10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Washtenaw County does not zone residential land, so chicken rules come from your city or township. In Ann Arbor you must obtain a 6-bird permit ($55), keep no roosters, and place the coop at least 10 feet from any property line.
Ann Arbor Code § 9:42(3)
Keep no more than 6 birds. ... No person shall keep any rooster (male chicken). Both drakes (male ducks) and hen ducks (female ducks) may be kept. ... No covered enclosure or fenced enclosure shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line of an adjacent property.
Michigan's dog law bars owners from letting a dog stray unless held on a leash. In Ann Arbor a person must physically hold the leash. Countywide animal control is run by the Humane Society of Huron Valley.
MCL 287.262
It shall be unlawful ... for any owner to allow any dog, except working dogs such as leader dogs, guard dogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs, and other such dogs, when accompanied by their owner or his authorized agent, while actively engaged in activities for which such dogs are trained, to stray unless held properly in leash.
Neither Michigan nor Washtenaw County bans any dog breed. Regulation is behavior-based: under state law, any dog or animal that bites or attacks a person can be declared a 'dangerous animal' regardless of breed.
MCL 287.321(a)
"Dangerous animal" means a dog or other animal that bites or attacks a person, or a dog that bites or attacks and causes serious injury or death to another dog while the other dog is on the property or under the control of its owner.
Washtenaw County sets no beekeeping rule; your city or township does. Ann Arbor permits hives but limits an apiary to no more than two stands or hives. Registered beekeeping may also claim protection under Michigan's Right to Farm Act.
Michigan's Large Carnivore Act bans owning big cats, bears, and similar large carnivores as pets statewide, including Washtenaw County. Local Ann Arbor rules further limit residential animals to common household pets.
MCL 287.1103(1)
A person shall not do any of the following: (a) Own or possess a large carnivore except in compliance with this act.
Washtenaw County has no wildlife-feeding ordinance, but a statewide ban prohibits feeding and baiting deer and elk throughout the Lower Peninsula, which includes Washtenaw County, to control chronic wasting disease.
Washtenaw County does not zone residential land, so whether you can keep livestock depends on your city or township. Bona fide farm operations are protected from nuisance suits by Michigan's Right to Farm Act when they follow accepted practices.
MCL 286.473(1)
A farm or farm operation shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance if the farm or farm operation alleged to be a nuisance conforms to generally accepted agricultural and management practices according to policy determined by the Michigan commission of agriculture and rural development.
Washtenaw County has no dedicated hoarding ordinance, but Michigan's animal-cruelty law requires adequate care for every animal and escalates penalties sharply with the number of animals neglected, effectively targeting hoarding situations.
MCL 750.50
"Adequate care" means the provision of sufficient food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary medical attention in order to maintain an animal in a state of good health.
Washtenaw County sets no limit on how many pets you may own; cities do. Ann Arbor restricts residential animals to dogs, cats, rabbits, canaries, and small common pets, and every dog over six months must be licensed.
Michigan does not require cats to be licensed or leashed, but Ann Arbor requires every cat over six months to be vaccinated against rabies. Failing to immunize a cat can bring a ticket.
MCL 287.266
The owner of a dog that is required to be licensed under this section shall keep the dog currently vaccinated against rabies by an accredited veterinarian.
1 cities in Washtenaw County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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