Animal Ordinances in Campbell County, KY (2026)
12 rules for unincorporated Campbell County, Kentucky.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Campbell County's animal code treats chickens and other fowl as livestock and requires that livestock be kept under control rather than running at large. The county doesn't cap flock size or set coop setbacks, but loose livestock triggers a notify-then-capture process through Animal Services.
Campbell County Livestock and Fowl Control Rule
Light RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances §§ 90.01, 90.16
LIVESTOCK. Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, emus, ostriches, horses, fowl, or any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine, ratite, or equine species. ... § 90.16 ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK TO BE UNDER CONTROL. When livestock are running at large, the Animal Services Director/Animal Control Officer or the police shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner as soon as possible. If reason...
Dog Leash Laws
Campbell County Code § 90.02 makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to let a dog, licensed or not, leave its home premises unless accompanied and controlled by the owner or a responsible person acting for them. The dog must be secured by a collar or harness with a chain or leash held by that person, and may not enter another person's property.
Campbell County Dogs-at-Large Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 90.02
(A) It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of any dog, licensed or unlicensed, to permit any such dogs to leave or be beyond the premises upon which the dog is kept except when accompanied and controlled by the owner or custodian or by some responsible person acting for or on behalf of the owner or custodian. The owner or custodian of said dog shall be required to secure the dog by means ...
Breed Restrictions
Campbell County has no breed-specific dog ordinance; instead § 90.03 targets any animal declared vicious based on its conduct. A registered vicious animal must live in a secure, escape-proof enclosure with a warning sign, and can leave only muzzled and on a leash no longer than three feet or in a carrier, with Animal Services notified immediately of any escape or attack.
Campbell County Vicious Animal Declaration Rule
Significant RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 90.03
(A) It shall be unlawful to own or possess a vicious animal, unless the following regulations are followed as a condition of the owner retaining the animal: (1) The vicious animal shall be registered with Animal Services. (2) The vicious animal shall be confined in an enclosure constructed to the satisfaction of Animal Services...Such enclosures shall be securely closed and locked, and shall be...
Exotic Pets
Campbell County prohibits owning, harboring, selling, or keeping a dangerous animal as a pet except in strict compliance with its dangerous-animal subchapter. The definition sweeps in a long list of non-native and predatory species, and breeding any dangerous animal is separately banned outright.
Campbell County Bans Dangerous Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances §§ 90.40, 90.41
§ 90.40 KEEPING RESTRICTED. (A) Prohibition. No person shall own, harbor, sell, or keep as a pet a dangerous animal except in strict accordance with this subchapter. ... § 90.41 BREEDING PROHIBITED. Breeding dangerous animals, even if with a domesticated animal, is prohibited.
Cat Rules
Campbell County Code § 90.30 bans pet shops from selling, bartering or giving away live cats or kittens, and bans anyone from offering cats for sale on streets, medians, parking lots or flea markets. Section 90.01 exempts sterilized, ear-tipped community cats from the chapter's licensing, stray and at-large rules.
Campbell County Cat Sale and Community Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances §§ 90.01, 90.30
It shall be unlawful for any pet shop located in Campbell County to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, sell any live dog, puppy, cat or kitten...It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale any dog, puppy, cat or kitten at or on any street, public right-of-way, parkway, median, park, recreation area, outdoor market, booth, flea market, roadside stan...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Campbell County Code § 90.10 requires every dog and cat adopted from Campbell County Animal Services, including animals reclaimed by their own owners, to be surgically altered before adoption. If the animal is too young for surgery, the adopter places a $10 cash or check hold and picks the animal up once it has been altered.
Campbell County Shelter Spay/Neuter Mandate
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 90.10
(A) All dogs and cats adopted from Campbell County Animal Services shall be surgically altered prior to adoption to prevent breeding. (B) For the purpose of this section ADOPTED includes animals reclaimed by their owners. (C) If the animal is too young to be surgically altered, the adopter shall place a $10 cash/check hold and pick up the animal once it has been altered.
Microchipping
Campbell County Animal Services runs a mandatory microchipping program for every dog and cat it places into adoption. The county shelter also offers chip services to the public for licensed dogs and cats, charging a fee if the animal isn't already chipped when claimed.
Campbell County Adoption Microchipping Rule
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 90.13
(A) A mandatory microchipping program is hereby ordered for all dogs and cats adopted from the Campbell County Animal Services. (B) Campbell County Animal Services shall provide to the general public microchipping services for licensed dogs and cats. (C) Any animal claimed by their owner will be charged a fee for microchipping and the animal microchipped if the animal is not chipped already.
Pet Store Rules
Pet shops in Campbell County cannot display, sell, deliver, barter, or give away any live dog, puppy, cat or kitten. Stores may only host shelters or rescues showcasing animals for adoption, and they can't profit from the space or claim ownership of the adoptable animals.
Campbell County Bans Retail Dog and Cat Sales
Heavy RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 90.30
(A) It shall be unlawful for any pet shop located in Campbell County to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, sell any live dog, puppy, cat or kitten. Nothing in this division shall be construed to prohibit the provision of space to an animal shelter or animal rescue to publicly showcase dogs, puppies, cats or kittens available for adoption; provided that the...
Pet Groomer Rules
Home-based pet grooming is a permitted general home-based business in Campbell County under § 154.046(C)(3)(i), allowed with a zoning permit so long as it excludes kennels and pet daycare operations. Noise, odor, and other nuisances from grooming equipment cannot be detectable beyond the property line.
Campbell County Home Pet Grooming Rules
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 154.046(A)(8), (C)(3)(i), (D)
(8) No equipment or process, which creates noise, vibration, flare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses beyond the boundary of the property shall be used in such home-based business. Noise shall be limited to those typical to a residential neighborhood. ... (C) General home-based business. ... (3) General home-based businesses are limited to the follow...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Campbell County allows animal hospitals and veterinary clinics as a permitted use in three separate zoning districts: the A-1 Agriculture Zone under § 154.076(A)(8), the HC Highway Commercial Zone under § 154.093(A)(16), and the Rural Commercial Zone under § 154.097(A)(20). Outside those zones, opening a veterinary clinic requires rezoning or a conditional use approval from the Board of Adjustments.
Where Vet Clinics Are Zoned in Campbell County
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 154.076(A)(8)
(A) Uses permitted. The following uses shall be permitted: (1) Agricultural uses. (2) Single-family dwellings (detached). (3) Mobile homes subject to the requirements of § 154.063 and KRS 100.203(4)... (8) Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics. (9) Agritourism uses. (10) Butcher/meat processing in connection with other agricultural activities.
Bird Protection
Campbell County bans hunting, capturing, harming or even touching any bird or wild animal inside its parks under Code of Ordinances § 94.15(A)(4), one of the county's few standalone wildlife-protection rules and the only one enforced with a criminal misdemeanor penalty.
Campbell County Park Bird and Wildlife Protection
Some RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 94.15(A)(4)
No person shall: ... (4) Hunt, pursue, catch, capture, stroke or kill or have in his possession any bird or animal (other than leashed pet) in any park.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Campbell County doesn't issue its own wildlife rehabilitation permit. Instead, its dangerous-animal ban carves out state or federally licensed rescue societies and holders of state or federal captive wildlife permits, letting them keep animals that would otherwise be banned as pets.
Campbell County Exempts Licensed Wildlife Rescues
Light RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 90.40(B)
(B) Exemptions. (1) Persons and organizations exempt from this prohibition include zoological parks, properly licensed transient animal exhibits, circuses, licensed veterinarians, licensed caregivers to wild animals, state or federally licensed rescue societies, colleges, universities, high schools, elementary schools, research institutions, owners of birds of prey in compliance with all st...
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