Animal Ordinances in Vanderburgh County, IN (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Vanderburgh County confines poultry and livestock raising to its most rural zoning districts. Section 17.20.210's Use Group 18 permits 'animal and poultry raising' only in the A, AIR, and CON districts, so a homeowner in any residential or commercial district in the unincorporated county cannot keep chickens or livestock by right.
Vanderburgh County Poultry and Livestock Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 17.20.210 (Use Group 18)
List of uses permitted in the A, AIR, and CON districts, which meet the requirements and restrictions of that zone: Animal and poultry raising except in a Confined Feeding Operation, Agricultural workshops or repair shops, for owner's agricultural equipment, located on the same lot with the owner's residence, Boarding/breeding kennel, Cattle and dairy ranches except in a Confined Feeding Operat...
Dog Leash Laws
Vanderburgh County's Animal Control Ordinance makes it a violation for an owner, agent or custodian to let an animal go "at large," meaning off its own property without a leash, or on a leash that fails to adequately confine it or isn't under a physically capable handler's immediate control.
Vanderburgh County Animals-at-Large Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code §§ 6.05.020, 6.05.040(A)
“AT LARGE” means any Animal that is: 1. not on a leash and is off the property of its Owner, its Custodian, the Agent of the Owner or the Custodian, or its keeper, or 2. on a leash that does not adequately confine the Animal to the property of its Owner, its Custodian, or the Agent of its Owner or Custodian, or its keeper, or 3. on a leash that is not otherwise under the immediate control of a ...
Breed Restrictions
Vanderburgh County has no breed ban: the code expressly states a dog's breed cannot be used to declare it "dangerous," and growling or barking alone is never enough either. Instead, the Animal Control and Education Commission runs a hearing-based process using bite history and behavior to decide dangerous-animal status.
Vanderburgh County Dangerous Dog Determination Rules
Significant RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code §§ 6.05.020, 6.05.090(A)(7)
“DANGEROUS ANIMAL” means any animal which presents a substantial threat of bodily harm to any person or pet in its vicinity or if it were to escape its primary enclosure or escape from the control of its owner or custodian. Such determination is to be made from past acts of aggressive behavior justifying the determination that it is a dangerous animal. A dog’s breed shall not be considered in d...
Cat Rules
Vanderburgh County has no separate cat license or feral-colony ordinance. Chapter 6.05's Animal Control code defines "Animal" broadly enough to include cats, so a cat off its owner's property without a leash, or one that becomes an "Animal Nuisance," violates the same at-large prohibition applied to dogs and is enforceable by the joint Evansville-Vanderburgh Animal Care and Control Department.
Vanderburgh County Cat At-Large & Nuisance Rules
Some RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code §§ 6.05.020, 6.05.040(A)
"ANIMAL" means any living, non-human vertebrate or invertebrate creature domestic, wild or exotic, excluding animals that are raised or maintained for agricultural purposes unless specifically stated otherwise. ... "AT LARGE" means any Animal that is: 1. not on a leash and is off the property of its Owner, its Custodian, the Agent of the Owner or the Custodian, or its keeper, or 2. on a leash t...
Microchipping
Vanderburgh County's code does not require routine pet microchipping. The only microchip provision sits in the dangerous-animal chapter: after a hearing finds an animal "dangerous," the Animal Control and Education Commission may order it permanently identified by microchip or tattoo as one of several conditions imposed on the owner.
Vanderburgh County Dangerous-Animal Microchip Rule
Light RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 6.05.090(E)(10)
In addition, the Commission, subject to judicial review, may require any or all of the following, but subsections (E)(5), (6) and (11) of this section, or any one of them, may only be imposed where there has been serious injury to a person. ... (10) That the animal be permanently identified by tattooing or by injecting an identification microchip, using standard veterinary procedures and practi...
Bird Protection
Vanderburgh County Code 12.24.010(J) bans hunting, molesting, harming, or throwing missiles at any bird, wildlife, reptile, or animal on County Park property, and also bans taking the eggs, nest, or young of any bird or reptile. The rule applies to all county parks, including Burdette Park, and is enforced by the County Sheriff's Department.
Vanderburgh County Park Wildlife Protection Rule
Significant RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 12.24.010(J)
12.24.010 Rules and regulations. It shall be a violation for any person to do any of the following in or upon the grounds or facilities of any Vanderburgh County Park ("County Park") without the express permission of the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County ("Board") or the County Parks Manager: ... J. Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot, or throw missi...
Animal Ordinances by City in Vanderburgh County
1 cities in Vanderburgh County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Vanderburgh County ordinances
See every category we cover for Vanderburgh County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Vanderburgh County Ordinance Hub →