10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Ada County, Idaho.
Verified from official government sources
Ada County's animal-control chapter does not set chicken or livestock limits. Whether you can keep hens, roosters, or farm animals depends on your parcel's zoning under Title 8 (Ada County Zoning), which is permissive on agricultural and rural-residential land in unincorporated areas.
In unincorporated Ada County it is an infraction to let a dog run at large. "At large" means off the owner's premises and not restrained by a leash, cord, or chain not exceeding 6 feet. Loose dogs may be impounded.
Ada County Code 5-7-8(A)-(B)
Dogs running at large: Notwithstanding the following subsections, it shall be an infraction for any owner to allow a dog(s) to run At Large, as defined above. Impoundment: The Animal Control Agency may impound any dog found running-at-large and there is no owner present, subject to redemption in the manner as provided for in this chapter.
Ada County does not ban any dog breed. Instead of breed labels, county code regulates individual dogs by behavior, designating a dog "at-risk" or "dangerous" after a bite or attack and imposing insurance, muzzle, enclosure, and signage rules on that specific dog.
Ada County Code 5-7-2 (Definitions)
DANGEROUS DOG: Means any dog that: A. Without justified provocation has inflicted serious injury on a person; B. Has been previously be found to be at-risk and thereafter bites or physically harms a person without justified provocation; ... AT-RISK DOG: Means any dog that: A. Without justified provocation bites a person without causing a traumatic injury...
Ada County's animal-control chapter does not regulate honeybees; hive placement is a zoning matter under Title 8. Statewide, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture requires apiary registration for beekeepers with more than 50 colonies, with hobbyist registration encouraged.
Ada County Code 5-7-4 makes it unlawful to keep a long list of exotic and wild animals - including big cats, wild canids, primates, bears, venomous snakes, crocodilians, and marine mammals. Only domesticated cats and dogs and a few named small pets are allowed.
Ada County Code 5-7-4(A)
Prohibited Animals: It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, keep, maintain or possess within the County any of the following animals: ... All members of the family Felidae (cat family), except domesticated cats. All members of the family Canidae (dog family), except domesticated dogs. All nonhuman primates.
Ada County's animal chapter does not set a blanket wildlife-feeding ban, but harboring or feeding an animal for 24 hours makes you its "owner," and you may not take a stray animal into your possession without notifying Animal Control at once. Feeding big-game wildlife is regulated by Idaho Fish and
Ada County Code 5-7-9
It shall be unlawful for any person to take into their possession a stray animal without notifying the Animal Control Agency at once. The animal shall be released to the Animal Control Agency or an Animal Control Officer upon demand by that agency's representative without charge.
Ada County's animal-control chapter does not regulate keeping livestock; horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs are a zoning question under Title 8. On agricultural and rural-residential land in unincorporated Ada County, livestock is generally allowed by right subject to setbacks and nuisance limits.
Ada County sets minimum standards of care and lets Animal Control act against neglect and hoarding. Beyond the four-animal household cap, a "habitual violator" with three convictions in twelve months can be ordered to remove the animals, and neglect is a misdemeanor.
Ada County Code 5-7-19(A)
In addition to any legal remedy available under the provisions of this chapter, the Animal Control Agency may notify and direct, in writing, an owner who is guilty of three (3) convictions of a violation of this chapter in any twelve-month period to abate and remove the animal(s) causing the violations from the County within five (5) calendar days from the date of the notice.
A single Ada County residence is limited to a combined total of four (4) dogs and cats at one time, unless the resident holds a noncommercial or commercial kennel license. A service or therapy animal allows one additional animal over the limit.
Ada County Code 5-7-6(A)
A single residence is limited to a combination of both dogs and cats not exceeding four (4) total animals, on the premises at one (1) time; unless a person residing at the residence obtains a valid noncommercial kennel license, or commercial kennel license, that permits a greater number of dogs or cats.
Ada County counts cats toward the four-animal household limit and requires rabies vaccination. An unaltered cat allowed outdoors off its owner's control is deemed a nuisance and may be seized, spayed or neutered, and returned by Animal Control.
Ada County Code 5-7-14(E)
Nuisance Feral Cat Prevention: Any cat not spayed or neutered that is permitted to be out of doors not under the direct control of its owner is deemed a nuisance. The Animal Control Agency may seize any cat at large and may spay or neuter such animal.
1 cities in Ada County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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