Animal Ordinances in St. Peters, MO (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for St. Peters, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of St. Peters, Missouri, backyard chickens require a Hen Permit under Section 205.070(E) of the Municipal Code: hens are allowed only on residential lots of one acre or more, roosters are banned outright, and no more than eight hens total are permitted per property. Larger livestock like horses and cattle need a farming operation or riding stable, a 50-foot shelter setback, and at least three acres for horses.
St. Peters Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Sections 205.070(E) and 205.120(E)
E. A person that has been issued a Hen Permit pursuant to Section 205.106 of this Code, and has no violations of this Chapter, shall be permitted to keep chickens (hens) in residential zoning districts on lots of one (1) acre or more in accordance with the regulations set forth in Section 405.280(F) and this Section. Roosters are not permitted in residential zoning districts. Roosters may not b...
Dog Leash Laws
St. Peters, Missouri requires every dog and other domesticated animal to be on a leash no longer than ten (10) feet whenever it's off its owner's property, under City Code Section 205.120. Owners must also keep their animals from becoming a public nuisance, and a dog picked up running loose owes a sixty dollar ($60.00) redemption fee.
St. Peters, MO Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.120; Section 205.180
Section 205.120. Restraint. ... A. Every owner or competent person shall prevent their animal(s) from being "at large." All domesticated animals, when such animal is off of their premises, shall be on a leash not to exceed ten (10) feet in length. ... B. No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his/her animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. "Public nuisance" ...
Breed Restrictions
St. Peters has no breed-specific dog ban. Municipal Code Section 205.010 defines a "dangerous animal" and "dangerous dog" entirely by conduct, such as biting without provocation or being kept for dog fighting, and Section 205.230 orders any such animal held for a ten-day rabies quarantine after it bites or scratches someone. Section 205.240 exempts animals that reacted to trespass, teasing or a crime in progress.
St. Peters Dangerous Animal Declaration
Significant RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Sections 205.010, 205.230 and 205.240
DANGEROUS ANIMAL Any animal with the following characteristics: 1. Any animal which has killed or critically injured a domestic animal, livestock or poultry, without provocation, while off the owner's property. 2. Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting. 3. Any animal which has bitten a human being, without provocation a...
Beekeeping
In the City of St. Peters, Missouri, beekeeping is allowed in residential zoning districts under Section 205.040 of the Municipal Code. Lots must be at least 10,000 square feet, and beekeepers may keep no more than three hives, screened behind a six-foot sight-proof fence with a water source within five feet, and set back at least 20 feet from the property line.
St. Peters Beekeeping Rules For Homes
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.040
A. Bees may be kept in a residentially zoned district under the following conditions: 1. A minimum lot size of ten thousand (10,000) square feet. 2. The maximum number of colonies shall be limited to three (3) hives. 3. The hive(s) location shall not be visible where possible, and behind a sight-proof fence, which is six (6) feet in height; a fresh water supply shall be located within five (5) ...
Exotic Pets
St. Peters, Missouri bans keeping a wild or exotic animal as a pet outright under City Code Section 205.030(B). A business may still keep wild or exotic animals for display, exhibition or sale, but only after registering with the Health Manager and paying an annual fee starting at one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the first animal.
St. Peters, MO Wild/Exotic Pet Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.030
Section 205.030. Keeping Of Wild Animals. ... ... A. No person or business shall keep any wild or exotic animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This Section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions or circuses. B. No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild or exotic animal as a pet. C. Registration. 1. ...
Wildlife Feeding
St. Peters, Missouri bans feeding wild waterfowl, including geese, anywhere in the city unless the Health Manager specially authorizes it first. City Code Section 205.020(J) also prohibits building artificial nesting sites for those birds without the same authorization, folding the rule into the Animal Control chapter's broader care-and-treatment standards.
St. Peters, MO Waterfowl Feeding Ban
Significant RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.020(J)
Section 205.020. Care And Treatment By Owners Or Custodians. ... ... J. No person shall feed or construct artificial nesting sites in the City of St. Peters for any wild waterfowl including geese except when specially authorized by the Manager.
Pet Limits
St. Peters, Missouri caps most homes at three pet units under City Code Section 205.070, counting each dog, cat, potbellied pig or unaltered rabbit as one unit and five small rodent-type animals as another. A Domestic Animal Avocation Permit can raise that cap to five units, and up to two additional fostered pets and a puppy or kitten litter under four months old don't count against the limit.
St. Peters, MO Pet Limit Per Home
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.070
Section 205.070. Number Of Animals Allowed Per Residence. ... ... A. No residential structure or lot shall house or contain more than three (3) pet units as hereinafter defined. A dog, cat, potbellied pig, or unaltered rabbit shall constitute one (1) pet unit. Five (5) chinchillas, altered rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice or other rodent-related mammals over the age of three (3) months, or ...
Cat Rules
St. Peters, Missouri's Animal Control chapter defines a feral cat and a feral cat program and then carves feral cats out of its habitual at-large enforcement. Under City Code Sections 205.010 and 205.125, an owned cat caught running loose three times can be declared habitually at large and put up for adoption, but that declaration never applies to a cat known to be feral.
St. Peters, MO Feral Cat At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.010; Section 205.125
FERAL CAT A domestic cat born in the wild or that has reverted back to a wild state and is not tame or socialized. FERAL CAT PROGRAM Any program adopted as provided for in the Ordinances of St. Charles County, Section 205.225, or approved by the Division Director that provides spay/neuter services education for and related to only feral and community cats. ... Section 205.125. Declaration Of An...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
St. Peters does not require every pet owner to sterilize an animal, but Municipal Code Section 205.170 mandates sterilization for any dog, cat or other domestic animal released for adoption or purchased from a shelter or animal control agency, and Section 205.250 forces an owner to have an animal spayed or neutered within thirty days of a dangerous-animal declaration.
St. Peters Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Sections 205.170 and 205.250
A. If the release of an impounded animal does not impair the safety of the public, the animal may be returned to the owner or put up for public adoption, subject to adoption fee which includes the cost of microchipping and any other fees and regulations pertaining to said adoptions. Provisions shall be made for the sterilization of all dogs, cats or other domestic animal released for adoption o...
Microchipping
St. Peters requires any animal caught running at large, involved in a bite, or held in the pound to be photographed and microchipped before release under Municipal Code Section 205.151. The owner pays the chip fee under Section 205.185, and Section 205.165 blocks release of an impounded stray without proof of both a rabies vaccination and a microchip.
St. Peters Mandatory Dog Microchipping
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Sections 205.151 and 205.165
A. Any animal which is apprehended running at large or who has bitten a human being or animal shall be photographed and microchipped by the Manager, impounding official or designee, as soon as is reasonably practicable after a bite or running at large incident or if the animal is impounded, prior to its release. B. The cost of such microchip shall be charged to the owner as a fee pursuant to Se...
Pet Store Rules
St. Peters, Missouri lets pet shops operate and sell dogs, cats and other small animals as long as they hold a commercial animal establishment license under City Code Section 205.100. The annual license costs seventy-five dollars ($75.00), runs January 1 through December 31, and requires a criminal background check plus City Clerk review of the applicant's good moral character.
St. Peters, MO Pet Shop Licensing
Light RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.100
PET SHOP Any commercial establishment where dogs, cats or other small animals are bought, sold, or exchanged. ... Section 205.100. Commercial Animal Establishment. ... ... A. Any person(s) conducting any of the following activities shall be defined as a commercial animal establishment and shall be required to obtain a commercial animal establishment business license as set forth on the fee sche...
Pet Groomer Rules
A pet grooming shop in St. Peters, Missouri needs a commercial animal establishment license under City Code Section 205.100, the same license kennels and pet shops carry. The annual fee is seventy-five dollars ($75.00), the license runs January 1 through December 31, and the applicant must pass a criminal background check before the City will issue it.
St. Peters, MO Pet Grooming Shop License
Light RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 205.100
GROOMING SHOP OR PARLOR Any establishment or place where animals are bathed and/or groomed for a fee. ... Section 205.100. Commercial Animal Establishment. ... A. Any person(s) conducting any of the following activities shall be defined as a commercial animal establishment and shall be required to obtain a commercial animal establishment business license as set forth on the fee schedule at Sect...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of St. Peters, Missouri, a veterinary office is a permitted use only in the "C-1" Neighborhood Commercial District, listed under Municipal Code Section 405.190(B)(7). Animal grooming without overnight boarding is permitted separately at Section 405.190(B)(5), but the veterinary-office use itself expressly excludes animal kennels.
Veterinary Offices in St. Peters Zoning
Some RestrictionsSt. Peters Municipal Code Section 405.190(B)(5), (B)(7)
B. Uses Permitted. Only the following buildings, structures and uses of parcels and lots are permitted; all others are expressly prohibited: ... ... 5. Animal grooming not including overnight boarding or care. ... ... 7. Veterinary office, not including animal kennels.
Looking for St. Charles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement St. Peters city rules.
Animal Ordinances in St. Charles County →