Animal Ordinances in Tucson, AZ (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Tucson, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Tucson allows up to 24 hens per residential lot without a rooster under Tucson City Code Chapter 4, provided coops are set back at least 20 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent lot. Roosters, peacocks, and guinea fowl are generally prohibited in residential zones due to noise.
Animals: Chickens Livestock
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Pima County Code Title 6 requires all dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet when off the owner's property, except in designated off-leash dog parks. Tucson enforces the county leash law within city limits and issues citations through Pima Animal Care.
Animals: Dog Leash Laws
Heavy RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Arizona Revised Statutes 9-500.31 prohibits cities and counties from enacting breed-specific legislation, so Tucson has no banned or restricted dog breeds. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and similar breeds are legal to own without special permits or insurance.
Animals: Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Tucson allows residential beekeeping under the Urban Agriculture ordinance with a limit of 2 hives per lot under 10,000 square feet and up to 4 hives on larger lots. Hives must be set back at least 10 feet from property lines and have a 6-foot flyway barrier toward neighbor-facing sides.
Animals: Beekeeping
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
ARS §17-306 (AZGFD) prohibits certain exotic species. Tucson Code Chapter 4, Article II restricts large/dangerous animals in the city. Permits may be required for restricted species.
Tucson Exotic Pet & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Pima County Code and Arizona Game and Fish regulations prohibit intentionally feeding wildlife such as coyotes, javelina, bobcats, deer, bears, and skunks. Feeding most native Sonoran Desert wildlife is a civil violation with fines up to 300 dollars per incident, while feeding bears and big cats can trigger state criminal charges.
Animals: Wildlife Feeding
Heavy RestrictionsLivestock
Tucson zoning allows limited livestock in suburban ranch zones SR and specified residential zones with minimum lot sizes. Horses require at least 36,000 square feet in Tucson zones that permit them, with one horse per 36,000 square feet of useable pasture. Cattle, swine, and sheep are generally limited to unincorporated Pima County.
Animals: Livestock
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Animal hoarding in Tucson is treated as both a welfare issue under Pima County Title 6 and a potential cruelty case under Arizona Revised Statutes §13-2910. PACC and Tucson Police coordinate seizures and refer prosecution to the county attorney.
Animal Hoarding Investigated by PACC and TPD
Heavy RestrictionsA.R.S. § 13-2910 — Cruelty to animals
13-2910. Cruelty to animals; interference with working or service animal; release conditions; classification; definitions. A. A person commits cruelty to animals if the person does any of the following: 1. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjects any animal under the person's custody or control to cruel neglect or abandonment. 2. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly fails to provide me...
Pet Limits
Tucson Code Chapter 4 caps the number of dogs and cats per household before a kennel-class permit and zoning review become required. Higher counts must clear setback and noise standards under the Unified Development Code.
Tucson Pet Limits and Kennel Permit Threshold
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Tucson does not require cat licensing or leash use, and cats may roam under Pima County rules. PACC handles trap-neuter-return for community cats and accepts owner-surrender or stray cats at its main shelter.
Tucson Cat Rules: License Optional, At-Large Allowed
Few RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Pima Animal Care Center (PACC), which serves Tucson under contract, requires all dogs and cats to be sterilized before release for adoption. Pima County Code Title 6 reinforces this default for shelter animals citywide.
Spay/Neuter Required Before Adoption from PACC
Some RestrictionsMicrochipping
Pima County, which licenses dogs for Tucson, requires every licensed dog to be implanted with a microchip and registered to the owner. The chip number is tied to the rabies certificate and the county license record.
Dogs Licensed in Pima County Must Be Microchipped
Some RestrictionsCoyote Management
Tucson sits in active Sonoran Desert coyote habitat. City code prohibits feeding wildlife, and Arizona Game and Fish Department handles aggressive-coyote calls. Residents are expected to haze, not feed, and to secure pets and trash.
Coyote Encounters: Don't Feed, Report Aggression
Some RestrictionsLooking for Pima County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tucson city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Pima County →