Animal Ordinances in St. George, UT (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for St. George, Utah, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
St. George permits homeowners in every single-family zone to keep up to six adult hens as an accessory use, scaled to lot size, but the zoning table lists no allowance for roosters in those zones.
St. George Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 10-7B-1
Urban hens and rabbits – Up to 6 adult hens and 4 adult rabbits per 1,000 sf of lot area – No more than 16 animals per lot, up to 10 rabbits. ... Urban hen/rabbit coop, pen or cage – Up to 8' tall and 200 sf – Allowed only in rear yard, at least 20' from lot line (unless solid perimeter fence); required effective manure management.
Dog Leash Laws
St. George bans letting any dog run at large citywide, and the city code defines a leashed dog as one on a leash, cord, or chain, or confined in a vehicle whenever off the owner's property.
St. George: Dogs Must Be Leashed, No Running At Large
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code §§ 5-2-1, 5-2-7(B)
AT LARGE: Any domesticated animal off the premises of the owner or custodian of the animal, and not under immediate control of the owner or custodian. In the case of a dog, immediate control shall mean on a leash, cord, chain or confined within a vehicle. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal, other than domestic cats, to allow such animals at any time to run at large.
Beekeeping
St. George caps residential apiaries at two hives per 12,000 square feet, eight hives maximum, with setback, water, and flyaway-barrier rules under city code section 10-17A-4.
St. George Beekeeping and Apiary Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 10-17A-4
Property owners in zones in which apiaries are allowed uses may maintain two (2) hives, or equivalent capacity, per twelve thousand (12,000) square feet of property. In no case shall the total number of hives located on a property exceed eight (8) hives, or equivalent capacity. ... Hives shall not be located within five hundred feet (500') of a public or private school property.
Exotic Pets
St. George bans selling, buying, bartering, giving away, or keeping any non-domesticated wild animal or endangered species as a pet, with narrow exceptions for licensed institutions.
St. George Wild Animal Ownership Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 5-2-9
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale barter, give away, keep or purchase any wild animal which is not domesticated, or an animal belonging to an endangered species, except for the animal shelter, a zoological park, veterinary hospital, circus, sideshow, amusement show, or facility for education or scientific purposes if protective devices adequate to prevent such animal f...
Pet Limits
St. George caps most households at two dogs, with a narrow exception allowing up to four dogs on acre-plus lots or lots adjoining open space or agricultural zones.
St. George Dog Limit: Two Per Home
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 5-2-4(A)(6)
No person or person at any one dwelling unit, as defined in the zoning ordinance of the city, shall at any one time own or license more than two (2) dogs in any combination, except as otherwise provided herein. Sole exception shall be where the person occupies a dwelling unit with exclusive location on an acre or more of land, or where the dwelling unit adjoins an open space or agricultural zon...
Cat Rules
St. George's at-large ordinance exempts domestic cats entirely: only dogs and other animals must be confined or leashed. Cats need no city license, but rabies vaccination is still required starting at four months old.
St. George Lets Cats Roam Free, No License
Light RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 5-2-7B
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal, other than domestic cats, to allow such animals at any time to run at large. The owner or person charged with responsibility for an animal found running at large shall be strictly liable for a violation of this subsection regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape of the animal and regardless of whether or not he know...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
St. George's animal shelter cannot transfer a cat or dog for adoption unless it is sterilized or the recipient signs a sterilization agreement and pays a deposit, and owners redeeming an animal on its second impound in 12 months must prove sterilization or post a deposit.
St. George Shelter Pet Sterilization Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 5-2-11
The animal shelter may not transfer an animal that has not been sterilized, except as provided below. ... Recipient signs the animal shelter's written agreement which states that the animal is not sterilized and the recipient agrees to be responsible for ensuring the animal is sterilized: Within thirty (30) days after the agreement is signed, if the animal is six (6) months of age or older...
Pet Groomer Rules
St. George requires anyone operating a pet-grooming business, called a "groomery" in the code, to obtain a regulatory permit from the division of animal control before opening.
Pet Groomer Permits in St. George
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 5-2-5
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain a kennel, cattery, pet shop, groomery, riding stable, veterinary clinic or hospital, or any similar establishment, unless such person first obtains a regulatory permit from the division of animal control, in addition to all other required licenses. All applications for permits to operate such establishments shall be submitted, together ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
St. George limits animal hospitals and veterinary clinics to commercial, manufacturing, and planned development zones: allowed outright in M-1 and M-C, but only with added standards in C-2 and C-3, and capped at 150 animals in enclosed buildings within PD-C.
St. George Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Some RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 10-8D-1
Animal hospital and veterinarian clinic including care for dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, and small animals only; provided conducted completely within enclosed building with up to 150 animals and limited outdoor activities to be approved with the PD-C site plan.
Bird Protection
St. George City Code flatly bans taking or killing any bird, or robbing or destroying any bird's nest, eggs, or young, anywhere within city limits, with no listed exceptions for nuisance species.
St. George Bird and Nest Protection Law
Significant RestrictionsSt. George City Code § 5-2-7(J)(3)
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or kill any birds, or to rob or destroy any nest, eggs or young of any bird. K. Sale Of Animals: It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any baby rabbits or fowl under two (2) months of age in any quantity less than six (6). Such animals shall not be artificially dyed or colored. It shall be unlawful for any p...
Looking for Washington County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement St. George city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Washington County →