Animal Ordinances in Southfield, MI (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Southfield, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
The City of Southfield allows up to twelve backyard chickens per property with a city permit, a capped coop size and no roosters, under Code § 9.76(2), while goats and swine are banned outright under § 9.75 except for one licensed pot-bellied pig kept as an indoor pet.
Southfield's Backyard Chicken & Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsSouthfield City Code §§ 9.75, 9.76(2)
A.Except as otherwise specifically provided in section B hereof, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep live goats or swine on any premises within the city except in slaughterhouses or yards adjacent thereto. ... (2)Backyard fowl. Backyard fowl, in addition to the general standards above, the keeping of backyard fowl shall also meet these standards:a.No roosters or other fowl that are typi...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Southfield, owners must keep dogs and cats under reasonable control at all times: either confined to their own property or attached to a leash a person is continuously holding and able to restrain. Southfield City Code § 9.82 makes a first violation a civil infraction, but any repeat within two years becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.
Southfield Requires Leashed or Confined Pets
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 9.82
An owner, or other person having possession, care, custody or control of any dog or cat within the household, shall keep such animal(s) under reasonable control or confined to his or her property. For purposes of this section, reasonable control means that the animal is attached to a leash that is continuously held by a person who is reasonably able to and does restrain and prohibit the animal ...
Breed Restrictions
The City of Southfield has no breed-specific dog ban. Instead, Code § 9.70 makes it unlawful to harbor a dog the city has determined is fierce, vicious or otherwise dangerous, based on behavior such as biting, attacking or being trained for animal fighting, not on breed. Violators face a misdemeanor charge.
Southfield's Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Heavy RestrictionsSouthfield City Code §§ 9.63, 9.70
Fierce or vicious animal means:(a)Is owned, possessed, harbored or trained for the purpose of animal fighting.(b)Has killed a person or caused a person serious bodily injury, including, but not limited to, injuries resulting in hospital confinement or reconstructive surgery and/or has killed or maimed another animal. ... (1)It shall be unlawful to harbor or keep any of the following:(a)A fierce...
Beekeeping
The City of Southfield allows beekeeping under Code § 9.76(3), but hives must sit outside the front yard and at least ten feet from side and rear lot lines, and beekeepers must provide an on-site water source so bees don't crowd neighboring water supplies.
Southfield's Backyard Beekeeping Standards
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 9.76(3)
e.It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animal within a front yard or within ten (10) feet of any side or rear lot line, this applies to both structures and enclosures. ... (3)Beekeeping. Beekeeping, in addition to the general standards above the keeping of bees shall also meet these standards:a.Compliance with the general standards above is required except where specifically modified...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Southfield, it's a misdemeanor under Code § 9.70 to harbor or keep any exotic, wild or otherwise dangerous animal, a category § 9.63 defines to include alligators, apes, bears, big cats, wolves, venomous species and dozens of other named animals not native to Michigan.
Southfield's Exotic & Dangerous Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSouthfield City Code §§ 9.63, 9.70
(b)Any wild or exotic animal which is naturally tame or gentle but is of a wild nature of disposition and which, because of its size, vicious nature or other characteristic would constitute a danger to persons or property. ... Dangerous or exotic animals include, but are not limited to, any poisonous animals, reptiles, or insects; alligators; apes, chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, orangutans and...
Wildlife Feeding
In the City of Southfield, it is unlawful to place food low enough or in a form that deer can reasonably be expected to eat, including grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts and hay left on the ground or less than five feet up. Southfield City Code § 9.90 requires the city to issue a written warning before any citation, but repeat violators face the Chapter 113 penalty schedule.
Southfield Bans Feeding Deer Citywide
Significant RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 9.90
(2)Acts prohibited. No person may place or permit to be placed on the ground, or less than five (5) feet above the ground surface any grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible materials which may reasonably be expected to result in deer feeding, unless such items are screened or protected in a manner that prevents deer from feeding on them. Living fruit trees and o...
Pet Limits
In the City of Southfield, no one may own, harbor, possess, or keep more than three dogs or six cats over six months old on a single premises. The cap applies per address, not per owner, so roommates and multi-family households cannot combine separate allowances. Southfield City Code § 9.81 exempts licensed kennels and cats already licensed before the section's effective date.
Southfield Caps Dogs at Three, Cats at Six
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 9.81
1.It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, possess, or keep more than three (3) dogs or six (6) cats, six (6) months old or older, upon a person's premises. For purposes of this section, where more than one (1) owner or person shall reside at any one (1) address or premises, it shall be unlawful for such owners or persons to have more than three (3) dogs or six (6) cats at any such address or premi...
Cat Rules
In the City of Southfield, every cat over six months old needs a valid city license, worn on a breakaway collar, under Code §§ 9.74 and 9.83. No address may keep more than six licensed cats over six months old, per § 9.81, and cats must not be left to stray.
Southfield's Cat Licensing & Limit Rules
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code §§ 9.74, 9.81, 9.83
It shall be unlawful to own or harbor a dog or cat more than six (6) months of age and fail to affix a valid license to a substantial collar, except with regard to cats, a breakaway collar shall be permissible, which shall at all times be kept on the dog or cat for which the license is issued. ... 1.It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, possess, or keep more than three (3) dogs or six (6) cats, ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Southfield, Sec. 5.103(13) allows veterinary clinics and hospitals as a permitted use in the Office-Service (O-S) District, provided every activity happens inside a totally and permanently enclosed building. The neighboring Education-Research-Office districts take the opposite approach: Sec. 5.112(1) expressly prohibits veterinary clinics there alongside funeral homes.
Southfield Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code §§ 5.103, 5.112
(13)Veterinary clinics and hospitals provided all activities are conducted within a totally and permanently enclosed building. ... (1)All uses permitted and uses permitted subject to special approval in article 9, O-S District, and meeting the requirements as set forth in said district with the exception of funeral homes and veterinary clinics which shall be expressly prohibited from this distr...
Bird Protection
In the City of Southfield, molesting, injuring, killing or capturing any wild bird, or disturbing its nest, is a misdemeanor under Code § 9.65, unless another law specifically permits it. Southfield Police and the animal control officer enforce this Chapter 113 ban, and a conviction can carry up to ninety days in jail and a $500 fine.
Southfield's Wild Bird Protection Rule
Heavy RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 9.65
Whoever molests, injures, kills or captures any wild bird, or disturbs the nest of any wild bird, unless otherwise permitted by law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imprisoned for not more than ninety (90) days or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by both.
Looking for Oakland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Southfield city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Oakland County →