Animal Ordinances in Ada County, ID (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Ada County, Idaho.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
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 Dog Leash and Running-at-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsAda 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.
Breed Restrictions
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.
Does Ada County Have Breed-Specific Dog Bans?
Some RestrictionsAda 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...
Exotic Pets
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.
Exotic and Wild Animals Banned in Ada County
Some RestrictionsAda 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.
Wildlife Feeding
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
Feeding Wildlife and Stray Animals in Ada County
Some RestrictionsAda 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.
Pet 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.
Animal Neglect and Hoarding in Ada County
Some RestrictionsAda 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.
Cat Rules
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.
Cat Rules in Ada County: Roaming and Spay/Neuter
Some RestrictionsAda 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.
Microchipping
Ada County does not microchip every dog. Chipping only becomes mandatory once an Animal Control Officer formally designates a dog Dangerous or At-Risk under Code section 5-7-19: at that point the owner must implant a microchip and report the number to the Animal Control Agency as one of several court-enforceable keeping conditions.
Microchipping Rules for Dangerous Dogs in Ada County
Some RestrictionsAda County Code § 5-7-19(D)(2), (E)(2)
D. Keeping Dangerous Dogs: The owner of a dog designated as Dangerous, or a new adoptive owner of a dog designated as Dangerous prior to being adopted, shall be subject to the following restrictions for the keeping of such dog within the boundaries of Ada County: 1. The dog shall be licensed pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. 2. The owner shall be required to have a microchip implanted...
Pet Groomer Rules
In unincorporated Ada County, pet grooming is regulated as an accessory use tied to a licensed commercial kennel, not as a stand-alone shop. County Code 8-4-36(B)(4)(b) caps a grooming facility at 35% of the kennel building's floor area, layered on top of the kennel's own setback, attendant and fencing standards.
Pet Grooming Rules in Unincorporated Ada County
Some RestrictionsAda County Code 8-4-36(B)(4)(b)
8-4-36: KENNEL, COMMERCIAL: A. Generally: The owner and/or operator shall comply with all County and state regulations relative to the operation of the commercial kennel. B. Outside Runs: 1. Separation: A three-hundred-foot (300') separation shall be maintained between the area and structures where animals are housed and any property line. 2. Operational Standards: ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Ada County's zoning Use Table treats veterinary clinics and animal hospitals as a conditional use in the county's rural and residential districts, requiring Board or Hearings Examiner approval, but as a principal permitted use outright in the Neighborhood Commercial, Community Commercial and Light Industrial districts under Title 8, Table 8-2-23-2.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Ada County
Some RestrictionsAda County Code § 8-2-23, Table 8-2-23-2 (Use Table); § 8-10-2 (Defined Terms)
VETERINARY SERVICES: Any structure that is designed or used for the medical or surgical treatment of animals in which veterinary services, including boarding incidental to treatment, are limited to short term care. ... P Principal permitted use ... shall be reviewed in accord with the applicable use standards in Chapter 4 ... C Conditional Use ... a use requires conditional use review and appro...
Bird Protection
On the Boise River and surrounding Ada County parks and waterways property, it is unlawful to hunt, harm, or molest any animal, or to collect the nest or eggs of any wild bird or reptile, without written authorization from the Parks and Waterways Director. Violators face a $100 infraction fine.
Ada County Bans Taking Wild Bird Nests
Significant RestrictionsAda County Code 2-2-9(B), (J)
B. Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, annoy, shoot, or throw objects at any animal. Nor shall any person collect any nests or eggs from any wild bird or reptile unless authorized by the Director. Ada County Parks and Waterways Department staff, representatives of Idaho State Fish and Game, and/or Ada County Animal Control, may, in the performance of their duties, and with...
Animal Ordinances by City in Ada County
1 cities in Ada County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Ada County ordinances
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