Animal Ordinances in Davis County, UT (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Davis County, Utah.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Utah Code section 17-41-403 protects agricultural activity, including raising chickens and other livestock, inside a designated agriculture protection area from nuisance complaints. Davis County must exclude sound farming operations from its own nuisance ordinances, and the same section is a complete defense in any civil or criminal nuisance case, unless the activity threatens public health or safety.
Davis County Farm Nuisance Shield For Livestock
Light RestrictionsUtah Code § 17-41-403(1)(a), (2)(a)
(1) A political subdivision shall ensure that any of the political subdivision's laws or ordinances that define or prohibit a public nuisance exclude from the definition or prohibition: (a) for an agriculture protection area, any agricultural activity or operation within an agriculture protection area conducted using sound agricultural practices unless that activity or operation bears a direct ...
Dog Leash Laws
Davis County makes it unlawful for any dog, cat or other animal to run at large in the unincorporated county under Section 6.16.080. An animal is 'at large' whenever it's off its owner's property without a leash, cage or other physical restraint, or on the property but unconfined and not under effective control.
Davis County Animal At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsDavis County Code §§ 6.04.010, 6.16.080
"Animal at large" means any animal, whether licensed or not, when: The animal is off the property of the owner or custodian and is not under the immediate physical restraint by the owner or custodian... A working dog while being used for herding sheep, cattle, or other livestock; a hunting dog while lawfully being used to hunt game; or a dog while being trained for herding or hunting shall not ...
Breed Restrictions
Davis County doesn't restrict dog breeds; it regulates individual animals through dangerous-animal declarations under Chapter 6.16. A potentially dangerous animal must be microchipped and restrained, and a declared dangerous animal must stay in a locked, escape-proof enclosure or be muzzled and controlled whenever it's outside that enclosure.
Davis County Dangerous Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsDavis County Code § 6.16.060
Any dangerous animal, while on the owner's property, must be securely confined indoors, or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure for a dangerous animal shall have secure sides and top and shall also provide protection from the elements for the animal. The structur...
Exotic Pets
Davis County Code section 6.16.130 makes it unlawful to own, possess, keep or sell any wild animal in the unincorporated county, with narrow exceptions for zoos, veterinarians, wildlife-permitted educators and licensed circuses. Anyone lawfully holding one must use Animal Care-approved confinement and comply with every state, county and federal law governing that animal.
Wild Animal Possession Ban In Davis County
Heavy RestrictionsDavis County Code § 6.16.130
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to: Own, possess, give, keep, or sell any wild animal as defined in this title except only for the following persons or entities; The Department which has impounded or otherwise obtained possession of a wild animal; Veterinarian or veterinarian facility which is treating the animal; A licensed zoological facility or zoo; An educational or scientific...
Pet Limits
Davis County caps ownership at three dogs or cats, in any combination, per residence in the unincorporated county under Section 6.12.060. An Animal Care Division permit lets a household keep a fourth dog or cat for a $100 annual fee, subject to inspection and spay/neuter and microchip verification.
Davis County Pet Limit Per Home
Some RestrictionsDavis County Code § 6.12.060
No person or persons at any one (1) residence within the jurisdiction of this title shall at any one (1) time own, harbor, license, or maintain more than three (3) cats or dogs in any combination. The Animal Control Division may issue a permit to owners of Dogs and Cats to keep up to four dogs or cats (but not more than four Household Pets) in a residential area. Exemptions for number of dog...
Cat Rules
Every cat over four months old in unincorporated Davis County needs a county license tag showing current rabies vaccination, under Section 6.12.010. Sterilized, microchipped cats cost as little as $5 a year, ear-tipped community cats are exempt from licensing, and cats must wear their tag and collar at all times.
Davis County Cat Licensing Requirements
Some RestrictionsDavis County Code § 6.12.010
Every person possessing, harboring, keeping, or having control or custody of a dog and/or cat over the age of four months shall secure a county license from a veterinarian or from the department and, as a condition of obtaining the license, shall show proof of a current rabies vaccination which shall have been administered by a licensed veterinarian. Except as provided for in Section 6.12.020...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Davis County Code section 6.20.060 bars the county animal shelter from transferring an unsterilized dog or cat for adoption unless the recipient signs a written agreement to have it sterilized within 30 days and pays a sterilization deposit of at least $25. Failing to comply lets the shelter seize the animal and keep the deposit.
Animal Shelter Sterilization Rule In Davis County
Some RestrictionsDavis County Code § 6.20.060
An animal shelter may not transfer a dog or cat that has not been sterilized, except as provided in this section. An animal shelter may transfer a dog or cat for adoption that has not been sterilized only if the animal shelter: Establishes a written agreement, executed by the recipient, stating the dog or cat is not sterilized and the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring t...
Pet Store Rules
Davis County Code section 6.28.080 makes it unlawful for any pet shop to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat. A pet shop may only host adoption displays run by a rescue or public shelter that keeps no ownership stake and charges no more than $500 in total adoption fees, and violators face a class C misdemeanor.
Davis County Bans Pet Shop Dog And Cat Sales
Heavy RestrictionsDavis County Code § 6.28.080
It shall be unlawful for any pet shop to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat. It shall be unlawful for any pet shop to provide space for the display of adoptable dogs or cats unless all of the following requirements are met: Any dog or cat displayed for adoption is displayed by either an animal rescue organization or a public animal shelter; No part of any fees associated with the display or ad...
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