Animal Ordinances in Yuma, AZ (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Yuma, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Yuma limits backyard chicken and rodent keeping to six birds on a half-acre lot or less, bans keeping poultry in front yards, caps coops at 200 square feet, and prohibits male poultry loud enough to disturb neighbors. Ratites and most swine are banned outright citywide.
Yuma Backyard Poultry Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-075
(A) A resident of a single-family detached residence on a lot that is on-half acre or less may keep up to six fowl or rodents in the backyard or side yard subject to the provisions of this chapter. (B) An additional one-half acre shall be required for each additional 20 head of poultry or for each additional 20 head of rodents or for each additional 20 head comprising a combination of poultry a...
Dog Leash Laws
Yuma prohibits letting any animal run at-large. A dog avoids that classification only if it is on a leash, chain, rope or cord strong enough to control it, confined in a suitable enclosure, or covered by a specific carve-out like obedience training, hunting or a posted dog park.
Yuma Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-003
(A) No person owning, keeping, possessing, harboring or maintaining an animal shall allow the animal to be at-large. (B) A dog is not deemed to be at-large: (1) If the dog is restrained by a leash, chain, rope or cord of sufficient strength to control the action of the dog, or if confined, in a suitable enclosure. (2) While the dog is actively engaged in dog obedience training, accompan...
Exotic Pets
Yuma requires anyone keeping a poisonous reptile or a dangerous, carnivorous wild animal to register it with the Chief of Police first. The Chief can impose conditions on how the animal must be caged or penned to keep it from escaping, and skipping registration is a misdemeanor under the city's general animal penalty.
Yuma Wild Animal Registration Rule
Significant RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-057
No person shall keep or maintain any poisonous reptiles or dangerous, carnivorous wild animals without first having registered such animals or reptiles with the Chief of Police, who may prescribe regulations to insure the safe penning or caging of such animals or reptiles.
Pet Limits
Yuma treats keeping any animal on a lot under 10,000 square feet as a nuisance unless the household falls under one of two exceptions: six or fewer small pets like dogs and cats, or an animal use that is separately zoned for commercial purposes.
Yuma Household Pet Number Limit
Some RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-058(A)-(B)
(A) Generally. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is hereby declared to be a nuisance and it shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animal within the city on any lot or parcel of land consisting of less than 10,000 square feet in area. (B) Exceptions. The provisions of division (A) shall not apply to the keeping of: (1) Six or fewer small household pets including, but not li...
Cat Rules
Releasing a cat into Yuma is unlawful unless it goes through the city's registered Trap-Neuter-Release program. TNR organizations need a city permit, a business license and city enforcement agent registration, and cats they capture must get proper care before release.
Yuma Feral Cat TNR Program Rules
Significant RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-092
Any organization conducting a program for the reduction of feral cats through TNR programs within the city may do so with their own funding and personnel under the following conditions: (A) The organization shall be registered with the city enforcement agent; (B) The organization shall possess a valid city TNR permit obtained through the city enforcement agent and a valid City of Yuma business ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Yuma's pound and animal shelters cannot adopt out a dog or cat until it has been surgically spayed or neutered. The mandate covers every shelter adoption citywide but does not require owners who already have a pet to alter it.
Yuma Shelter Spay/Neuter Mandate
Some RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-085(A)-(B)
(A) A dog or cat shall not be released for adoption from a pound or from an animal shelter unless the dog or cat has been first surgically spayed or neutered. (B) At the expiration of the impoundment period, any person may claim an impounded animal provided such person pays all applicable costs, charges and fees and complies with the licensing and vaccination provisions of this chapter.
Microchipping
Yuma does not require pets to be microchipped, but City Code lets cat owners skip the mandatory collar and license tag if the cat carries a veterinarian-implanted microchip instead. Dogs get no such option: every dog three months or older must wear a collar with the license tag attached at all times outside the home.
Yuma Microchip Exemption for Cats
Light RestrictionsYuma City Code § 130-025
Every owner shall provide each dog or cat with a collar or a harness to which the license tag furnished must be affixed and shall ensure that the collar or harness and tag are constantly worn except when a dog or cat is inside a residential dwelling. Cats may be exempted from this provision provided the cat is implanted with a microchip by a veterinarian, or a person working under the supervisi...
Pet Store Rules
Yuma does not ban pet stores from selling dogs or cats. The city's animal-sale ordinance targets curbside, sidewalk and unlicensed sales, and expressly excludes retail sales made on the premises of a pet store that holds a proper city business license.
Yuma Pet Store Retail Sales Rule
Light RestrictionsYuma City Code §§ 130-040, 130-041
A person commits the unlawful sale of animals by knowingly selling or posting a sign for the sale of an animal on: (A) Any public right-of-way, street or park, or any public property adjacent to a right-of-way, street or park. (B) Any non-residential private property without the express written consent of the owner or lessee of the property and without a proper City of Yuma business license...
Pet Groomer Rules
Yuma's home occupation rules exclude non-mobile veterinary offices and animal grooming services from residential zoning districts outright. City Code § 154-15.08(C)(6) lists 'veterinary office or animal grooming services; which are not mobile' as a use that can never qualify as a home occupation.
Yuma Bars Home-Based Pet Grooming
Heavy RestrictionsYuma City Code § 154-15.08(C)(6)
(C) Uses not permitted. The following types of uses shall not be permitted as home occupations in all residential zoning districts: ... (6) Veterinary office or animal grooming services; which are not mobile;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Opening a veterinary clinic or animal hospital on agriculturally zoned land in Yuma requires a conditional use permit, not a simple business license. City Code § 154-05.01(D)(1) lists "animal husbandry services, including veterinarian, animal hospital, kennels and poultry hatchery services" as a conditional use in the Agriculture (AG) District, subject to Planning Commission site plan approval.
Yuma Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsYuma City Code § 154-05.01(D)(1)
(D) Conditional uses. Any of the following uses may be established or operated as a conditional use upon application and submittal of a site plan to and approval thereof by the Planning Commission in accordance with § 154-03.05(G)(2): (1) Animal husbandry services, including veterinarian, animal hospital, kennels and poultry hatchery services;