Animal Ordinances in Montana (2026)
20 rules on the books across Montana, 3 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.
Montana: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsMontana's Right to Farm and Ranch Act (MCA 76-2-901 to 76-2-903) bars local ordinances from declaring established…
Read full rule →Bozeman
Significant RestrictionsBozeman Municipal Code § 8.02.070 lets residents of the City of Bozeman, Montana keep up to 15 hens per permit holder…
Read full rule →Billings
Some RestrictionsBillings allows up to six chicken hens on single-family lots with an annual animal control permit, a predator-proof…
Read full rule →Yellowstone County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Yellowstone County lets residents keep backyard chickens and other livestock under Section 27-1008, but…
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.
Billings
Some RestrictionsBillings bans dogs from running loose off their owner's property unless leashed, corded, chained, fenced, or otherwise…
Read full rule →Bozeman
Some RestrictionsBozeman Municipal Code § 8.02.080 requires dogs on any street, sidewalk, public way, park or other public space in the…
Read full rule →Breed Restrictions
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
Beekeeping
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
Montana: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsMontana requires all beekeepers to register hives with the Department of Agriculture annually. The state apiary law…
Read full rule →Billings
Significant RestrictionsBillings bans hives citywide unless you register as a hobbyist beekeeper and get an annual apiary permit from Animal…
Read full rule →Exotic Pets
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
Montana: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMontana law requires Fish, Wildlife and Parks permits to possess exotic, wild, or roadside menagerie animals. State…
Read full rule →Billings
Heavy RestrictionsBillings prohibits keeping monkeys, big cats, wolves, poisonous snakes, and wolf-dog hybrids as pets or for display…
Read full rule →Bozeman
Significant RestrictionsBozeman Municipal Code § 8.02.060 makes it unlawful to own, harbor or keep any exotic animal in the City of Bozeman…
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.
Montana: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMontana's animal cruelty statute applies universally and addresses neglect, deprivation, and conditions characteristic…
Read full rule →Bozeman
Significant RestrictionsBozeman Municipal Code § 8.02.050 makes it unlawful to keep more than two each of cats or dogs over six months of age…
Read full rule →Billings
Some RestrictionsBillings households can keep up to three dogs and/or cats without a permit; a fourth animal triggers a small animal…
Read full rule →Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Billings
Some RestrictionsBillings requires every cat to be registered and rabies-vaccinated within 30 days, and bans letting cats run at large…
Read full rule →Bozeman
Some RestrictionsBozeman Municipal Code § 8.02.020(B) requires every person keeping a cat over six months of age in the City of Bozeman…
Read full rule →Pet Groomer Rules
Health and safety standards for commercial pet grooming, including animal-handling certifications, sanitation, and zoning where mobile groomers may operate.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.