Animal Ordinances in Calvert County, MD (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated Calvert County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In Calvert County outside Chesapeake Beach and North Beach, Chapter 7 of the county code lets residents keep poultry and other livestock but sets real welfare standards. A domesticated-livestock shelter must have four solid, weatherproof sides and a roof with bedding, and no one may confine or tether a rooster in a way that blocks it from standing, turning around or moving naturally.
Calvert County Chicken and Livestock Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-6-106, 7-7-202
§ 7-6-106. Inhumane confinement of rooster. An individual may not confine or tether a rooster in a manner that unreasonably restricts its ability to stand, turn around or engage in natural behaviors. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of tethering devices, confinement boxes or enclosures that significantly impair normal movement or physical comfort. Temporary confinement for medical ...
Dog Leash Laws
In Calvert County, an owner may not let a dog, other domesticated animal or agricultural livestock roam loose off the owner's real property unless it is on a leash or in a carrier and under a responsible person's control. Homeowners association and condo common areas count as the owner's property, and dogs in a designated public dog park's fenced area are exempt.
Calvert County Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code § 7-6-101
§ 7-6-101. Animal at-large. A. Except as provided in Subsection C below, an owner or custodian may not allow a domesticated animal or agricultural livestock to be loose off their real property without being confined or controlled by a leash or carrier. (1) For the purpose of this regulation, the owner's real property shall include the common areas of a homeowners' association, condominium, apar...
Breed Restrictions
Calvert County has no breed-specific ban. Chapter 7 instead classifies a 'potentially dangerous' or 'dangerous' animal purely on what it has done: an unprovoked attack, a threatening chase, or a severe injury, decided case by case by Animal Services regardless of breed.
Calvert County Dangerous Dog Determination Rules
Significant RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-5-201, 7-5-202
§ 7-5-201. Determination. ... A. Potentially dangerous. ... A potentially dangerous animal is one that has: (1) Had an altercation with or attacked, without causing severe injury to a human, domestic animal, or livestock; or (2) Chased or approached a person in attitude of attack while not on the real property of the owner or custodian of the animal and; ... (3) Been determined to be potentiall...
Exotic Pets
Calvert County Code Chapter 7 singles out wild and exotic animals for special handling: an animal control officer may impound one kept in violation of the chapter, and an owner cannot get it back unless they can show state and federal permits to legally possess it or plan to remove it from the county immediately.
Calvert County Wild and Exotic Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-1-201, 7-2-103 and 7-8-102
EXOTIC ANIMAL: An animal introduced from another country and not indigenous to the state. ... WILD ANIMAL: An animal that is not a domesticated animal, is incapable of being completely domesticated or requires the exercise of art, force or skill to keep it in subjugation. Wild animal includes any hybrid animal which results from the breeding of a wild animal and a domesticated animal. Wild anim...
Pet Limits
Calvert County does not cap how many dogs or cats a household may own, but Chapter 7 of the county code requires an annual Animal Fancier license from Animal Services once a residence keeps six or more dogs, six or more cats, or six or more rabbits over six months old for more than 30 consecutive days, unless the animals are for hunting or farm work.
Calvert County Animal Fancier License Threshold
Light RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-1-201, 7-3-303
ANIMAL FANCIER A person(s) who owns, harbors, or keeps six or more dogs, or six or more cats, or six or more rabbits over six months of age at a single residence for longer than 30 consecutive days, not for the purpose of sale, breeding or other commercial activity. ... ... § 7-3-303. Animal fancier licensing and applications. A. An animal fancier is defined as a person(s) who owns or harbors s...
Cat Rules
In Calvert County, every cat over four months old must carry a current rabies vaccination and a County license from Animal Services, renewed annually or every three years with a three-year rabies shot. Community cats, defined as unowned cats living outdoors that a caregiver feeds under a trap-neuter-return program, are exempt from licensing and from the at-large rule.
Calvert County Cat Licensing and Community Cats
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-1-201, 7-3-201, 7-6-101
COMMUNITY CAT Community cats are unowned cats that live outdoors in the community. They may be feral or friendly, may have been born into the wild, or may be lost or abandoned pets. COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER A person or group that, in accordance with a good faith effort to conduct trap-neuter-return, provides food, shelter and medical care to a community cat. A community cat caregiver is not the ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Calvert County does not require every dog or cat to be spayed or neutered, but Chapter 7 does mandate it for any animal Animal Services has declared dangerous: the owner must give Animal Control proof of the surgery, with only a brief medical extension available on a veterinarian's written opinion.
Calvert County Dangerous Dog Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsCalvert County Code § 7-5-202
E. Requirements for owners of a dangerous animal: (1) The owner or custodian of an animal declared dangerous shall: ... (7) Provide Animal Control proof of the dangerous animal having been spayed or neutered. (a) A brief extension may be granted by the Deputy Director of Animal Services upon request accompanied by an opinion of Maryland-licensed veterinarian that the procedure is not medically ...
Microchipping
Calvert County does not require every pet to be microchipped, but the Board of County Commissioners may run public microchip clinics under Chapter 7 where dogs and cats can be chipped for a flat $5 fee, and a dog or cat wearing an embedded microchip with owner information is excused from wearing its license tag.
Calvert County Public Microchip Clinics
Light RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-3-201, 7-3-403, 7-5-202, 7-11-201
(a) A dog or cat that has been registered to an owner with a microchip embedded under the skin which contains information identifying the owner of the animal is not required to wear a license tag. ... ... § 7-3-403. Public microchip clinics. The Board of County Commissioners may establish a microchip clinic at which citizens may have dogs or cats microchipped. The Board of County Commissioners ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Any grooming facility operating in Calvert County must hold an annual license from the Board of County Commissioners, issued through Animal Services under Chapter 7. The application needs proof of Planning and Zoning approval for the use, a disaster continuity plan, current state licenses, and the owner's certification of no animal-cruelty convictions or pending cases.
Calvert County Pet Grooming Facility License
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 7-3-301, 7-3-302, 7-11-102
§ 7-3-301. Establishments requiring a license. Commercial animal establishment, breeding facilities, grooming facilities, nonprofit rescue organizations and animal fanciers operating in Calvert County shall be required to obtain a license issued by the Board of County Commissioners through Animal Services on an annual basis. A separate license is required for each residence or business where th...
Bird Protection
Taking eggs, nests, or young from any bird on Calvert County park property is illegal: Calvert County Code § 82-2-106B(6) bars removing or possessing the young, eggs or nests of any animal, reptile or bird, and § 82-2-106B(4)-(5) separately outlaw molesting, harming, hunting, killing, trapping, frightening or chasing wildlife there without written authorization.
Bird Nests Protected in Calvert County Parks
Significant RestrictionsCalvert County Code § 82-2-106B(6)
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 82-2-106A, above, it is unlawful for any person on park property: ... To intentionally molest, harm, hunt, kill, trap, frighten, or chase any animal, unless authorized in writing by the Board of County Commissioners, State of Maryland, or Calvert County Sheriff's Office to do so; ... To remove or cause to be removed or have in their possession the young of an...
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