7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Verified from official government sources
Cuyahoga County may permit backyard chickens with limits on flock size and setbacks. Roosters typically banned in residential zones. Livestock restricted by zoning.
ORC 955.22 requires dogs to be confined or under physical control at all times in unincorporated Cuyahoga County. Dogs off-leash off-property are running at large. Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter enforces and impounds.
Cuyahoga County has no breed-specific ban. ORC 955.11 (amended by HB 14 in 2012) removed breed language; dangerous-dog determinations are behavior-based. Several Cuyahoga municipalities still have local pit bull restrictions, but not the county itself.
Beekeeping allowed in unincorporated Cuyahoga County. Ohio Department of Agriculture registration required annually under ORC 909. No county ordinance restricts hives. Best practice: rear yard with water source and flyway barrier.
Ohio Rev. Code § 909.02 (Registration of beekeepers)
apiary unless the apiary is registered under this section and identifiable by name or identification number assigned to such person by the director. Such identification number shall be posted in a conspicuous location in the apiary. The moving, raising, and production of bees, beeswax, honey, and honey products shall be deemed an agricultural pursuit.
Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Act (ORC 935) bans private ownership of big cats, bears, large primates, crocodilians over 5 feet, and venomous snakes. Cuyahoga County enforces via ODA and Sheriff. Permits unavailable to new owners since 2014.
Ohio Revised Code Section 935.02 - Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited (with definitions from 935.01)
Section 935.02 | Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited. (A) No person shall possess a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014. (B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, sell, trade, or transfer possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal on or after the effective date of this section. (2) ...
Feeding deer and waterfowl discouraged in Cuyahoga County. Ohio Division of Wildlife prohibits deer feeding where it contributes to disease or nuisance. Cleveland Metroparks rules ban all wildlife feeding. Bird feeders permitted.
Cuyahoga County imposes no numeric pet limit on households. All dogs 3 months or older must be licensed through Cuyahoga County Auditor under ORC 955.01. Municipalities (Cleveland, Parma, etc.) often cap at 3 to 4 dogs per household.
4 cities in Cuyahoga County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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