10 rules for unincorporated Davis County, Utah.
Verified from official government sources
Backyard chickens and livestock are allowed in Davis County's agricultural and larger-lot residential zones, but must be securely enclosed. Rules and animal counts depend on your zone and whether you are in a city or unincorporated county.
Davis County requires dogs to be leashed in all public areas. A dog may be off leash only inside your own fenced property. Electronic (invisible) fences do not count as leash control.
Davis County Code Ch. 6.16 (Running at Large / Leash)
Leashes are mandatory for your dog in all public areas... The only place your dog may be off leash in Davis County is within your fenced property. Davis County does not recognize electronic leashes as effective control.
Davis County and its cities cannot ban or restrict any dog breed. Utah state law (Code 18-2-101) prohibits breed-specific ordinances and declares any such rule void, so pit bulls and other breeds cannot be outlawed here.
Utah Code 18-2-101
(1) A municipality may not adopt or enforce a breed-specific rule, regulation, policy, or ordinance regarding dogs. (2) Any breed-specific rule, regulation, policy, or ordinance regarding dogs is void.
Davis County sets no countywide ban on backyard beekeeping. Hives are regulated by your city's zoning (setbacks, hive counts) and by Utah's Bee Inspection Act, which requires registering colonies with the state Department of Agriculture and Food.
Many exotic and wild animals cannot be kept as pets in Utah without state authorization. The Division of Wildlife Resources classifies species as prohibited or controlled; prohibited wildlife may not be possessed, and controlled species need a certificate of registration.
Davis County has no dedicated ordinance banning backyard wildlife feeding, but feeding deer and other big game is strongly discouraged by the state, and intentionally feeding wildlife that causes a nuisance or draws predators can trigger state and local action.
Livestock is allowed on Davis County's agricultural and larger residential parcels under local zoning. Utah's right-to-farm law shields agricultural operations in a designated Agriculture Protection Area from being treated as a nuisance if they use sound practices.
Utah Code 17-41-403 (Agriculture Protection Areas)
[Local nuisance ordinances exclude] 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 relationship to public health or safety.
Davis County's three-animal household limit and permit inspection help prevent hoarding, and Utah's Animal Welfare Act plus cruelty statutes let officers intervene when too many animals are kept in neglectful conditions.
As of 2023, Davis County allows every household a total of three animals, no matter which city you live in. Keeping a fourth pet requires an additional pet permit costing $100 per year with conditions.
Davis County Animal Care & Control - Pet Limit / Additional Pet Permit
In 2023, we expanded the pet limit for all Davis County households, regardless of which city you live in, to a total of three animals.
Davis County requires all cats over four months old to be vaccinated (rabies) and licensed, just like dogs. Cats count toward the three-animal household limit. License fees are lower for spayed/neutered, microchipped cats.
Davis County Animal Care & Control - Licensing
All dogs and cats over the age of four months are required to be vaccinated and licensed in Davis County.
See every category we cover for Davis County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Davis County Ordinance Hub →