Animal Ordinances in Warwick, RI (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Warwick, Rhode Island, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Warwick allows keeping livestock and other animals only with a zoning board special use permit in every district from Open Space through General Industrial, and only if the keeper owns and occupies the property, which must total at least five contiguous acres; the three City Centre Warwick districts ban it outright.
Warwick Backyard Livestock: 5-Acre Minimum
Significant RestrictionsWarwick Zoning Ordinance, Table 1, Item 204 & Footnote (5)
S The use is allowed by special use permit only if approved by the zoning board of review in accordance with subsection 906 of this ordinance. ... 204. Raising and keeping of animals and livestock S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) S (5) No No No ... (5) Provided that raising and keeping of animals and livestock is by an owner-occupant of the property which shall consist of a...
Dog Leash Laws
Warwick requires every dog owner to keep their dog under restraint at all times and bars dogs from running at large off the owner's property. Dogs found at large are impounded by the animal control officer under Sec. 4-8 and Sec. 4-42 of the city code.
Warwick Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-8
The owner shall keep his/her dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off the premises or property of the owner, unless under the control of a competent person.
Breed Restrictions
Warwick regulates dogs by behavior, not breed: Sec. 4-50 lets the city declare an unprovoked-aggressive dog a violation risk, issue citations, and impound it, while Sec. 4-12 makes owners of dogs designated vicious by the city's vicious dog panel follow every restriction the panel imposes.
Warwick Dangerous/Aggressive Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-50(a)
Whenever it shall be affirmed in writing by any two persons having separate residence or regularly employed in the neighborhood or if the animal control office or a police officer determine that any dog is being aggressive without provocation by its actions such as biting or attacking a human or any animal or in an aggressive or terrorizing manner approaches a person or animal in an apparent di...
Exotic Pets
Warwick bars keeping any wild animal within city limits unless the animal control officer sets conditions allowing it, with a carve-out for circuses, zoos and schools using exhibition animals. Escaped wild animals found at large may be destroyed by the officer or police.
Warwick Wild Animal Keeping Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-13(a)
No wild animal may be kept within the city limits, except under such conditions as shall be fixed by the animal control officer; provided, however, that wild animals may be kept for exhibition purposes by circuses, zoos, and educational institutions, in accordance with such regulations as shall be established by the animal control officer. Any wild animal which escapes and is found at large may...
Wildlife Feeding
Warwick bans feeding coyotes outright and restricts feeding squirrels and songbirds to elevated feeders within 100 feet of an occupied home. Leaving out food, pet food, or birdseed that attracts wild animals near an occupied dwelling is also prohibited, with fines up to $500.00 for repeat violations.
Warwick Wildlife Feeding Restrictions
Some RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-13(b)-(c)
The feeding of wild coyotes within city limits is prohibited and punishable utilizing provisions of section 1-4 in the Code of Ordinances. ... [N]o person shall cause or allow to be left or stored outside of an occupied dwelling any refuse, garbage, food product, pet food, forage product or supplement, salt, seed or birdseed, fruit, grain in a manner that would constitute an attractant to any w...
Pet Limits
Warwick caps ownership at three dogs and three cats over 12 weeks old per lot, with all commonly owned lots treated as one parcel. A permit from the board of public safety can authorize more after a hearing with abutter notice.
Warwick Household Pet Limit: 3 Dogs, 3 Cats
Some RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-11(a)
No owner, lessee or occupant shall keep or permit to be kept more than three dogs over 12 weeks in age on any lot or parcel of land. For purposes of this section, multiple lots in common ownership are deemed to be a single parcel of land.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Warwick bars owning or harboring an unaltered cat over six months old unless the owner holds a $100-per-year unaltered-cat or breeding license from the animal shelter director. Dogs and cats adopted from a licensed releasing agency must also be spayed or neutered under Sec. 4-113.
Warwick Mandatory Cat Spay/Neuter Law
Significant RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-117(a)
No person shall own or harbor within the city any cat over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered, unless such person holds a license to keep an unaltered cat, or a license for breeding cats issued by the director of the animal shelter of the City of Warwick.
Pet Store Rules
Warwick bans pet stores and other commercial businesses from selling, displaying, or giving away live dogs or cats. Stores may still host shelter, humane society, or rescue animals on-site for public adoption, with fines up to $500.00 per offense for violators.
Warwick Retail Dog and Cat Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWarwick, RI Code of Ordinances § 4-22(b)
It is unlawful for any person to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, or sell any live dog or cat in any pet store, retail business or other commercial establishment located in the city.