Animal Ordinances in Charles County, MD (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated Charles County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Charles County's zoning ordinance lets residents keep horses, poultry and rabbits as pets on any lot without a special permit, but ties the number of animals to acreage. Small livestock like chickens and rabbits are capped at 2 adult animals under two acres and 4 per acre above that.
Charles County Backyard Chickens and Livestock
Some RestrictionsCharles County, MD Zoning Ordinance § 297-212(2), Use 1.01.310
1.01.310 Horses, livestock maintained as pets and 4-H or school projects on less than or equal to five acres. This use is permitted with conditions in all zones, provided that the following requirements are met: A. The keeping of horses and other large livestock such as cattle, swine, goats and sheep in any residential zone shall be permitted on lots or parcels of two acres or more with a minim...
Dog Leash Laws
Charles County bars any animal, dogs included, from running at large: off the owner's property without a leash or restraining device on school grounds, public recreation areas, other public property or private land without permission, with exceptions only for supervised training, licensed hunting and organized events like dog shows.
Charles County Leash and At-Large Rules for Dogs
Some RestrictionsCharles County Code § 230-12(A), (C)
A. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, or corporation or other legal entity to allow an animal to be at large. ... C. Without permission of the proper authority, the owner or custodian of any animal may not permit the animal to be on school grounds on a day when school is in session, in a public recreation area, any public property or thoroughfare or private property without the p...
Breed Restrictions
Charles County does not single out any dog breed. Instead, Chapter 230 lets the Animal Matters Hearing Board declare an individual animal "dangerous and/or vicious" or "potentially dangerous" after a bite, unprovoked attack or known vicious history, then impose fencing, muzzling, neutering, microchipping or euthanasia conditions regardless of breed.
Charles County Dangerous Animal Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsCharles County Code § 230-12.5(A)
For the purpose of this article, a "dangerous and/or vicious animal" shall be defined as any animal: (1) Which wounds, bites, or otherwise injures a human being without provocation on public or private property... (2) Which has injured or killed a domestic animal, without provocation, on public or private property; (3) Which has a vicious nature, disposition and/or propensity which is known or ...
Exotic Pets
Charles County adopts Maryland's statewide ban on keeping dangerous wild animals as pets: foxes, skunks, raccoons, bears, big cats, wild canids, hybrid crosses, primates and venomous snakes may not be imported, sold, bred, traded or possessed in the county, and no shelter may place a wild animal for adoption.
Charles County Bans Wild and Exotic Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsCharles County Code § 230-2 ("Dangerous Animal" definition, incorporating Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-621(b))
DANGEROUS ANIMAL As defined under § 230-12.5, and as listed in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Criminal Law § 10-621(b), prohibited: a person may not import into the state or Charles County, offer for sale, trade, barter, possess, breed, or exchange a live: A. Fox, skunk, raccoon or bear; B. Caiman, alligator or crocodile; C. Member of the cat family other than the domestic cat; D. Hybrid of a ...
Pet Limits
Charles County sets no flat cap on dogs or cats in an ordinary household, but keeping more than 10 adult animals of any combination without breeding or selling offspring triggers Chapter 230's "animal fancier" license requirement, complete with a premises inspection and annual renewal through the County's Division of Animal Control.
Charles County Animal Fancier License Over 10 Pets
Some RestrictionsCharles County Code § 230-10(B)
Animal fancier licensing. Any person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity that harbors or keeps any combination of more than 10 adult animals and which does not breed and sell the offspring or use males for stud may not do so without first obtaining an animal fancier's license in compliance with this section.
Cat Rules
Every cat four months or older in Charles County must carry a current county license, proof of rabies vaccination and a wearable tag, and any female cat in heat must be confined so she cannot reach an unneutered male except for planned breeding, all enforced by the County's Division of Animal Control.
Charles County Cat Licensing and Confinement Rules
Some RestrictionsCharles County Code § 230-10(A)(1); § 230-12.1
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity to own, keep or harbor a dog or cat four months old or older without a current Charles County License. ... § 230-12.1. Female in season. Every female dog or cat in season shall be humanely confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in contact with an unneutered m...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Charles County will not release an unclaimed dog or cat from the Tri-County Animal Shelter for adoption unless it is already sterilized or the adopter signs an agreement guaranteeing sterilization, within 30 days for adult animals or by a contract date for puppies and kittens.
Sterilization Required for Shelter Adoptions in Charles County
Some RestrictionsCharles County, MD Code § 230-12.6H
H. No unclaimed dog or cat shall be released for adoption without being sterilized, or without written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that such animal will be sterilized within 30 days for adults or a specified date in the contract for puppies and kittens.
Microchipping
Once the Animal Matters Hearing Board designates an animal dangerous, vicious or potentially dangerous, it can order the owner to have the animal microchipped at their own expense and file the chip number with Charles County Division of Animal Control.
Dangerous Dogs Must Be Microchipped in Charles County
Some RestrictionsCharles County, MD Code § 230-12.5E(7)
E. Upon determination of dangerous and/or vicious or potentially dangerous by the Board, the Board may require any or all of the following: ... (6) The animal be neutered at the expense of the owner or custodian. (7) The animal be microchipped at the expense of the owner or custodian and the microchip number provided to Charles County Division of Animal Control.
Pet Groomer Rules
A grooming shop in Charles County is a "commercial animal establishment" under Chapter 230 and cannot legally bathe, clip or otherwise groom animals for a fee without a county license, a zoning-compliance letter, a passed premises inspection and annual renewal.
Charles County Licenses Commercial Pet Groomers
Some RestrictionsCharles County Code § 230-2 ("Grooming Shop" definition); § 230-10(C)
GROOMING SHOP A commercial animal establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked or otherwise groomed. ... § 230-10 C. Commercial animal establishment licensing. No person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity shall operate a commercial animal establishment without first obtaining a license in compliance with this section. License applications shall be accompanied by written...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Charles County's zoning ordinance treats veterinary hospitals as a use permitted with conditions in most commercial and mixed-use zones, but requires a special exception in rural and residential districts. Every site needs a half-acre lot, a fully enclosed soundproof building, and a 125-foot buffer from the nearest dwelling under standard 5.02.400.
Charles County Veterinary Hospital Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsCharles County Code § 297-212, standard 5.02.400
5.02.400 Veterinarians and veterinary hospitals. This use is permitted with conditions in the HVC, HVG, CN, CB, CC, CV, BP, PEP, MX, TOD, CER, WC and AUC Zones and is permitted by special exception in the WCD, RR, RC(D), RV and RL Zones, subject to the following standards: A. The lot on which the use is located must be a minimum of 1/2 acre in size. B. The use must be housed in a fully enclosed...
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