Animal Ordinances in Mississippi (2026)
26 rules on the books across Mississippi, 6 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Chickens & Livestock
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Mississippi: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsMississippi's Board of Animal Health forbids any carrier from moving livestock or poultry into or through the state…
Read full rule →Gulfport
Some RestrictionsGulfport caps backyard fowl, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, guineas, or peafowl at two birds unless they are…
Read full rule →Harrison County
Some RestrictionsLivestock farming is only permitted in unincorporated Harrison County on family farms and concentrated feeding…
Read full rule →Hinds County
Some RestrictionsKeep more than two chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese or other fowl on agriculturally zoned land in unincorporated Hinds…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsJackson lets residents keep horses, cows, mules or cattle only with the county health department's written consent…
Read full rule →Jackson County
Some RestrictionsJackson County bars farm animals and fowl from most residential zoning districts unless the parcel is at least one…
Read full rule →Rankin County
Some RestrictionsRankin County, Mississippi permits raising grazing livestock, horses, cattle, sheep, goats and mules, outright in the…
Read full rule →Dog Leash Laws
When and where dogs must be on a leash, off-leash park rules, leash length limits, and penalties for dogs running loose.
Gulfport
Some RestrictionsGulfport bans letting a dog run at large anywhere in the city except inside the fenced, city-operated dog park while…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsJackson prohibits letting any animal run at large within city limits. City Code Sec. 18-13 lets animal control impound…
Read full rule →Breed Restrictions
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
Gulfport
Significant RestrictionsGulfport does not name specific breeds but requires any dog with dangerous or vicious propensities to be securely…
Read full rule →Jackson
Significant RestrictionsJackson does not ban dog breeds by name; instead Article IV lets the animal control director declare any dog…
Read full rule →Beekeeping
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
Exotic Pets
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
Mississippi: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMississippi prohibits possession of inherently dangerous wild animals such as big cats, bears, wolves, hyenas, and…
Read full rule →Gulfport
Heavy RestrictionsGulfport bans keeping any wild animal, reptile or wild fowl native to the southeastern United States within city…
Read full rule →Jackson
Heavy RestrictionsJackson outright bans keeping any wild animal as a pet and bars displaying wild animals for exhibition at homes…
Read full rule →Rankin County
Significant RestrictionsRankin County, Mississippi bars keeping wild animals, defined to include monkeys, deer, wolves, bear and buffalo, on…
Read full rule →Wildlife Feeding
Rules about feeding wild animals like deer, coyotes, or feral cats, and requirements for securing trash to prevent wildlife encounters.
Pet Limits
Maximum number of cats, dogs, or other companion animals allowed per household, including counts that trigger kennel-license requirements.
Mississippi: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMississippi treats severe neglect and hoarding-style conditions as criminal cruelty under the Dog and Cat Pet…
Read full rule →Jackson County
Significant RestrictionsJackson County's Zoning Ordinance does not cap pets by a flat household number; instead it defines a kennel as any…
Read full rule →Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Gulfport
Some RestrictionsGulfport bans letting cats run at large off their owner's premises, requires rabies vaccination for cats three months…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsJackson requires every cat three months or older to carry a current rabies vaccination and wear a metal tag at all…
Read full rule →Microchipping
Mandates that dogs and cats be microchipped before leaving a shelter or by a certain age, including registration and tag requirements.
Gulfport
Some RestrictionsGulfport requires every impounded cat or dog to be scanned for a microchip and microchipped before it is returned to an…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsJackson does not require microchips for ordinary pet dogs. The mandate applies only after Animal Control formally…
Read full rule →Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.
Gulfport
Some RestrictionsGulfport's Chart of Permitted Uses allows a veterinary hospital only with Planning Commission approval, and only in the…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsJackson's Zoning Ordinance controls where veterinary clinics may open and whether outdoor animal space triggers extra…
Read full rule →Bird Protection
Local rules protecting specific bird species (LAMC §53.55), including penalties for trapping or harming protected species and bird-safe building design.