Animal Ordinances in Warren, MI (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Warren, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Warren permits up to four hens per lot in one- or two-family homes, but bans roosters and all other fowl outright. Keepers need a building permit for a code-compliant henhouse and pen plus an annual hen license from the city clerk under §§ 7-112 and 7-113, and the pen must sit at least 10 feet from neighboring property.
Backyard Chickens in Warren, MI
Some RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances § 7-113
(1)The owner must keep no more than four (4) hens, and no roosters, male chickens, or any other type of fowl.(2)The property on which the hens will be kept must have a use, as defined in the ordinance, of one-family or two-family dwelling.(3)No hen may be slaughtered at the property.(4)All hens must be kept in the henhouse or pen at all times, in sanitary condition and a state of good health, a...
Dog Leash Laws
Warren dogs must stay confined on the owner's property unless under reasonable control, in a designated off-leash dog park area, in a closed vehicle or crate, or on private property with the owner's permission. Running at large is a misdemeanor with penalties that escalate up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Warren Dog Leash and Running-at-Large Law
Some RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-77
It shall be unlawful for any dog not to be confined upon the premises of its owner or custodian at all times except when the dog is otherwise under the reasonable control of the owner or custodian, is within a portion of a publicly owned and operated dog park that is designated for dogs without leashes, is confined in a closed automobile or dog crate, or has the express permission of the owner ...
Breed Restrictions
Warren classifies dogs as 'potentially dangerous' or 'dangerous' based on bite severity and aggression rather than breed. A dog found dangerous by the 37th District Court is banned outright and euthanized, while a potentially dangerous dog may stay only under strict fencing, insurance, and microchip conditions in §§ 7-90 to 7-94.
Dangerous Dog Rules in Warren, MI
Heavy RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances § 7-94
Impoundment and euthanization. A dangerous dog is not permitted within the City of Warren. It shall be immediately impounded and shall be euthanized not less than ten (10) calendar days after a determination is upheld by the 37 th District Court pursuant to section 7-92(c) and all appeal rights have been exhausted. Alternatively, the court may permit the owner and/or keeper of the dog to reloca...
Exotic Pets
Warren bans owning, possessing, breeding, buying, selling or harboring any dangerous or exotic animal. Only organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums are exempt, so private residents cannot legally keep exotic species as pets anywhere in the city.
Warren Dangerous and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-79
No person shall own, possess, breed, exchange, buy, sell or harbor any dangerous or exotic animals. Exceptions. Exotic animals shall be permitted to organizations and/or entities that are accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AZA).
Wildlife Feeding
Warren makes it unlawful to feed wild animals anywhere in the city, including raccoons, rodents, geese and pigeons, and bans all ground feeding outright. Bird or squirrel feeding is allowed only from elevated, rodent-proof feeders, capped at two birdfeeders per household.
Warren Ban on Feeding Wild Animals
Significant RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-81
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to feed any wild animal in any area in the city. Wild animals shall include all raccoons, skunks, rodents, rabbits, crows, including without limitation, pigeons, doves, and seagulls, mice, fowl, waterfowl, gophers, groundhogs, moles, opossums, squirrels, and every other wild animal.(b)All ground feeding is prohibited. The scattering of food or food scraps ...
Pet Limits
Warren caps most households at five total animals, with no more than three cats over six months old and no more than three dogs over six months old within that total. Licensed kennels, vet clinics, shelters and pet shops are exempt, and violators get 30 days to remove excess animals.
Warren Household Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-75
(a)With the exception of chickens, a person shall not possess more than a total of five (5) animals on his/her premises.(b)In addition to the limits described in subsection (a) above, a person shall not possess more than three (3) cats over the age of six (6) months.(c)In addition to the limits described in subsection (a) above, a person shall not possess more than three (3) dogs over the age o...
Cat Rules
Warren requires cats over four months old to be confined or under control at all times, caps households at three adult cats, and endorses trap-neuter-return as its official policy for managing community cat colonies, with detailed feeding and shelter rules for registered caregivers.
Warren Cat At-Large, Limit and TNR Rules
Some RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-99, Sec. 7-101, Sec. 7-105
Sec. 7-99: It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to have possession or custody of any cat without having it under control and/or confined to his or her premises at all times... Sec. 7-101: It shall be unlawful for any owner or tenant to possess, harbor, shelter or keep more than three (3) adult cats, at any residential dwelling unit or commercial or industrial premises, excepting kenn...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Warren does not require spay/neuter for pets generally, but a dog judicially found potentially dangerous must be spayed or neutered, if over 12 weeks old, before it can be returned to its owner. This sits among several conditions in the city's potentially-dangerous-dog registration process.
Warren Spay/Neuter Rule for Dangerous Dogs
Significant RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-93(a)(7)
(7)The potentially dangerous dog, if over twelve (12) weeks old, has been spayed or neutered.
Microchipping
Warren has no general microchip requirement for pets, but a dog found potentially dangerous by the court must be implanted with a microchip carrying its classification and owner details before it can be returned home, and the owner must keep that information current with the city clerk.
Warren Microchip Rule for Dangerous Dogs
Significant RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-93(a)(3)
(3)A potentially dangerous dog shall have a microchip implanted by a licensed veterinarian. The microchip shall contain the name and approximate age of the dog, its classification as potentially dangerous, and the name, address, and telephone number of the registered owner.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In Warren's C-2 General Business District, Section 14.01(c) of the zoning ordinance lists veterinary clinics and dog kennels as a permitted use only when every part of the operation sits inside a building. There is no separate ordinance for outdoor boarding, exercise yards or open-air pens: the enclosure requirement is written directly into the use itself, not layered on as a conditional standard.
Warren Requires Vet Clinics, Kennels Enclosed
Some RestrictionsCity of Warren Zoning Ordinance § 14.01(c)
(c)Veterinary clinic and dog kennels, when all are enclosed within a building.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Warren bans confining wild animals like raccoons, opossums, and deer anywhere in the city, but carves out an exception for anyone holding a valid state DNR possession permit to give an injured or abandoned wild animal temporary, noncommercial shelter or treatment until it can be released, under § 7-80.
Wildlife Rehab Permits in Warren, MI
Significant RestrictionsWarren, MI Code of Ordinances § 7-80
Wild animals are not allowed to be confined on any premises in any zoning district. Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to: (1)Wild animals shall be permitted to organizations and/or entities that are accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AZA).(2)Pursuant to a possession permit issued by the state department of natural resources as defi...
Looking for Macomb County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Warren city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Macomb County →