Animal Ordinances in Washington, DC (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Washington, District of Columbia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Washington, D.C. does not allow chickens, ducks, goats, or other livestock to be kept as household pets. D.C. Code § 8-1808(h)(1) bars possessing any animal as a household pet except a short exempted list: dogs, cats, domesticated rodents and rabbits, common cage birds, nonpoisonous snakes, fish, turtles, and permitted racing pigeons, so poultry and farm animals fall outside that exception.
D.C. Ban on Keeping Chickens as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1808(h)(1)
Except as provided in this subsection, no person shall import into the District, possess, display, offer for sale, trade, barter, exchange, or adoption, or give as a household pet any living member of the animal kingdom including those born or raised in captivity, except the following: domestic dogs (excluding hybrids with wolves, coyotes, or jackals), domestic cats (excluding hybrids with ocel...
Dog Leash Laws
DC requires all dogs to be on a leash in public areas under DC Code 8-1808, with designated off-leash dog parks as the exception. All dogs over 4 months must be licensed annually with proof of rabies and distemper vaccination under DC Code 8-1804.
Washington DC Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsDC Code § 8-1808 (Prohibited conduct)
(a)(1) An owner or custodian shall not allow his or her animal to go at large. (2) If a dog injures a person while at large, lack of knowledge of the dog's vicious propensity standing alone shall not absolve the owner from a finding of negligence. (b) A person shall not knowingly and falsely deny ownership or custodianship of an animal. (c)(1) An owner or custodian shall not leave his or her an...
Breed Restrictions
Washington DC has no breed-specific legislation. DC Code Chapter 19 (8-1901 et seq.) uses a behavior-based approach to dangerous dogs, focusing on individual animal conduct rather than breed. No breeds are banned or subject to special requirements.
Washington DC Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsDC Code § 8-1901 (Definitions, Dangerous Dogs)
For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1)(A) "Dangerous dog" means any dog that without provocation: (i) Causes a serious injury to a person or domestic animal; or (ii) Engages in behavior described in paragraph (4)(A)(i) of this section subsequent to having been determined to be a potentially dangerous dog pursuant to § 8-1902. (B) The term "dangerous dog" shall not include dogs used by ...
Beekeeping
Washington, D.C. requires every honeybee colony to be registered annually with the Department of Energy and Environment under D.C. Code § 8-1825.04(a). A beekeeper needs the property owner's written permission before hiving a colony in a multi-unit building, must prevent overcrowding and swarming, and is on the hook for remediating bee swarms and nuisance conditions under § 8-1825.04(c)-(e).
D.C. Beekeeping Registration Rules
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1825.04(a)-(e)
(a) A colony kept in the District shall be registered annually with the Department. (b) No person shall bring into the District a colony or portion of a colony, bees on combs, empty used combs, used hives, or other used apiary appliances without complying with the procedures established by the Department in accordance with this subchapter. (c) A colony may not be established in a multi-unit bui...
Exotic Pets
DC regulates exotic pet ownership under DC Code 8-1801 through 8-1814 and the DC Health Department. Certain wild and dangerous animals are prohibited. The Animal Care and Control Omnibus Amendment Act of 2022 requires pet stores to sell only shelter or rescue animals.
Washington DC Exotic Pet Regulations
Some RestrictionsDC Code § 8-1808(j) (Prohibited conduct)
(j)(1) Except as provided in this subsection, a person shall not import into the District, possess, display, offer for sale, trade, barter, exchange, or adoption, or give as a household pet, any living member of the animal kingdom, including those born or raised in captivity, except the following: (A) Domestic dogs, excluding hybrids with wolves, coyotes, or jackals; (B) Domestic cats, excludin...
Pet Limits
In Washington, D.C., anyone who owns or keeps 7 or more mammals larger than a guinea pig and over 4 months old must obtain an animal hobby permit from the Mayor, applied for annually or within 10 days of hitting the threshold.
Washington DC Animal Hobby Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1809(a)
No person shall own or keep 7 or more mammals, larger than a guinea pig and over the age of 4 months, without obtaining an animal hobby permit: Except, that this section shall not apply to a licensed pet shop, licensed veterinary hospital, circus or traveling exhibition.
Cat Rules
In Washington, D.C., the Animal Care and Control Agency, run under contract with a licensed humane organization per D.C. Code § 8-1802(a), must promote trap-spay-or-neuter-and-return practices to control the feral cat population and prioritize adopting out any tamable trapped kitten over euthanasia, under § 8-1802(c). Cats over 4 months must also be vaccinated against rabies under § 8-1803(a).
D.C. Feral Cat TNR and Vaccination Rules
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1802(a), (c)
The Mayor may contract, either by negotiation or competitive bid, with a District of Columbia humane organization to serve as the Animal Care and Control Agency. The Mayor may delegate all or part of his authority under this subchapter, including the issuance of notices of violations, to the Animal Care and Control Agency; provided, that only a sworn member of the Metropolitan Police Department...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
The District bars the Mayor from releasing any animal for adoption unless it's sterilized: females must be spayed by 6 months and males neutered by 10 months, with the adopter covering the cost.
Washington DC Shelter Adoption Spay-Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1807(b)(1), (b)(3)
The Mayor shall not release a female animal over the age of 6 months for adoption unless: (A) The animal has been spayed; and (B) The person adopting the animal has paid the expense of spaying... The Mayor shall not release a male animal over the age of 10 months for adoption unless: (A) The animal has been neutered; and (B) The person adopting the animal has paid the expense of neutering.
Microchipping
Washington, D.C. does not require microchips for ordinary pets, but a dog ruled potentially dangerous must be implanted with one before the Mayor issues its registration certificate.
Washington DC Dangerous Dog Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1904(a)(7)
The Mayor shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a potentially dangerous dog if the owner establishes to the satisfaction of the Mayor that: ... (7) The potentially dangerous dog has been implanted with a microchip containing owner identification information; and (8) The owner has written permission of the property owner...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet groomers and similar pet care businesses in Washington, D.C. must hold a basic business license with an Inspected Sales and Services endorsement before opening, under D.C. Code § 8-1821.02(a). The Mayor sets care and management standards by rule, and § 8-1821.02(b) defines a covered 'commercial pet care facility' as any operation offering boarding, feeding, exercise, training, bathing, or grooming.
D.C. Commercial Pet Care Facility License
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-1821.02(a), (b)
No person shall operate a commercial pet care facility without first obtaining a basic business license with an Inspected Sales and Services license endorsement pursuant to Title 47. The Mayor shall issue rules to establish the standards for the care and management of animals in a commercial pet care facility. ... For the purposes of this section, the term "commercial pet care facility" means a...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the District's Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU/NC) zones, a veterinary practice is a matter-of-right use only if it meets specific siting standards under 11 DCMR § 6001.4(g). No more than 50% of the office's gross floor area can go to boarding animals, the office cannot abut a residential use or zone, and it cannot have any external yard or outdoor animal-keeping area.
Washington DC Veterinary Office Zoning Rule
Some Restrictions11 DCMR § 6001.4(g)(1)(A)-(E)
(g) In all NC zones, animal care as a matter-of-right designated use shall be limited to: (1) An establishment used by a licensed veterinarian for the practice of veterinary medicine subject to the following: (A) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (B) The veterinary office shall be located and designed to ...
Bird Protection
In Washington, D.C., wildlife control operators are prohibited from using any toxicant to kill pigeons, European starlings, or house sparrows; the Department of Energy and Environment can also restrict poison use against other wildlife species when gentler control methods work as well.
Washington DC Bird Toxicant Poisoning Ban
Heavy RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-2206(a)
The use of any toxicant to control pigeons, European starlings, or house sparrows shall be prohibited. The Department may limit the use of toxicants on other species of wildlife where it is determined that the wildlife can be reasonably controlled using less harmful methods.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
In Washington, D.C., anyone who runs a business trapping, removing, or relocating nuisance wildlife must hold a wildlife control operator license from the Department of Energy and Environment, which denies licenses over public-safety risks or animal cruelty convictions.
Washington DC Wildlife Control Operator License
Significant RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-2204(a), (c)
(a) The Department shall implement a licensing program for wildlife control operators. After the program is implemented, a wildlife control operator shall not engage in the business of providing wildlife control services unless the person is licensed to do so under this chapter. ... (c) The Director shall deny a license if the applicant has been convicted of an offense involving wildlife or cru...