Animal Ordinances in Linn County, IA (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Linn County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Linn County caps livestock and poultry by lot size in residential-zoned districts: one large animal per acre, three sheep or goats per acre, and up to twelve fowl or rabbits per acre.
Chickens and Livestock Limits in Linn County
Some RestrictionsLinn County Code § 107-112(a), Table 107-112
Agriculture, horses and non-commercial livestock on lots in VR, VM, RR or USR zoning districts... the following standards shall apply to the keeping of horses and other non-commercial livestock: Horses and non-commercial livestock are limited to the maximum animal densities as shown in Table 107-112 below... Small animals: domestic fowl, rabbits, chinchillas, and other similar size animals: Twe...
Dog Leash Laws
Linn County bans letting any animal run at-large in the unincorporated county, with impoundment and rising civil penalties for repeat violations.
Linn County Leash & At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsLinn County Code § 6-24(a)-(b)
(a) It shall be unlawful for an animal to run at-large. (b) Any animal running at-large may be apprehended by a law enforcement officer or an animal control officer and may be impounded by the animal control agency. Upon impoundment of any animal the animal control agency employees shall make a registration for such animal, entering the species, breed most predominant, color and sex of the a...
Breed Restrictions
Linn County has no breed-specific dog ban; instead it declares any animal that bites or attacks without provocation "vicious" and requires its surrender for euthanasia.
Linn County Vicious Animal Surrender Rule
Heavy RestrictionsLinn County Code §§ 6-57, 6-70(a)
Vicious animal means an animal that has attacked and/or bitten a person without provocation... No person shall continue to own or keep a vicious animal in the county. Upon written notice by a law enforcement officer, an animal alleged to be vicious shall be surrendered to the animal control officer for euthanasia.
Exotic Pets
Keeping wolves, big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes and dozens of other wild species in unincorporated Linn County is banned without a board-issued dangerous animal permit.
Linn County Dangerous Wild Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsLinn County Code § 6-58
No person shall keep a dangerous animal in the county except by permit as hereinafter provided.
Animal Ordinances by City in Linn County
1 cities in Linn County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Linn County ordinances
See every category we cover for Linn County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Linn County Ordinance Hub →