10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Macomb County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Keeping chickens and livestock in Macomb County is governed by each city or township's zoning, not by a countywide rule. The Michigan Right to Farm Act and its GAAMPs can shield commercial farm operations from some local restrictions, but backyard hobby flocks remain subject to local zoning.
Macomb County Animal Control enforces the Michigan Dog Law and its Best Practices requiring dogs to be leashed and under effective control any time they are off the owner's property. Loose, unlicensed, or straying dogs may be captured and impounded.
Macomb County has no countywide breed ban, and Michigan has no statewide breed preemption either way. The county regulates dogs by behavior through a potentially dangerous dog process, not by breed. Individual townships and cities may adopt their own breed-specific rules.
Macomb County has no countywide beekeeping ordinance; hive-keeping is governed by each city or township's zoning. Beekeeping run as a commercial farm operation may fall under the Michigan Right to Farm Act and its GAAMPs, which can limit some local restrictions.
Macomb County Animal Control prohibits keeping dangerous or exotic animals without proper federal, state, and local permits plus municipality approval. Exotic animals include venomous or large non-native reptiles, non-human primates, wolf-dog crosses, and large carnivores under Michigan law.
Macomb County's Best Practices bar confining or keeping wild animals without municipality approval, and permitted exceptions are limited to accredited zoos and state-licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Feeding that attracts or holds wildlife on a property can raise nuisance and public-health concerns.
Keeping larger livestock such as horses, goats, sheep, and swine in Macomb County is controlled by local city and township zoning, not a countywide limit. Commercial livestock operations may be governed by the Michigan Right to Farm Act and its GAAMP setback and site-selection standards.
Animal hoarding is treated as cruelty and neglect under Michigan law and is investigated by Macomb County Animal Control. Failing to provide adequate care jeopardizes an animal's health; cases involving 25 or more animals carry felony-level penalties, and the county can confiscate animals through a show-cause hearing.
Macomb County does not set a countywide pet limit. The number of dogs and cats a household may keep is determined by each city or township, and limits vary widely across the county's communities. Residents must follow their local limit or request a variance.
Michigan does not require cats to be licensed, and Macomb County has no cat leash law. The county runs a Trap-Neuter-Return program for community cats, whose caregivers must sterilize, vaccinate, and ear-tip the cats and follow feeding-station rules.
2 cities in Macomb County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Macomb County Ordinance Hub →