10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washoe County, Nevada.
Verified from official government sources
Poultry and livestock may be kept in unincorporated Washoe County where the Development Code zoning allows it, but in congested areas the owner must keep them fenced or penned so they never leave the property. Livestock running at large in a congested area is unlawful.
WCC 55.540
It is unlawful for livestock to be at large within any congested area. A violation of this section is committed by the owner or person having custody, control or possession of the livestock.
In designated congested areas of unincorporated Washoe County, dogs must be leashed off their owner's premises. Outside congested areas, a dog must be accompanied and under voice or signal control. Letting a dog run at large is unlawful and the animal may be impounded.
WCC 55.100(1)
In the congested areas of the county, every person who is the owner of or has the care, custody or control of any ... dog ... has an absolute duty to keep the same upon the premises under the control of such person, restrained by a fence, cage, coop, chain, leash or other adequate means.
Washoe County does not ban or restrict any dog by breed. Regulation is behavior-based: any dog, regardless of breed, can be declared 'dangerous' or 'vicious' under WCC 55.750 after attacks or menacing conduct. There is no pit-bull or breed-specific ordinance.
Washoe County Code Chapter 55 sets no beekeeping ordinance. Whether hives are allowed is a Development Code zoning question (typically permitted on agricultural and large rural-residential parcels). Registration of colonies with the Nevada Department of Agriculture is required statewide under NRS Chapter 552.
Keeping an exotic animal in unincorporated Washoe County requires a permit from the animal control board, with approved enclosure drawings and an inspection. Keeping high-risk rabies vectors like bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes or coyotes is outright prohibited.
WCC 55.645(1)(a)
A person shall not intentionally keep, harbor or in any way care for, maintain lodge or feed on private property, a bat, skunk, raccoon, fox or coyote, or any other high-risk transmitters of rabies as defined by the health authority.
Washoe County prohibits keeping, harboring or feeding high-risk rabies vectors -- bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes -- on private property. Feeding these animals can force their relinquishment to authorities. Nevada also discourages feeding big game to protect public safety.
WCC 55.645(1)(a)
A person shall not intentionally keep, harbor or in any way care for, maintain lodge or feed on private property, a bat, skunk, raccoon, fox or coyote, or any other high-risk transmitters of rabies as defined by the health authority.
Livestock may be kept on unincorporated parcels zoned for them, but in congested areas owners must keep them fenced on-premises; livestock at large is unlawful and may be impounded. Estrays are handled under Nevada's state estray law, NRS Chapter 569.
WCC 55.530
If any livestock impounded pursuant to this chapter is an estray within the meaning of NRS 569.0075, then the provisions of NRS 569.005 to 569.130, inclusive, take precedence over any provisions of this chapter regarding the impoundment of animals.
Washoe County caps household animals and requires clean, humane conditions; keeping too many animals in unsanitary conditions is enforceable. Cruelty and neglect are prosecuted under Nevada state law, NRS Chapter 574, which makes torture, overdriving or failing to provide proper care a crime.
WCC 55.110
No person shall keep any animal unless its area is kept clean and free from offensive odors and animal wastes.
In congested areas of Washoe County you may keep up to three dogs and up to seven cats over four months of age without a permit. Keeping more for over 30 days requires a kennel or cattery permit with enclosure plans and an inspection.
WCC 55.390
A person shall not keep more than three dogs over 4 months of age nor more than seven cats over 4 months of age, for more than 30 days at any place or residence within a congested area without a permit issued in accordance with section 55.400 to 55.420, inclusive.
Cats are exempt from Washoe County's dog leash and at-large rules, so they may roam. However, unspayed female cats may not be allowed to run at large while in season, and keeping more than seven adult cats requires a cattery permit. Rabies vaccination is required statewide.
WCC 55.465
It is unlawful for the owner or any person having the control or possession of any unspayed female dog or cat to suffer or permit the dog or cat to run at large within any area of the county while the dog or cat is in the copulating season.
1 cities in Washoe County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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