Animal Ordinances in Boone County, KY (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Boone County, Kentucky regulates livestock through its general animal-control chapter, not through a backyard-chicken ordinance. Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and similar bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine, ratite or equine animals are "livestock" under § 91.01, and letting them run at large in unincorporated Boone County violates § 91.20(A), triggering a special owner-notice procedure and reimbursement duty.
Boone County, KY Livestock At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.20(A); § 91.01
When livestock are running at large, Animal Control or the Law Enforcement Officer shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner as soon as possible. If reasonably possible and feasible, the owner of the livestock shall be notified prior to the actual capture and impoundment of the livestock. LIVESTOCK. Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, emus, ostriches, horses or any other animals of the bovine,...
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, a dog off its owner's property must be "restrained" by a leash, chain or fence, or it counts as running at large. Section 91.20(A) makes it "unlawful for any person to permit any animal owned or harbored by them, to run at large," with the only exception being ear-tipped community cats, and violators face fines starting at $25.
Boone County, KY Dog At-Large & Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.01; § 91.20(A)
RESTRAINT. Enclosed in an area by a form of fencing designed to control the movement of the animal or secured by a leash or chain. An animal shall be deemed to be restrained if it remains on the premises of its owner or if it is accompanied by a responsible person and is under that person's control. (A) It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any animal owned or harbored by them, to run a...
Breed Restrictions
Boone County, Kentucky does not ban any dog breed by name. Chapter 91 instead declares an animal "vicious" based on its conduct, such as an unprovoked bite causing serious injury, and § 91.20(B) bars owning a vicious animal unless a court lets the owner keep it under the strict confinement, registration and muzzling conditions of § 91.99(H).
Boone County, KY Vicious & Dangerous Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.99(H)
Upon conviction under § 91.20(B) relating to possession of a vicious animal, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $200, or not less than ten and up to 60 days in the county jail or both. In addition, the court shall order one of the following: (1) That the following regulations be followed as a condition of the owner retaining ownership of the animal: (a) The vicious a...
Exotic Pets
Boone County, Kentucky bans keeping wild or exotic animals as pets outright. Section 91.21 makes it unlawful to "sell, own, harbor or keep as a pet any wild or exotic animal," whether or not it is native to the United States, and separately bans owning any venomous reptile, with exceptions only for licensed conservation officers, nuisance-wildlife officers and rehabilitators.
Boone County, KY Wild & Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.21
(A) It shall be unlawful to sell, own, harbor or keep as a pet any wild or exotic animal, not indigenous to the United States, except state and federal conservation officers, licensed nuisance wildlife officers, and licensed rehabilitators. (B) It shall be unlawful to sell, own, harbor or keep as a pet any wild animal native to the United States, except state and federal conservation office...
Cat Rules
Boone County, Kentucky treats free-roaming cats differently depending on whether they are ear-tipped community cats. An ear-tipped community cat is exempt from the running-at-large ban and, once impounded, may be returned to the field instead of held for adoption, unlike an unmarked stray cat, which must be held at least three days under § 91.15(F).
Boone County, KY Cat & Community Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.15(F)
Any cat impounded in the animal shelter shall be held for a minimum of three days, except for community cats where there is a live-outcome option, such as return to field, adoption, foster care or rescue transfer, or unless it is earlier claimed by its owner. If the animal remains in the shelter after three days of impoundment, the animal may then continue to be offered for adoption or may be e...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Boone County, Kentucky requires every dog and cat adopted from the county animal shelter, a licensed humane society or a rescue to be spayed or neutered. Under § 91.16(C), the surgery must happen within 30 days of adoption, or within 30 days after a puppy or kitten turns five months old, and skipping it triggers a mandatory surrender-or-fine order under § 91.99(C).
Boone County, KY Shelter Spay/Neuter Mandate
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.16(C)
(C) All dogs and cats adopted from the animal shelter or a licensed humane society or rescue must be surgically altered to prevent breeding. The surgical alteration must occur within 30 days after obtaining the dog or cat. If the animal is a puppy or kitten it must be surgically altered within 30 days after reaching five months of age. For the purpose of this section "obtained" does not inclu...
Microchipping
Boone County, Kentucky does not require every dog or cat to be microchipped. The only mandatory-microchip rule in Chapter 91 applies to an animal a court has declared "vicious": under § 91.99(H)(1)(a), keeping the animal after conviction requires it to be "neutered, microchip implanted for identification purposes, licensed and registered with Animal Services."
Boone County, KY Vicious-Dog Microchip Rule
Light RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.99(H)(1)(a)
In addition, the court shall order one of the following: (1) That the following regulations be followed as a condition of the owner retaining ownership of the animal: (a) The vicious animal shall be neutered, microchip implanted for identification purposes, licensed and registered with Animal Services.
Pet Store Rules
Boone County does not ban pet-shop sales of dogs or cats and does not require adoption-only stores. Instead, every commercial animal establishment in the unincorporated county needs an annual license from the Director of Animal Services and must pass a veterinary exam and stool test on each dog, cat, puppy or kitten before it can be sold, under Boone County Code Chapter 91.
Pet Store Licensing Rules in Boone County, KY
Some RestrictionsBoone County Code § 91.37
(H) All commercial animal establishments shall possess proof of origin for any animal to be offered for sale and such documentation shall be kept on the premises and available for inspection by officers of the Animal Services Department. (I) All commercial animal establishments shall have both a medical examination and stool test completed by a licensed veterinarian for every dog, cat, puppy or...
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