Animal Ordinances in Southaven, MS (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Southaven, Mississippi, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Southaven, no one can keep fowl or livestock in an area zoned other than agricultural within two hundred fifty (250) feet of any building used as a residence, and animals kept farther away must sit in a secure fence or cage system. Hogs and pigs are barred except as the zoning ordinance permits.
Southaven Rules for Keeping Fowl and Livestock
Significant RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 3-9
(a)Keeping animals near residences prohibited: exemption for dog and cats. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any fowl or any livestock animals (except as allowed by other specific provisions of this section), in any area zoned other than agricultural, within two hundred fifty (250) feet of any building within the corporate limits of the city used as a residence regardless ...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Southaven, Mississippi, owners cannot let any animal run at large. Away from home, a dog is under restraint only when held on a leash or lead of less than six feet in the presence of the owner or a responsible party. At home it must be fenced in or tethered on the owner's property.
Southaven MS Dog Leash and Running at Large Rules
Some RestrictionsSouthaven Code §§ 3-1, 3-17
Restraint means: 1) the condition of securing (in the presence of the owner or a responsible party) any legal animal by a leash or lead of less than six (6) feet for the purpose of controlling the animal when it is not on the property where its owner resides; 2) the condition of containing any legal animal (that can be contained) within the fenced real property limits of the property where its ...
Breed Restrictions
In the City of Southaven, Section 3-14 requires a vicious dog to be confined in a secure, locked pen or indoors, leashed and muzzled off the premises, and marked with a Beware of Dog sign. A dog that seriously injures a person or kills a domestic animal requires $100,000.00 in liability insurance.
Southaven Vicious Dog Rules and Owner Duties
Significant RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 3-14
(a)A vicious dog shall be securely confined indoors or confined in a securely enclosed and childproofed locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person owning or harboring the same. Such pen or structure must have secure sides and a secure top. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded in the ground no less than two (2) feet. ... (d)All owner...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Southaven, Section 3-13 bars keeping any wild animal for display or exhibition on a premises or in a roadside zoo or pet store, whether free or for a fee. Zoological parks, petting zoos, performing-animal exhibitions and circuses are excepted, and the animal control supervisor can seize violating animals.
Southaven Wild Animal Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 3-13
(a)For display or exhibition. No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises, or in any roadside zoo or pet store, any wild animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This subsection shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, petting zoos, performing-animal exhibitions or circuses.(b)Enforcement. The supervisor of animal control shall ...
Pet Limits
In the City of Southaven, no one can have more than five (5) dogs and/or cats over the age of three (3) months in any combination in an area zoned other than agricultural. Agricultural zones allow ten (10). Other mobile pets are capped at three (3), and birds and fish are excluded.
Southaven Limit on Dogs and Cats per Property
Some RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 3-9(c)
(c)Number restricted. It shall be unlawful for any person to have in their possession or on their property more than five (5) dogs and/or cats in any combination that exceeds a total of five (5) such animals over the age of three (3) months in any area zoned other than agricultural.(1)In areas zoned agricultural, it shall be unlawful for any person to have in their possession or on their proper...
Cat Rules
In the City of Southaven, Mississippi, every cat three months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies and must wear a metal tag stamped with the vaccination serial number and year, worn at all times. Sec. 3-16 sets fines of $25, $50 and $75 for a first, second and third offense, enforced by the division of animal control.
Southaven MS Cat Rabies Vaccination and Tag Rules
Some RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 3-16
(a)Required. Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat three (3) months of age or older within the city shall have that animal vaccinated against rabies with the approved dosage of an approved antirabic virus (vaccine) properly administered by a person legally authorized to do so; it shall be unlawful for any person to own or have in his possession any dog or cat...
Pet Store Rules
In the City of Southaven, Mississippi, every pet store is subject to inspection on demand by the supervisor of animal control. The inspection checks for sanitary and humane conditions, reasonable health and fresh, clean and wholesome food and water. Related sections bar wild animal displays in pet stores and roadside sales of household animals.
Southaven MS Pet Store Inspection and Animal Sale Rules
Light RestrictionsSouthaven Code §§ 3-1, 3-19
Pet store means any place of business which sells birds, fish, reptiles or mammals intended for use as pets; however, this shall not include commercial and hobby breeders. ... Pet stores shall be subject to inspection on demand by the supervisor of animal control. This inspection, among other things, shall examine the premises to determine if the animals are being kept under sanitary and humane...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Southaven, Mississippi, Chart 4 lists 'Pet grooming shop without open kennel' as a site plan review use in exactly four districts: C-1, C-3, C-4 and PUD. The office, business park and industrial columns are empty, and the residential chart carries no grooming row at all.
Pet Grooming Shop Zoning in Southaven, MS
Significant RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 13-12 (Chart 4)
C is conditional use, S is site plan review (site plans may be formal or administrative per city planner) ... Uses Permitted O RO C1 C3 C4 PBP M1 M2 PUD ... Pet grooming shop without open kennel S S S S
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Southaven, Mississippi, a veterinary clinic needs site plan review in C-1, C-3, C-4, M-1, M-2 and PUD, a conditional use in the RO office district, and site plan review in the A/ER district. No single-family or multifamily residential district lists it. Footnotes 9 and 35 bar open or outdoor kennels at the clinic.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Southaven, MS
Significant RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 13-12 (Charts 3 and 4)
Uses Permitted A/ER R-30 R-20 R-15 R-12 R-10 R-9 R-8 R-6 RM-8 PUD ... Veterinary clinic S 9 S 9 ... Uses Permitted O RO C1 C3 C4 PBP M1 M2 PUD ... Veterinary clinic C 35 S 35 S 35 S 35 S 35 S 35 S 35 ... (9)Veterinary clinics shall not have open kennels on site unless located in an agricultural district. ... (35)Veterinarian clinics must not have open or outdoor kennels.
Bird Protection
In the City of Southaven, Section 3-10 makes it unlawful to kill, wound, injure, shoot, trap, net or snare any birds of any kind within the corporate limits, and to destroy any bird's nest, eggs or nest contents. Two exceptions are printed: state health department testing and legal hunting of game fowl.
Southaven Ban on Harming Birds and Destroying Nests
Heavy RestrictionsSouthaven Code § 3-10
It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, wound or injure in any manner whatsoever or to shoot with a gun, pistol, arrow or other deadly weapon or to set traps or spread nets or snare with the intent to catch or capture any birds of any kind whatsoever, within the corporate limits of the city. It shall also be unlawful for any person to break, tear down or destroy any bird's nest or the eggs...