Animal Ordinances in Johnson County, IA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Johnson County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Johnson County caps backyard poultry and livestock by animal unit under UDO Section 8:1.24(A), converting each species into a fraction of an animal unit and capping the running total per acre by zoning district and parcel size. A chicken weighing three pounds or more counts as 0.01 animal unit, while dogs and cats are governed separately at six adult dogs and ten adult cats per parcel.
Johnson County Chicken & Livestock Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsJohnson County UDO 8:1.24(A)
A. Animal Husbandry and Keeping of Animals. Animal husbandry is a primary use in the A, SF, and AG-T districts and keeping of animals is an accessory use in the AR, RS, RC, and C-Ag districts. Both uses are subject to the following limits unless a property is agriculturally exempt: 1. With the exception of cats and dogs, animal types are classified based on animal units (AU). ... Chicken 3 poun...
Dog Leash Laws
Iowa City, Coralville, and unincorporated Johnson County require dogs to be leashed or controlled off the owner's property, with the shared Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center handling enforcement. Rabies vaccination is required by Iowa Code 351.33.
Johnson County Dog Leash & Control Laws
Some RestrictionsIowa Code § 351.33 (2026)
Every owner of a dog shall obtain a rabies vaccination for such animal. It shall be unlawful for any person to own or have a dog in the person's possession, six months of age or over, which has not been vaccinated against rabies. Dogs kept in kennels and not allowed to run at large shall not be subject to these vaccination requirements.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In unincorporated Johnson County, a veterinary office is zoned as an Animal Service under UDO Section 8:1.4(21) and is a permitted primary use only in the C-AG Agri-Business Zoning District. Opening a veterinary clinic anywhere else in the unincorporated county requires a rezoning or conditional use approval from the Board of Adjustment before any building permit can issue.
Johnson County Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsJohnson County UDO 8:1.4(21), 8:1.17(A)(2), 8:1.25(C)(1)
21. Animal Services. Businesses which primarily provide services to animals. Animal services include veterinary offices, groomers, animal boarding, and other similar operations. ... A. Primary Uses. The following primary uses are allowed in the C-AG district. ... 2. Animal Services. ... Animal Services: One (1) space per two hundred and fifty (250) square feet of gross floor area plus one (1) s...
Animal Ordinances by City in Johnson County
1 cities in Johnson County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Johnson County ordinances
See every category we cover for Johnson County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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