Animal Ordinances in Tucson, AZ (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Tucson, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Tucson bars horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats and other large animals from running loose or grazing in the city, and keeps corrals and barns at least 20 feet from any dwelling. Backyard pigs are banned except up to three registered miniature pigs under 23 inches tall.
Tucson Livestock and Farm Animal Rules
Some RestrictionsTucson Code §§ 4-21, 4-26, 4-27
Sec. 4-21. Running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having the control and custody of any horse, colt, mule, donkey, burro, ox, bull, cow, calf, hog, pig, sheep, goat or other large or dangerous animals to permit the same to run at large within the city. ... Sec. 4-26(1). Except as otherwise provided in this Code and in subsection (b) below, it shall be unlawful...
Dog Leash Laws
Tucson requires dogs on public streets, sidewalks, alleys or parks to be on a leash, chain, rope or cord no more than six feet long. Dogs must also be confined on private property, tie-outs are specifically prohibited, and violators face escalating fines up to $750.
Tucson Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsTucson Code § 4-97
Sec. 4-97(1). It shall be unlawful for any dog owned, possessed, harbored, kept or maintained to be upon public streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks or other public property unless such dog is restrained by means of a leash, chain, rope, cord or similar device not more than six (6) feet in length, and of sufficient strength to control the action of such dog... Sec. 4-97(2). It shall be unlawful fo...
Breed Restrictions
Tucson has no breed ban or breed-specific list. Section 4-13(a) defines a dangerous animal purely by behavior, prior vicious/destructive findings or a documented tendency to bite, attack or threaten, so a dog can't be restricted for its breed alone.
Tucson Dangerous Dog Rules Are Breed-Neutral
Significant RestrictionsTucson Code § 4-13(a)
(a) Definition. A dangerous animal is one that: (1) Has been declared to be vicious or destructive pursuant to section 4-7 or 4-11; or (2) Displays or has a tendency, disposition or propensity, as determined by the city enforcement agent, to: a. Injure, bite, attack, chase or charge, or attempt to injure, bite, attack, chase or charge a person or domestic animal in a threatening manner; or b. B...
Beekeeping
Tucson Code § 11-3 caps backyard beekeeping density at one hive, stand, or box per 2,500 square feet of lot area in most zoning districts (excluding SR and UR lots), requires a five-foot flight barrier extending 30 feet beyond any hive kept within 30 feet of a property line, and mandates fresh water on-site for the bees.
Tucson Apiary Density and Barrier Rules
Some RestrictionsTucson Code § 11-3, § 11-3(1)
An apiary is defined as one (1) or more hives, stands, boxes or other structures, natural or otherwise, containing bees. ... (a) The density of apiaries in any zoning district except property zoned "SR" or "UR" ... shall not exceed one (1) hive, stand, box or other structure, natural or otherwise, containing bees for each twenty-five hundred (2500) square feet of lot area. (b) If bees are kept ...
Exotic Pets
Tucson doesn't ban wild animals outright, but Section 4-25 makes it a misdemeanor to keep any naturally dangerous or vicious wild animal unless it's confined in a cage or enclosure adequate to prevent escape and block access by unauthorized people.
Tucson Wild Animal Confinement Rule
Significant RestrictionsTucson Code § 4-25 (definition at § 4-9(d))
Sec. 4-25. Keeping wild animals. It shall be unlawful for any person having charge, care of or control of any wild animal, by nature dangerous or vicious, to keep, bring, maintain or exhibit such animal within the city, unless the animal be confined in a cage or enclosure adequate to prevent its escape and prevent any access to it by any non-authorized person. Any person keeping, bringing, main...
Pet Limits
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...
Cat Rules
Tucson allows healthy, free-roaming cats picked up by the city to be released back to where they were found through a community cat program instead of being adopted out or destroyed, as long as they're first sterilized, rabies-vaccinated and ear-tipped.
Tucson Community Cat Program Rules
Light RestrictionsTucson Code § 4-12(a)(3), (c)
(a)(3)... Transferred animals shall be placed by adoption in a suitable home after first being sterilized; humanely destroyed; or released as part of a community cat program. ... (c) For the purposes of this section, a "community cat program" means a program in which healthy, free-roaming cats are humanely trapped or otherwise humanely captured, sterilized, vaccinated against rabies, ear-tipped...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Tucson doesn't require every pet to be fixed, but once a magistrate finds an animal vicious or destructive under Section 4-7, the court can order it spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense as a condition of keeping the animal.
Tucson Court-Ordered Spay/Neuter for Vicious Dogs
Significant RestrictionsTucson Code § 4-7(3)(a) (cross-referencing § 4-13(e))
Sec. 4-7(3). Penalty... In addition, unless the animal has been previously forfeited or destroyed, upon a finding of guilt, a magistrate or special magistrate shall declare an animal vicious or destructive and shall order one (1) or more of the following: (a) That the animal shall be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense and that the owner of the animal shall comp...
Microchipping
Tucson doesn't microchip pets citywide, but once the city enforcement agent formally declares an animal dangerous, Section 4-13(e) forces the owner to pay for the animal to be tattooed and microchipped, with the agent keeping a permanent identification registry.
Tucson Mandatory Microchip for Dangerous Dogs
Significant RestrictionsTucson Code § 4-13(e)(5)
(5) Pay the reasonable cost to the city enforcement agent to tattoo and microchip the animal with an identification number. The city enforcement agent shall maintain a registry of such numbers and the owners of the animals.
Coyote Management
Tucson doesn't run a coyote cull or hazing program, but its Unified Development Code does regulate one predator-attraction risk directly: anyone keeping backyard chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or miniature goats must keep feed and water secured so it doesn't draw coyotes, bobcats, and javelinas onto the property.
Tucson Must Secure Animal Feed From Coyotes
Light RestrictionsTucson UDC Sec. 6.6.5.E.6
5. The maximum permitted height of an animal shelter is 12 feet. 6. Food, water, and other items that may attract coyotes, bobcats, javelinas and other predators must be kept in a secure location.
Pet Store Rules
Tucson doesn't ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats outright, but it bans sourcing them from unlicensed or repeat-violation USDA breeders. Stores may still sell animals obtained from a public pound, a nonprofit humane society, or any pound/humane society adoption event.
Tucson Pet Stores: No Puppy/Kitten Mill Sourcing
Significant RestrictionsTucson City Code Sec. 7-505
A pet store or pet dealer may not obtain a dog or cat for resale or sell or offer for sale any dog or cat obtained from a person who is required to be licensed by the pet dealer regulations of the United States department of agriculture under the animal welfare act (7 United States Code §§ 2131 through 2159) if any of the following applies: The person is not currently licensed... Notwithstandin...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Tucson zones veterinary clinics under the Animal Service use, and most locations only allow outpatient care: overnight boarding is capped at five animals and long-term boarding is banned outright unless a specific setback and enclosure package is met.
Tucson Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsTucson UDC § 4.9.4.D
D. Animal Service 1. Overnight confinement for clinic treatment is permitted for a maximum of five animals. 2. Boarding of animals is prohibited. 3. The activity shall be within a completely enclosed building. 4. An outpatient clinic is permitted for small animals only. 5. The minimum perimeter yard for buildings, shelters, animal runs, and fenced areas from a property line adjacent to a reside...
Looking for Pima County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tucson city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Pima County →