10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Adams County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens and livestock are allowed as farming/agricultural uses in Adams County's agricultural zone districts. The county's Animal Control Code excludes livestock from "pet animal," so numbers are set by zoning and lot size, not a pet cap.
In unincorporated Adams County, dogs must stay on the owner's property or under a person's control. A dog off-property and not under control is "running-at-large" and may be impounded by an Animal Management Officer.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 1-27 (Res. 2022-043)
"Running-at-large" means an animal that is not on the property of its owner or caretaker or is not under the control of a person.
Adams County does not ban any dog breed. Colorado state law bars counties from regulating dangerous dogs "in a manner specific to breed," so the county's rules target behavior and owner responsibility, not breed.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 1-29
"Vicious or dangerous animal" means: (a) Any pet animal that has inflicted bodily injury upon or has caused the death of a person, another animal, or livestock; ... (d) A dangerous dog, as defined in § 18-9-204.5, C.R.S.
Adams County's Animal Control Code does not regulate beekeeping, and Colorado has no statewide hive registration. Whether you may keep hives depends on your zone district (agricultural zones are permissive) and any city or HOA rules.
Adams County's Animal Control Code covers only "pet animals" kept for companionship and excludes wildlife, feral cats, and livestock. Keeping wild or exotic animals is governed mainly by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and state law, not a county exotic-pet permit.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 1-23(b)
The definition of "pet animal" does not include feral cats, wildlife, livestock used for any purposes or that is estray as defined in § 35-44-101, C.R.S., or animals that are owned or bought and sold through the efforts of those that are licensed, inspected, or both, by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, or both.
Intentionally feeding big-game wildlife (deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain lions, bears and others) is illegal statewide in Colorado, carrying a $100 fine. Adams County's animal code covers pet animals, so wildlife-feeding is enforced under state wildlife law.
Adams County defines livestock as cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, mules and donkeys used in farm or ranch production. Livestock is excluded from the pet code and is instead governed by county agricultural zoning and Colorado's right-to-farm protections.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 1-18
"Livestock" means cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and such horses, mules, donkeys, and other animals used in the farm or ranch production of food, fiber, or other agricultural products.
Neglecting, abandoning or mistreating animals is unlawful in Adams County under its Animal Control Code and Colorado's cruelty statute. Officers may impound neglected animals, and hoarding conditions are addressed through these cruelty and neglect provisions.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 1-20
"Neglect" means failure to provide food, water, protection from the elements, or other care generally considered to be normal, usual, and accepted for an animal's health and well-being consistent with the species, breed, and type of animal.
The Adams County Animal Control Code sets no numeric limit on the number of dogs or cats a household may own in unincorporated areas. Instead, it requires licensing, rabies vaccination, and control, with a hoarding backstop through cruelty/neglect rules.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 4-1
Owners of dogs that are six (6) months of age or older shall cause such dogs to be licensed by RAS. Each dog license shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually.
Adams County does not require cat licensing, but every cat must be vaccinated against rabies. Off the owner's property, a cat must wear its current rabies tag, and cats causing damage or running at large may be impounded.
Adams County Animal Control Code § 5-1(a),(c)
The owner or custodian of any dog or cat shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies by a licensed state veterinarian... It shall be unlawful for a dog or cat to be off of the property of its caretaker without wearing its current rabies vaccination tag, which shall be affixed to the dog by means of a collar or harness.
2 cities in Adams County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Adams County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Adams County Ordinance Hub →