Animal Ordinances in Hendricks County, IN (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Hendricks County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Hendricks County requires every dog owner to keep their dog under restraint at all times and bars letting a dog run at large off the owner's property. County Animal Control and the Sheriff's Department enforce the rule, and violators face a chapter fine of up to $500 per day.
Hendricks County Dog Restraint Requirement
Some RestrictionsHendricks County Code of Ordinances § 91.04(A)
§ 91.04 RESTRAINTS. (A) The owner shall keep his or her dog under restraint at all times, and shall not permit such dog to be at large off the premises or property of the owner.
Breed Restrictions
Hendricks County has no breed-specific ban; instead it declares individual animals dangerous or potentially dangerous based on behavior, such as an unprovoked bite or menacing approach, then imposes confinement, muzzling, and registration rules on that specific animal.
Hendricks County Dangerous Animal Declaration
Significant RestrictionsHendricks County Code of Ordinances § 91.07(B)
(B) The owner shall confine, within a building or secure enclosure, every fierce, dangerous, or vicious animal, and not take such animal out of such building, or secure enclosure, unless such animal is securely muzzled and a leash is secured to a choker chain around the animal's neck, and the owner is in complete control of the leash... This animal must be microchipped by a licensed veterinar...
Exotic Pets
Hendricks County bars keeping any wild animal within the county unless the County Planning and Zoning Department and the state authorize conditions for it, effectively banning exotic and wild pets outside a case-by-case permit.
Hendricks County Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsHendricks County Code of Ordinances § 91.07(E)
(E) No wild animal may be kept within the county limits, except under such conditions as shall be fixed by the County Planning and Zoning Department, and the state.
Cat Rules
Hendricks County has no cat leash law: Animal Control will not pick up cats simply for running at large. Strays reported and contained can still be picked up, and owners of nuisance cats may legally trap them for delivery to the shelter.
Hendricks County Cat At-Large Policy
Few RestrictionsHendricks County Code of Ordinances § 91.05(H)
(H) There is no cat leash law. Cats will not be picked up for running at large. However, the County Animal Control/Shelter can pick up cats that are reported to be stray, if contained. In the case of owned cats running at large, the complainant has a legal right to utilize a humane trap for the purpose of containing the animal to bring to the County Animal Control/Shelter.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Hendricks County does not require owners to spay or neuter pets outright, but an owner whose non-neutered dog or cat runs at large can be summoned to court, with the case dismissible if the animal is fixed within ten days and a vet confirms it.
Hendricks County Spay/Neuter-at-Large Rule
Some RestrictionsHendricks County Code of Ordinances § 91.04(B)
(B) Any owner that allows a non-neutered dog or cat to run at large can be issued a summons into court for a chapter violation. (1) If the animal is neutered or spayed within ten days of the violation, and verification is obtained from a licensed veterinarian, the summons can be dismissed. This burden of proof is the owner's responsibility and must be verified by Animal Control. ...
Microchipping
Hendricks County does not require microchips for every pet, but it mandates them for animals declared dangerous or potentially dangerous, and for most dogs, cats, and equines adopted from the county shelter, all at the owner's expense.
Hendricks County Microchip Requirements
Light RestrictionsHendricks County Code of Ordinances § 91.07(B), (C)
(B) ...This animal must be microchipped by a licensed veterinarian or the County Animal Control/Shelter, and the number kept on file at the County Animal Control/Shelter... The cost of the microchip and registration to be at the owner's expense. (C) ...This animal must be microchipped by a licensed veterinarian or the County Animal Control/Shelter, and the number kept on file at the Coun...
All Hendricks County ordinances
See every category we cover for Hendricks County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Hendricks County Ordinance Hub →