Animal Ordinances in Oldham County, KY (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Oldham County, Kentucky.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Oldham County, every dog must be under restraint at all times, and any dog off its owner's property must be leashed and wear a visible license and rabies tag. The Animal Control Officer enforces the rule, with a narrow exception for hunting dogs actively working or returning from a hunt.
Oldham County Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsOldham County Code § 90.02
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor an animal, excluding community cats, that is not under restraint at all times or is permitted to run at large. All dogs off their owner's property must be leashed with visible dog license tag and rabies vaccination tag. Except that a hound or other hunting dog which has been released from restraint for hunting purposes shall be deemed to be u...
Breed Restrictions
Oldham County Code does not restrict or ban any dog breed by name. Instead, Chapter 90 defines and punishes a vicious animal based solely on what the animal has done, such as an unprovoked attack causing serious injury, not on its breed or type.
Oldham County Has No Breed-Specific Dog Ban
Few RestrictionsOldham County Code §§ 90.01, 90.10
VICIOUS ANIMAL. ... (1) (a) Any animal which when unprovoked, approaches in a terrorizing manner, any person in an attitude of attack upon streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or places; (b) Any animal which constitutes a physical threat to human beings or domestic animals due to an unprovoked attack or bite which results in serious bodily harm; ... It shall be unlawful to own or pos...
Exotic Pets
Oldham County bans keeping dangerous wild animals, poisonous reptiles, and named hybrids anywhere in the unincorporated county. Section 90.50 lists bears, lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, elephants, and more by name, and the county police chief can seize a noncompliant animal.
Oldham County Dangerous Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsOldham County Code § 90.50
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership or corporation to keep, maintain or have in his or her possession or under his or her personal control within the county, any poisonous reptile or other animal of a species not ordinarily domesticated by humans and which in a wild state is carnivorous and which because of its nature or physical makeup is capable of inflicting serious physical har...
Cat Rules
Oldham County does not license cats the way it licenses dogs, but every cat four months or older must carry current rabies vaccination proof. The Fiscal Court's animal control code recognizes community cats managed under trap-neuter-return, exempting them and their caretakers from the restraint-at-all-times rule that otherwise applies to owned animals.
Oldham County Cat and Community Cat Rules
Light RestrictionsOldham County Code §§ 90.01, 90.03(B)(3)
CARETAKER. Any person or organization who participates in TNR and/or who regularly provides care to a community cat. ... COMMUNITY CAT. Any cat or kitten that has no apparent owner or identification and is free-roaming. ... TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN (TNR). The method of managing community cats by humanely trapping, altering, vaccinating, ear tipping, and returning the community cat to the location whe...
Microchipping
Oldham County does not require every pet to be microchipped, but any dog impounded at the county Animal Shelter that is not already microchipped is chipped on intake. Chapter 90 defines a microchip as a radio-frequency transponder compatible with the scanner Animal Control uses to identify strays.
Oldham County Impounded-Animal Microchip Rule
Light RestrictionsOldham County Code §§ 90.01, 90.05(B)
MICROCHIP. A passive transponder which can be implanted in an animal and which is a component of a radio frequency identification system (RDIF). Such system must be compatible with a scanner used by the County Animal Control. ... All impounded dogs not currently microchipped, shall be microchipped upon intake.
Pet Store Rules
Oldham County allows pet shops to sell animals but requires every shop to be licensed and to meet Chapter 90's minimum care standards. Shops must keep origin and sale records for each animal and cannot house or sell any species classified inherently dangerous under KRS 65.877.
Oldham County Pet Shop Standards
Some RestrictionsOldham County Code § 90.13
All pet shops, as defined herein, including pet shops run in conjunction with another holding facility, shall, in addition to the other requirements of this subchapter, comply with the following minimum standards. ... Records shall be kept showing each animals point of origin and no animals may be housed or sold that are inherently dangerous under KRS 65.877. Records must be kept showing sale o...
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