Animal Ordinances in Madison County, AL (2026)

1 county-level rule, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Madison County, Alabama.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Madison County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Dog Leash Laws

In unincorporated Madison County a dog or cat only escapes the county's licensing and impoundment scheme while it is on the owner's property or on a leash. Ala. Code § 45-45-170.01 lets the Madison County Commission pass ordinances against dogs running at large and impound and destroy strays, but a licensed, rabies-vaccinated dog cannot be impounded absent a complaint.

Madison County Dog Leash & At-Large Law

Some Restrictions

Ala. Code §§ 45-45-170(e), 45-45-170.01 (Acts 88-424, 89-836)

(e) Any dog or cat on the property of its owner or on a leash shall be exempt from this section. ... The Madison County Commission shall have the power by ordinance to regulate and prevent within Madison County the running at large of all dogs or other animals and to pass all ordinances necessary for the impounding and sale of such dogs and destruction of dogs, so long as any ordinances are not...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Animal Ordinances by City in Madison County

2 cities in Madison County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

HuntsvillePop. 215,006

12 verified rules • Bird Protection, Breed Restrictions

MadisonPop. 56,933

6 verified rules • Breed Restrictions, Cat Rules

All Madison County ordinances

See every category we cover for Madison County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Madison County Ordinance Hub →