Animal Ordinances in Boone County, IN (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Boone County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Boone County, Indiana does not cap a few backyard chickens or horses; raising livestock and poultry is a permitted agricultural use countywide. But Boone County Code Section 157.060 requires any confined feeding operation, defined by Indiana law as confining 300 or more cattle, 600 or more swine or sheep, or 30,000 or more fowl, to sit 1,320 feet from the nearest residential property line.
Boone County Livestock Operation Setbacks
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code §§ 157.005, 157.060, 157.165(C)
CONFINED FEEDING OPERATION. ... As defined in I.C. 13-11-2-40: (1) Any confined feeding of 300 or more cattle, 600 or more swine or sheep and 30,000 or more fowl; ... Any proposed confined feeding operation (CFO) must be located 1,320 feet away from the property line of any adjacent existing or approved residential use. Conversely, any future residential use must be located 1,320 feet away fr...
Dog Leash Laws
Boone County's animal code discourages chaining a dog but does not ban it: a chained dog needs at least a 12-foot chain regardless of size, one that will not injure its neck and can move freely in all directions. The separate at-large ban on unrestrained animals applies only within incorporated areas of the county, not unincorporated land.
Dog Restraint and Chaining Rules, Boone County, IN
Light RestrictionsBoone County Code § 93.02(D)
(1) It shall be unlawful for any owner or possessor of any domestic animal to allow such animal to run at large, whether wearing a collar and tags or not, within any incorporated area of the county. ... (3) Chaining of a domestic dog is discouraged, but if it is done, the following is required: ... (b) The chain must be at least 12 feet in length, regardless of the size of the dog; (c) ...
Cat Rules
Boone County does not license cats or restrict outdoor cats by ordinance. The county code instead defines colonies, feral cats and managed colonies, and expressly excludes colonies and feral cats from the abandonment law in § 93.02(H), protecting caretakers who trap, neuter and return community cats registered with a humane society.
Feral Cat Colony Rules in Boone County, IN
Few RestrictionsBoone County Code §§ 93.01, 93.02(H)(4)
COLONY. A group of one or more feral cats, whether unmanaged or managed. ... FERAL CAT. Any cat that has no apparent owner or identification and is wild, untamed, unsocialized, unmanageable, or unable to be approached or handled. ... MANAGED COLONY. A colony of feral cats that are registered with a humane society or designee and is maintained by a colony caretaker using trap, neuter, and return...
Microchipping
Every domestic animal six months or older that permanently lives in unincorporated Boone County with an owner based in the county must carry permanent identification at all times, either a scannable microchip with a registered ID number or a durable collar tag bearing the owner's current name, address and phone number.
Pet Microchip and ID Tag Rule, Boone County, IN
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code § 93.02(F)
(F) Permanent identification of a domestic animal required. (Effective 06/1/2019) (1) A person who owns a domestic animal which is six months or older which permanently resides in the county with an owner whose legal address falls within the county limits shall ensure that at all times the animal bears a permanent means of identification such that the owner can be ascertained accurately, qu...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Boone County's Unified Zoning Ordinance confines veterinary animal hospitals and clinics to business and industrial districts. Table 2, Authorized Uses lets them operate by right only in General Business, Urban Business, Professional Business, Light Industry and General Industry zones, never in a residential, agricultural or conservation district without separate relief.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Boone County IN
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code §§ 157.005, 157.007
VETERINARY ANIMAL HOSPITAL or CLINIC. A facility where the primary use is for a licensed veterinarian and his or her supervised staff to the care, diagnose and treat sick, ailing, infirm or injured animals, and those in need of medical or surgical attention. Temporary boarding as an accessory use is allowed. ... Use C AP AG RE R1 R2 R3 R4 MF AB LB GB UB PB I1 I2 AZ ......
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