Animal Ordinances in Floyd County, IN (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Floyd County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Floyd County lets owners keep livestock and poultry, including backyard chickens, but requires them to be confined by an enclosure that keeps the animals off neighboring property; poultry cannot be tethered, and unrestrained animals found loose can be impounded at the owner's expense.
Floyd County Livestock and Poultry Enclosure Rules
Some RestrictionsFloyd County Code §§ 93.001, 93.003
LIVESTOCK. ... Any animal raised for, or used in, agriculture, including, but not limited to: sheep; rams; ewes; lambs; bulls; cows; steers; heifers; calves; swine; boars; sows; piglets; goats; bucks; does; kids; llamas; alpaca; buffalo; bison; deer; elk; ostrich; emu; or any other animals that are privately owned and raised in a confined area for breeding stock, food, fiber, and other products...
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Floyd County it is unlawful to let any owned animal run at large; dogs and other pets must be kept under restraint, confined on the owner's property or leashed and controlled off it, at all times, with narrow exceptions for licensed hunting and designated park leash-free zones.
Floyd County Dogs Must Be Restrained, Not At Large
Some RestrictionsFloyd County Code §§ 93.001, 93.056
RESTRAINT. ... Confined to the premises of the owner; or, if off of the premises of the owner, confined by means of a lead, leash, or pet carrier, and under the control of a responsible person. ... RUNNING AT LARGE. Any domestic animal or exotic animal not located on the real properly of its owner shall be deemed RUNNING AT LARGE if it is not under restraint, as defined in this chapter. ... It ...
Breed Restrictions
Floyd County does not restrict dogs by breed. Instead, unincorporated Floyd County declares an animal "dangerous" based on its documented behavior toward people or other animals under Floyd County Code § 93.057. A dangerous-animal declaration triggers strict caging, muzzling, and registration duties under § 93.058, enforced by Floyd County Animal Control and the Sheriff's Office, with escalating fines and mandatory euthanasia for a repeat violation.
Floyd County Dangerous Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsFloyd County Code §§ 93.057, 93.058
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. ... (a) Any animal which constitutes a physical threat to human beings or other domestic animals by virtue of a known propensity to endanger life by unprovoked assault or bite or scratch so as to cause serious bodily harm; ... (B) ... Enclosures for dangerous animals. (1) Enclosures for dangerous animals shall be a covered fence or fabricated structure at least six feet in...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Floyd County does not ban exotic animals outright but requires owners to register them with the animal shelter, covering everything from big cats and primates to native wildlife like raccoons and foxes; dangerous exotic animals also need a secure, county-standard enclosure.
Floyd County Exotic Animal Registration Requirement
Significant RestrictionsFloyd County Code §§ 93.001, 93.021
EXOTIC ANIMAL. ... Any animal that is not normally considered to be a domesticated animal, as defined in this section; any animal required to have a state and/or federal permit to harbor. ... EXOTIC ANIMAL includes, but is not limited to: nonhuman primates; venomous, cold-blooded reptiles; poisonous animals; constrictor snakes three feet or longer; crocodillans five feet or longer; wild or exot...
Cat Rules
Every cat owned, harbored, or kept in unincorporated Floyd County must be licensed with the animal shelter within 15 days of acquiring the animal, and cats over three months old must be currently vaccinated against rabies; the shelter can deny a license after repeated chapter violations.
Floyd County Cat Licensing and Registration Rules
Some RestrictionsFloyd County Code §§ 93.020, 93.022
Any person owning, harboring, or having custody of a cat within the county must obtain a license within 15 days of obtaining the animal. Licenses, except for lifetime licenses, shall be valid for one year from date of issue. ... It shall be within the discretion of the animal shelter whether to issue a license if there have been three or more violations of this chapter within 12 months’ time. ....
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Unincorporated Floyd County has no ordinance requiring owners generally to spay or neuter their pets. The county's only mandatory-alteration rule applies to animals adopted from the New Albany/Floyd County Animal Shelter, which must be surgically altered unless a veterinarian certifies the animal unfit for surgery.
Floyd County Shelter-Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Light RestrictionsFloyd County Code § 93.002
All persons wishing to adopt a dog or cat at the animal shelter must pay a spay/neuter fee with the adoption fees. ... All dogs and cats adopted from the animal shelter must be surgically altered, unless a licensed veterinarian, in writing, states the animal is unfit for surgery.
Microchipping
In unincorporated Floyd County, the Animal Control Authority requires any impounded animal to be fitted with a microchip before it can be redeemed by its owner, and the shelter's fee schedule sets a flat $25 charge for the procedure. The rule ties microchipping to the impound-redemption process rather than every pet from birth.
Floyd County Microchipping and Impound Rule
Some RestrictionsFloyd County Code §§ 93.005, 93.035
Health Service Fee ... Microchipping of an animal³ $25, plus $15 for any tranquilizer needed ... Any animal impounded may be released only upon the application for redemption and after being fitted with a microchip, to facilitate future identification of the animal and owner.
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