionsSedona City Code § 12.30.182
It is unlawful to feed any birds or animals in the wastewater wetlands, except as follows: A. It is permissible to feed birds or animals with written permission from the city manager or his/her designee or public works director for purposes of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, education or management of the wetlands.
Looking for Yavapai County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sedona city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Yavapai County →