Chapter 6.12 - KEEPING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS

Part of the Code of Ordinances of South Salt Lake, UT.

Local law · Updated May 27, 2026 · 1,732 sections

The text

6.12.010 - Owners responsible for care of animals.#

The owner of an animal is ultimately responsible for the behavior of an animal which belongs to that owner, regardless of whether the animal was in the care, custody or control of another individual.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.020 - Removal of animal waste.#

The owner or custodian of any animal shall remove any feces left by said animal on any sidewalk, gutter, street or other public area.

The owner or custodian of an animal shall also remove any feces left by said animal on any private property for which consent has not been given to allow the leaving of feces. A person is subject to nuisance animal penalties if feces are not promptly removed by the owner or custodian on more than one occasion.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to a guide dog, hearing dog, or other service dog accompanying any person with a disability, if such animal is actually being used by a disabled person.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.030 - Animal cruelty.#

Conduct falling under the provisions of the Utah Code's prohibitions against cruelty to animals, Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-301 et seq., shall be prosecuted in a criminal court, although civil remedies may be simultaneously sought.

For purposes of Section 76-9-305 of the Utah Code, the court in which the animal cruelty action is filed may make the determination that the animal be sold at public auction or destroyed, or that decision may be addressed by the administrative law judge. Animals seized due to cruel or inhumane circumstances, but for which criminal charges will not be pursued, shall be disposed of, redeemed or placed according to [Section] 6.04.170 of this code.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.040 - Animals running at large.#

It is unlawful for the owner or another responsible person having charge, care, custody or control of an animal to allow such animal at any time to run at large.

The owner or person charged with responsibility of an animal found running loose shall be strictly liable for any property damage or injury to a person or another animal caused by such animal running at large, regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape of the animal and regardless of whether the person knows that the animal is running at large.

Any animal shall be considered running at large if it is found on public property or the property of another and is not under restraint.

The provisions of this section do not apply to dogs in a designated off-leash area of a public or private park.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.050 - Animals on unenclosed premises.#

It is unlawful for any person to chain, stake out or tether any animal on an unenclosed premises in such a manner that the animal may go beyond the property line or upon the sidewalk or roadway.

It is not a violation of this section for an animal to cross into the property of an adjacent property owner if that property owner has consented to the entry.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.060 - Animals in public places.#

It is unlawful to chain, stake out or tether any animal in a public place unless the person in charge of such animal is present and the animal is properly restrained so that the animal poses no threat of contact with a person engaged in a normal and expected activity.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.070 - Fences and enclosures.#

The owner of or any person responsible for an enclosure or fence, which is intended to limit an animal's movement to a specific area, shall be liable under this chapter for a failure to properly maintain such enclosure or fence in a manner which prevents any part of the animal to protrude through the fence.

It shall not be necessary for an animal to have escaped from the enclosure for there to be a violation of this section.

No kennel, dog runs, shelter, dog house or similar structure shall be erected or maintained in a side yard, as defined in Title 17 of this code.

An electronic system by which an animal receives a shock or other stimulus when approaching the property boundary, or a similar product or method, does not qualify as a fence or enclosure under this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.080 - Prolonged chaining prohibited.#

It is unlawful to chain or tether an animal outside in excess of six consecutive hours per day, unless there is provided adequate shelter, food and water for the animal. In no event shall an animal be chained or tethered outdoors for more than ten (10) consecutive hours per day.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.090 - Animals in vehicles.#

In cases not amounting to animal cruelty, it is unlawful for any person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence, to confine an animal within a vehicle without adequate ventilation, for an unusual length of time, when the vehicle's interior is subject to extreme temperatures, or any other condition which imperils the animal's welfare. A violation may be established by any one of these factors, or from their combination.

It is unlawful to allow any animal to jump from a vehicle while that vehicle is moving upon any public street within the city.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.100 - Injury to animals by motorists.#

Every operator of a motor or other self-propelled vehicle upon the streets of the city shall immediately upon injuring, striking, maiming or running down any domestic animal give aid as can be reasonably rendered. In the absence of the owner, the operator shall immediately notify the South Salt Lake City animal control division or police department and report the incident.

It shall be the duty of such operator to remain at or near the scene until such time as the appropriate authorities arrive, and upon the arrival of such authorities, the operator shall identify him or herself to such authorities. In the absence of an owner, a person may give aid by taking the animal to the animal control facility or another veterinary facility and notifying the animal control division.

Emergency vehicles are exempted from the requirements of this provision.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.110 - Unlawful to harbor stray animals.#

Except as otherwise provided in this title or the laws of the state of Utah, it is unlawful for any person to harbor, feed on multiple occasions, or keep an animal which appears to be lost or strayed.

It is the duty of any person who finds stray, lost or feral animals to notify the animal control division within twenty-four (24) hours, and permit the division to impound the animals.

The provisions of this section do not apply to appropriately licensed animal shelters.

This section does not prohibit a permitted community cat colony caretaker from providing food to community cats.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.120 - Malicious impounding.#

It is unlawful for any person to secrete or impound the animal which belongs to another person.

The provisions of this section do not apply to animal control officers or peace officers acting within the scope of their authority.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.130 - Keeping dogs at travel trailer parks.#

The city council finds that dogs kept or controlled by patrons of travel trailer parks presents a special hazard to other patrons and guests using those facilities even when otherwise restrained by leash or tether.

No person staying as a renter, guest or invitee at travel trailer park located in the city shall have charge, care, custody or control of any dog at such space or pad except that dog be:

Totally enclosed within a solid structure, such as a portable kennel, run, cage or similar enclosure or in a motor vehicle which is adequately ventilated; or

Is on a leash or tether physically controlled by that person.

The fact that the dog in question is otherwise tethered or not violating any other provisions of this chapter at the time in question shall not be a defense to a charge of violating this section.

Any dog being kept at any travel trailer park in violation of this section may be impounded by any police or animal control officer at any time a violation occurs without prior notice to the person having charge, care, custody or control of the dog.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.140 - Female dogs in heat.#

Any owner or person having charge, care custody or control of any female dog in heat shall, in addition to restraining such dog from running at large, cause such dog to be constantly confined in a building or secure enclosure so as to prevent it from attracting by scent or coming into contact with other dogs and creating a nuisance, except for planned breeding.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.150 - Places prohibited to animals.#

It is unlawful for any person to take or permit any animal, whether loose or on a leash or in arms, in or about any establishment or place of business where food or food products are sold or displayed, including but not limited to restaurants, grocery stores, meat markets and fruit or vegetable stores. This provision does not apply to licensed service animals.

Except in specifically designated parks, it is unlawful for any person to take or permit any animal to be loose in any public park located within the corporate limits of the city. In parks in which animals are permitted, animals must be on a leash which is of sufficient strength to ensure that the person has absolute control of the animal. Leads shall not exceed six feet in length.

In parks which contain specifically designated areas for off-leash animals, animals are to be kept on leashes or leads in accordance with subsection B, until they enter the designated "off-leash" areas.

Exceptions may be made for any show or clinic held with the permission of the parks division.

Properly licensed service animals shall not be prohibited from entry into an establishment or place of business, except as provided under federal or state law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as denying access to properly licensed service animals.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.160 - Sale of animals.#

Rabbits or Fowl. It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any live baby rabbits or fowl under two months of age in any quantity less than six. Such animals shall not be artificially dyed or colored. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to prohibit the raising of such rabbits and fowl by a private individual for his or her personal use and consumption, provided that he maintains proper brooders and other facilities for the care and containment of such animals while they are in his possession.

Premiums and Novelties. It is unlawful for any person to offer as a premium, prize, award, novelty or incentive to purchase merchandise, any live animal.

Pet Turtles. It is unlawful for any person to raise or sell any Pseudemys Scriptaelegans, or P. Troostii family Testudinidae, "pet turtles."

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.170 - Limits on number of animals.#

No person may permit more than the designated number of animals in or upon one residence or commercial establishment (except permitted facilities otherwise governed by this title) at one time, except as otherwise provided herein, or in the case of a service animal, as defined by Utah law. One additional animal may be permitted only as indicated on the following table, in cases where the animal is a rescued animal.

The allowed number of animals is as follows:

Type of Animal Number permitted per residence or commercial establishment Additional animals permitted if a rescued animal

Dogs 2 1

Cats 2 1

Ferrets 2

Exotic animals 4

Rabbits 6

A resident who, prior to April 22, 2015, resided within the city and possessed a number of animals which was lawful under existing code, shall not be required to sell or remove the specific animals which the resident possessed, even if those numbers exceed the limits of this section. As it relates to those specific animals, the previous code related to animal limits applies. However, upon the death or removal of the specific animal, the resident is required to comply with the provisions of this section.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.180 - Litters of animals.#

Notwithstanding Section 6.12.170, litters of animals may be kept in excess of the animal limit until no later than four months after the litter is produced.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.190 - Wild animals.#

It shall be unlawful to keep, sell, barter, give away, own, harbor or purchase any wild animal, as defined by this title, except that an animal shelter, zoological park, veterinary hospital, humane society shelter, public laboratory, or facility for education or scientific purposes may keep such an animal if protective devices are provided which are adequate to prevent such animal from escaping or injuring the public.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep an animal of a species prohibited or protected by federal law or by any regulation or law of the state of Utah.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)

6.12.200 - Livestock.#

Livestock are prohibited in the city, unless located in the agricultural zone or the owner has established a legal, non-conforming use, as defined by Title 17 of this code.

(Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-22-2015)