Animal Ordinances in Bay County, MI (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Bay County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Bay County does not zone or license backyard chickens or livestock, since that falls to the townships and cities, but its Animal Control Ordinance bans letting poultry or livestock run loose on public roads, rights-of-way or other people's property. A sustained violation is a civil infraction with fines up to $500.
Bay County Poultry and Livestock At-Large Ban
Some RestrictionsBay County Code of Ordinances §§ 50.200(n), 50.200(s), 50.802
(n)Livestock. Horses, stallions, colts, geldings, mares, sheep, rams, lambs, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers, cows, calves, mules, jacks, jennets, burros, goats, kids, hogs, swine, and fur-bearing animals being raised in captivity (excluding dogs and cats). ... (s)Poultry. All domestic fowl and game birds possessed or being reared under authority of a breeder's license pursuant to Act 191 of t...
Dog Leash Laws
Bay County bans letting a dog run at large, defined as unrestrained wandering off the owner's property or on a leash longer than six feet. Working dogs actively engaged in hunting, farm work or training while accompanied by their owner are exempt from the leash requirement. Violations are civil infractions with fines up to $500.
Bay County Dogs Running at Large Ban
Some RestrictionsBay County Code of Ordinances §§ 50.200(u), 50.801(b)
(u)Run at large. The unrestrained wandering or roaming of an animal other than a cat on public property or on the private property of other persons, or restrained wandering on a leash held by the owner if the leash is longer than six (6) feet. ... (b)For dogs to run at large; provided, however, that working dogs such as leader dogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs, and other trained dogs actively engag...
Breed Restrictions
Bay County does not ban or restrict any dog breed. The county repealed its rebuttable pit-bull presumption in 2011 and instead regulates any animal, of any breed, that is declared "vicious" based on documented behavior: a prior bite, attack, or a demonstrated propensity to injure people or other animals.
Bay County Vicious Animal Rules, Not Breed Bans
Significant RestrictionsBay County Code of Ordinances §§ 50.200(w), 50.901(a)
(w)Vicious animal. Any animal:1.With a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings;2.Which has previously attacked or bitten a human being or other domestic animal other than under the type of circumstances that would be justifiable;3.Which has behaved in such a manner that the owner thereof knows or should reasonably know t...
Pet Limits
Bay County does not cap the number of pets a household may keep for its own use, but it draws the line at three or more dogs kept for sale, boarding, breeding, training or sporting purposes for pay: that meets the code's definition of a kennel and requires a separate county kennel license.
Bay County Kennel Threshold at Three Dogs
Some RestrictionsBay County Code of Ordinances §§ 50.200(m), 50.407
(m)Kennel. Any establishment, except a pet shop, animal shelter or pound licensed pursuant to Act 287 of the Public Acts of 1969, as amended, being MCL 287.331-340, wherein or whereon three (3) or more dogs are confined and kept for sale, boarding, breeding, training or sporting purposes, for remuneration, constructed so as to prevent the public or stray dogs from obtaining entrance thereto and...
Cat Rules
Bay County requires every cat four months or older to be licensed and to wear a collar with an approved identifying tag, with a narrow safety exception. An owner may skip the collar for the cat's safety but must produce the license tag or documentation on request, or the Animal Control Officer may treat the cat as feral and seize it.
Bay County Cat Licensing and Collar Rule
Some RestrictionsBay County Code of Ordinances § 50.401
Sec. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person: ... (a)To own any dog or cat four (4) months old or older, unless the dog or cat is licensed as hereinafter provided;(b)To own any dog or cat four (4) months old or older that does not at all times wear a collar with an identifying tag approved by the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (see exception below), attached as hereinafter pr...
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