10 rules for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Howard County allows backyard hens on residential lots through its Zoning Regulations. On a single-family detached lot of at least 10,000 square feet you may keep up to eight hens; roosters are prohibited and coops must meet setbacks from lot lines and neighboring homes.
Howard County governs every resident, including unincorporated Columbia and Ellicott City. A domesticated animal must be on a leash and under the control of a responsible person whenever it is off the owner's property; a dog off-property and unrestrained is "at large."
Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings §3-1901(c)
The owner of a dog is liable for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, while the dog is running at large, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the body or property of a person who was ... committing or attempting to commit a trespass ... or teasing, tormenting, abusing, or provoking the dog.
Howard County does not ban any dog breed. Maryland repealed its pit-bull-specific liability rule in 2014, and dog liability is now applied "without regard to the breed or heritage of the dog." County rules target a dog's behavior, not its breed.
Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings §3-1901(b)
In an action against a person other than an owner of a dog for damages for personal injury or death caused by the dog, the common law of liability relating to attacks by dogs against humans that existed on April 1, 2012, is retained as to the person without regard to the breed or heritage of the dog.
Howard County's animal control law does not regulate honeybees, so hive-keeping is governed by zoning and by Maryland's state apiary program. Maryland requires every beekeeper to register their colonies annually with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
Wild or exotic animals may not be kept as pets in Howard County, and Maryland law separately bans possessing dangerous exotic species such as bears, big cats, alligators, foxes and raccoons statewide. County rules cover companion dogs and cats, not wildlife.
Md. Code, Criminal Law §10-621
A person may not import into the State, offer for sale, trade, barter, possess, breed, or exchange a live: (i) fox, skunk, raccoon, or bear; (ii) caiman, alligator, or crocodile; (iii) member of the cat family other than the domestic cat.
Howard County's animal control code does not set a blanket wildlife-feeding ban, but feeding deer, foxes or other wildlife that creates a nuisance or health hazard can draw enforcement, and Maryland DNR strongly discourages feeding. Feeding stray or feral animals is discouraged and can raise nuisance concerns.
Howard County regulates livestock through its Zoning Regulations, not the animal control code. Horses, cattle, goats and similar animals are permitted on rural and agriculturally zoned land (RC and RR districts) subject to acreage and setback requirements, but are restricted on small residential lots.
Neglecting, abandoning or mistreating animals is illegal in Howard County under Maryland's animal-cruelty law. Depriving animals of necessary food, water, care or shelter is a misdemeanor, and Animal Control can seize animals in hoarding or neglect situations.
Md. Code, Criminal Law §10-604
A person may not: (1) overdrive or overload an animal; (2) deprive an animal of necessary sustenance; (3) inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on an animal; ... or (5) if the person has charge or custody of an animal ... fail to provide the animal with nutritious food ... proper air, space, shelter, or protection from the weather.
Howard County's animal control law sets no hard numeric cap on household dogs or cats, but every dog and cat must be individually licensed each year and kept currently vaccinated against rabies. Keeping many animals as a kennel triggers zoning rules.
Howard County Animal Control Laws (County Code Title 17, Subtitle 3)
All dog and cat owners must purchase Howard County annual licenses for their pets.
Howard County requires cats, like dogs, to be licensed annually and kept currently vaccinated against rabies from four months of age. Cats must not run at large onto neighbors' property, but the county has no strict cat leash mandate.
Howard County Animal Control Laws (County Code Title 17, Subtitle 3)
Pet owners must continuously maintain a rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets that are four months of age and older.
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