Animal Ordinances in Prince George's County, MD (2026)
13 rules for unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Prince George's County Code § 3-133 requires anyone keeping fowl or livestock, commercial or backyard, to keep the animals clean, sanitary, and free of obnoxious odors at all times. Animal Control Officers can inspect the premises, and loose chickens, geese, or ducks still count as animals at large under § 3-135.
PG County Chicken and Livestock Sanitation Rules
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-133
(a)All persons keeping or raising fowl or animals within the County, whether for commercial purposes or otherwise, shall keep the same at all times in a clean and sanitary condition and free from obnoxious odors.(b)The premises upon which are kept any fowl or animals (including, but not limited to, rodents, cattle, horses, sheep, swine, or goats) shall be subject to inspection by Animal Control...
Dog Leash Laws
Prince George's County Code § 3-135 bans letting any dog run at large off its owner's property, and § 3-135(h) caps leashes at ten feet, ruling out retractable leashes and electronic training collars as valid restraint. Violators face escalating civil fines plus possible criminal charges for refusing to surrender an at-large dog.
PG County: Dogs Must Be Leashed, 10-Foot Max
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-135(a), (h)
(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal (including, but not limited to, any cattle, horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, geese, ducks, chickens, dog, cat, or other animal) to permit the animal to run at large or be at large as defined in Section 3-101(7) within Prince George's County, Maryland...(h)A leash may not exceed ten (10) feet in length. A retractable leash or elect...
Breed Restrictions
Prince George's County Code § 3-146.01 makes anyone owning, keeping, or harboring a Pit Bull Terrier get an annual special permit and pay a $25 fee to the Department, on top of the standard pet license. Section 3-101(62) defines the breed broadly to include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and any dog that looks predominantly like one.
PG County Requires Special Permit for Pit Bulls
Significant RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-146.01
Application for a special permit and fee shall be made to the Department. All persons owning, keeping or harboring a Pit Bull Terrier shall obtain a special permit and shall pay an annual fee of $25. The Department shall administer Pit Bull Terrier special permits and fees. The provisions of licensing in this Subtitle shall apply to Pit Bull Terriers.
Beekeeping
Prince George's County's Zoning Ordinance permits beekeeping by right as an accessory use in every Rural, Agricultural, and Residential zone, from the ROS and AG Zones through RSF-95, RSF-65, and the RMF multifamily zones, with no beekeeping-specific standard limiting hive count or placement.
PG County Allows Backyard Beekeeping
Few RestrictionsPG County Zoning Ordinance §§ 27-2500, 27-5201(b), 27-5202
Beekeeping. The raising or producing of bees, beeswax, honey, and by-products... Table 27-5201(b): Accessory Use/Structure Table for Rural and Agricultural, and Residential Base Zones. P = Permitted by Right SE = Allowed only with approval of a Special Exception X = Prohibited... Beekeeping | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |... Unless otherwise provided in Section 27-5203, Standards ...
Exotic Pets
Prince George's County bars residents from keeping most wild, exotic, poisonous, or native wildlife species as pets. County Code § 3-176 prohibits unlicensed wild or dangerous animals, venomous snakes and reptiles, and native species such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, bears, wolves, and non-domestic cats on private property. The Director of the Environment can issue a wild and exotic animal display permit after inspection, and the license costs $200 a year.
Prince George's County Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-176
(a)No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any unlicensed wild, exotic, or dangerous animal either as a pet, for breeding, for sale, or for display or exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee, except as otherwise provided herein. ... (c)No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any ground hog, skunk, raccoon, opossum, fox, bear, wolf, other native...
Pet Limits
Prince George's County limits large accumulations of animals through the hobby-permit cap and prohibits animal cruelty and neglect. Keeping five or more animals without a permit or in poor conditions can trigger seizure and penalties.
PG County Animal Hoarding & Neglect Rules
Heavy RestrictionsPG County Code § 3-116.01(b)
A Pit Bull that causes injury to or kills a human being or a domestic animal without provocation shall be humanely destroyed, and the owner of such dog shall be fined up to $1,000.00 or may be sentenced to not more than six (6) months of imprisonment.
Cat Rules
Prince George's County Code § 3-122(h) protects free-roaming, ear-tipped cats from being impounded just for being outdoors or unlicensed, and directs the County to support trap-neuter-return. Section 3-122(e) requires Animal Control to release a trapped ear-tipped cat back where it was found unless it's sick, hurt, or under an active nuisance complaint.
PG County Protects Ear-Tipped Cats From Impoundment
Light RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-122(h)
(h)(1)Prince George's County promotes the responsible practice of trap-neuter-return to include vaccination against rabies and other diseases as an effective method for humanely reducing the population of free-roaming cats.(2)Free-roaming cats shall not be impounded as a public nuisance animal solely for being at large or unlicensed. The Administrator may impound a free-roaming cat if complaint...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Prince George's County Code § 3-128(c) requires every impounded dog, cat, or ferret to be spayed or neutered before the Animal Services and Adoption Center releases it back to its owner, with the surgery cost folded into the redemption bill. Section 3-128(d) allows narrow waivers for hardship, farm animals, and government-owned animals.
PG County Mandates Spay/Neuter Before Pet Release
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-128(c)-(d)
(c)...In addition, when the animal is impounded, it will be mandatory that it is spayed or neutered prior to leaving the Animal Services and Adoption Center. The cost shall be included in the payment of redemption fees not exceed the actual cost of the procedure.(d)Exemptions and Waivers(1)The mandatory spay/neuter requirement may be waived when the owner is able to provide proof that altering ...
Microchipping
Under Prince George's County Code § 3-128(c), any impounded animal that isn't already microchipped must be chipped, at the owner's expense, before it leaves the Animal Services and Adoption Center. The chip fee is added to the same redemption bill covering license fees, boarding charges, and the mandatory spay/neuter cost.
PG County Requires Microchip to Reclaim Your Pet
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-128(c)
(c)The owner of an impounded animal also shall be liable to Prince George's County, Maryland, for the shelter fees to include the fee for mandatory microchipping if the animal is not already microchipped and the costs of any required veterinary services in accordance with the schedule or tariff of charges promulgated by the Director pursuant to Section 3-106 herein.
Pet Store Rules
Prince George's County does not ban retail sale of dogs and cats, but the General Code's Section 3-170 sets detailed animal-welfare and consumer-protection standards for pet shops and commercial pet distribution facilities. Dealers cannot sell or display a dog or cat younger than eight weeks, must keep facilities within a set temperature range, and must give buyers a refund or exchange if a vet later finds the animal unfit.
PG County Pet Shop Standards and Refund Rights
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-170(i)(1),(4)
(i)(1)It shall be a violation for any pet dealer to sell a dog or cat without providing the consumer with a pet dealer's animal history certificate at the time the consumer takes possession of the dog or cat. ... (4)If, at any time within ten (10) days following receipt of an animal by a consumer, a veterinarian certifies such animal to have been unfit for purchase due to illness, a congenital ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Prince George's County requires anyone operating a pet grooming establishment to hold an annual grooming establishment license before opening, under County Code § 3-167. The license costs $50 a year and caps the site at fifty animals during any twelve-hour business day. The license is one of the county's animal holding facility licenses, administered by the Department of the Environment's Animal Services Division, and it comes with its own Use and Occupancy permit requirement.
PG County Pet Grooming Establishment License
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-167
(a)No person may operate a grooming establishment without first obtaining a grooming establishment license as provided herein.(b)The annual fee for a grooming establishment license shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00) and the establishment is authorized to hold up to fifty (50) animals for the day (12 hour period).
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Prince George's County treats veterinary hospitals and clinics as an Animal Care Use under the Zoning Ordinance, permitted by-right in some zones and only by special exception in others. Every approved clinic must meet operational standards on animal boarding hours, soundproofing and outdoor run setbacks, not just get a building permit.
Vet Clinic Zoning Rules in PG County
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 27-5102(e)(3)(C)
Veterinary Hospital or Clinic Those parts of structures in which animals are boarded shall be fully enclosed and sufficiently insulated so no unreasonable noise or odor can be detected off the premises. All boarded animals shall be kept within a totally enclosed part of the structures between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Any open exercise runs or pens shall be at least 75 feet from any...
Bird Protection
Prince George's County protects young birds from exploitative sale and mistreatment under Code Section 3-183. The law bars selling, raffling or giving away chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under four weeks old in lots smaller than a dozen, prohibits dyeing or coloring them, and bans giving away any live bird, fish or animal as a contest prize or business inducement.
PG County Baby Fowl Sale and Dyeing Ban
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 3-183(a),(c),(d)
(a)No person shall sell, offer for sale, raffle, barter, or give away baby chickens (chicks), ducklings or other fowl under four (4) weeks of age in lots of less than one dozen, or rabbits under six (6) weeks of age, or any unweaned mammalian companion animals including said animals under the age of eight (8) weeks as prohibited by State law; or color, dye, stain, or change the natural color of...
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