Animal Ordinances in Wichita, KS (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Wichita, Kansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Wichita requires an Animal Maintenance Permit to keep livestock like horses, cattle, sheep, or goats, and caps density at one animal per acre of unbuilt land.
Wichita Backyard Livestock Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.157
No person shall own, keep or harbor upon any premises or property, or in any dwelling of any type within the city:1.Livestock;...unless such person has a current Animal Maintenance Permit or variance issued by the Chief of Police or designee authorizing the maintenance of such animals...Not more than one head of livestock shall be kept for each one acre of contiguous unbuilt land area, provided...
Dog Leash Laws
Wichita bans dogs and other non-cat animals from running at large citywide, requiring a lead, cord, rope, chain, or secure fenced enclosure at all times.
Wichita Dogs Running at Large Ban
Some RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.040
Any owner, keeper or harborer of any animal, other than cats, found running at large within the corporate limits of the city shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Knowledge or intention on the part of the owner, keeper or harborer shall not be elements of this offense. An Animal Services Officer may seize, impound and cause to be destroyed any such animal, including those animals not within ...
Breed Restrictions
Wichita caps Pit Bull ownership at two adult dogs per premises, requires microchipping for every Pit Bull, and bans unaltered adult Pit Bulls unless the owner holds a dog-breeder license or a narrow pre-2009 exemption.
Wichita Pit Bull Ownership Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.052
All adult pit bulls within the City of Wichita are required to have an identification microchip implanted in the dog traceable to the current owner and registered with the City of Wichita.... It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor an adult unaltered Pit Bull, unless such person is licensed as a dog breeder pursuant to section 6.04.155. No licensed dog breeder shall own, keep...
Exotic Pets
Wichita bans keeping, harboring, or exhibiting dangerous wild animals like lions, wolves, and venomous reptiles, plus other exotic and wild animals, unless under direct USDA-licensed exhibition, transport, or veterinary care.
Wichita Ban on Dangerous Wild and Exotic Animals
Heavy RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.08.020
It is unlawful to exhibit, keep, maintain, control, harbor or possess dangerous wild animals, wild animals, or exotic animals within the corporate limits of the city except in accordance with the provisions of this section.(b)Dangerous wild animals, wild animals, and exotic animal are allowed within the city only under the following circumstances:1.During exhibitions when under the direct super...
Wildlife Feeding
Wichita makes it unlawful to feed a wild animal or bird anywhere in a city park where the Director of Park and Recreation has posted no-feeding signs, and separately bans hunting, tormenting or abusing any animal or bird on park property outright, sign or no sign. Sec. 9.03.350 covers every public park, recreation facility and other park property citywide; violators face the city's general penalty of up to $500 per day since Chapter 9.03 sets no fine of its own.
Wichita Wildlife Feeding Ban in City Parks
Some RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 9.03.350
(a)It is unlawful for any person to hunt, torment or abuse any animal or bird in any public parks, recreation facilities or other park property.(b)It is unlawful for any person to feed a wild animal or bird in any area in which such feeding has been prohibited by signs placed by the director.
Pet Limits
Wichita caps most properties at three dogs and three cats total, with separate limits on rabbits, fowl, and pigeons. Owners who want more must get an Animal Maintenance Permit from the Chief of Police.
Wichita Limits Households to 3 Dogs, 3 Cats
Some RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.157(a)
No person shall own, keep or harbor upon any premises or property, or in any dwelling of any type within the city: 1.Livestock;2.More than three dogs;3.More than three cats;4.More than two rabbits;5.More than three fowl; or6.More than three pigeons; unless such person has a current Animal Maintenance Permit or variance issued by the Chief of Police or designee authorizing the maintenance of suc...
Cat Rules
Wichita exempts cats from its running-at-large law, but abandoned or feral cats are declared a public nuisance that Animal Control can trap, and owned cats still need rabies shots and a 3-cat cap.
Wichita Feral Cat Trapping and Nuisance Rules
Some RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.025
(a)Abandoned cats located within the corporate limits of the city are declared a nuisance and menace to the public health which is to be abated by the Wichita Police Department.(b)A cat that has reverted to a feral state or has no collar is presumed to be an abandoned cat. Such cat may be confined by a person on whose property such cat strays for pick-up by the City of Wichita's Animal Control,...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Wichita forces owners of any unaltered dog impounded for running at large to have it surgically sterilized within 30 days of redemption, at their own expense, unless they pay an extra unaltered-animal fee to keep it intact.
Wichita Mandatory Spay/Neuter for At-Large Dogs
Significant RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.040(b)
the owner, keeper or harborer of any unaltered dog that has been impounded for running at-large shall be required to:(1)Have an identification microchip implanted in the dog traceable to the current owner, and registered with the City of Wichita; and(2)Have the dog surgically sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within thirty days of redemption of said dog, at his or her own expense. It shall ...
Microchipping
Every dog or cat over five months old in Wichita must be microchipped under Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.040(f)(15), unless a veterinarian has declared a chip dangerous or not in the animal's best interest. This is separate from the additional microchip duty imposed on any dog impounded at large, which carries its own $50 court fee under Sec. 6.04.190(a).
Wichita Dog and Cat Microchip Requirement
Heavy RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.040(f)(15)
(f)It is unlawful for any person to:...(15)Own, keep or harbor a dog or cat over the age of five months that has not been microchipped, unless a veterinarian has declared a microchip to be dangerous or not in the best interest of the animal.
Pet Store Rules
Wichita does not ban retail pet sales outright, but Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.156 confines animal sales to a licensed pet shop, a state-licensed animal shelter, or property licensed for breeding or sale in compliance with city zoning and licensing rules. Sec. 6.04.176 then imposes detailed care, recordkeeping and facility standards on any pet shop, breeder or kennel.
Wichita Pet Shop Sale and Care Rules
Some RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.156, Sec. 6.04.176
Sec. 6.04.156: It is unlawful for any person to offer any animal for sale, or to sell, exchange, barter or give away, or to accept any animal on any property not owned or rented by the seller or buyer unless the property is a pet shop, animal shelter licensed by the State of Kansas, or that property is licensed for the breeding or sale of animals and is in compliance with all City of Wichita zo...
Pet Groomer Rules
Wichita requires every groomer, pet shop, kennel, breeder, rescue or animal day care business to meet the facility standards in Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.176: two-year animal records, sanitary nontoxic caging, adequate ventilation and exercise space, clean water and food, and full compliance with the Unified Zoning Code. The Supervisor of Animal Control enforces the rule, and failing any requirement is a misdemeanor under Sec. 6.04.190.
Wichita Pet Groomer Facility Standards
Some RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.176; Sec. 6.04.190(a)
It shall be unlawful for any pet shop, rescue organization, animal foster care organization, commercial animal facility, groomer, breeder, kennel, stable or animal "day care" business to fail to:(a)Maintain and retain records for a two-year period on all animals maintained in such facility. Such records shall show breed, color, markings, sex and age; date received and source...date and disposit...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Wichita's zoning code treats veterinary clinics as a regulated commercial use. Limited animal care facilities in General Office and Limited Commercial districts must keep all animals indoors and cannot let noise or odors reach the property line.
Wichita Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsWichita-Sedgwick County Unified Zoning Code Sec. III-D.6.c
Animal Care, Limited, in GO and LC. Limited animal care facilities shall be subject to the following standards when located within the GO and LC districts.(1)Noise and odor. No noise or odors shall be discernible at the property line.(2)Animals. Treatment shall be limited to dogs, cats and other small animals.(3)Outdoor runs. All animals shall be harbored indoors.
Bird Protection
Wichita bans killing squirrels or songbirds citywide, with narrow exceptions for licensed wildlife-control work on nuisance or diseased animals.
Wichita Songbird Killing Ban
Significant RestrictionsWichita Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.040
It is unlawful for any person to: (1) Kill any squirrel or songbird within the corporate limits of the city, provided that it shall be permissible for Animal Services Officers or a person who has a wildlife control permit issued by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to kill squirrels, skunks, birds, or other animals that have become so numerous as to cause destruction or nuisa...
Looking for Sedgwick County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wichita city rules.
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