City of Wichita - Environmental Compliance Municipal Animal Maintenance Permits
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Environmental Services
1900 E. 9th St. N.
Wichita, KS 67214

Hours:
8 AM-5 PM
Monday-Friday

Phone: (316) 268-8351
Fax: (316) 268-8390

Becky Gagnon Lewis
Manager

Environmental Nuisance Inspector


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Municipal Animal Maintenance Permits

Municipal Animal Maintenance permits are required in Wichita for people to keep certain kinds and numbers of animals. The codes backing these permits set the minimum number of animals requiring a permit and the maximum number of animals of each kind that is allowed. Besides cats and dogs, there are a number of other kinds of animals that are legal on residential property.  Other requirements could be necessary such as distance, structural, vaccination & licensing records, waivers, etc.  Please contact our department for any additional requirements that you might need prior to maintaining any animals on your premise.

General Environmental Services Requirements

  • All domestic animal shelters are to be cleaned at least once each week or more often if necessary to prevent or control odors, fly breeding, and rodent infestation (except grazing areas under agricultural classification and stockyards).

  • Collected fecal material and other solid organic waste shall be disposed of at a sanitary landfill, fertilizer processing plant, or by proper disposal on land used for agricultural purposes.

  • Grain or protein food shall be stored in tightly covered rodent-proof metal containers or rodent-proof bins.

  • Premises are to be maintained free of rodent harborage conditions, such as improperly stored materials, enclosed partition walls, and wooden floors closer than 12 inches to the ground.

  • Use is to be made of anti-coagulant rodenticides for the control of rodents, organophosphorus insecticides for the control of flies, or any other effective chemical means for the control of rodents and flies.

  • Use is to be made of soil sterilants and herbicides or other effective means for the control of weeds and grass around structures and buildings.

  • Garbage shall not be fed to fowl.

  • Refuse is to be stored in proper containers or in a manner approved by the health officer and disposed of at least once each week or as frequently as may be required by the health officer.

Fee

The cost is $20.00 a year, renewable at the end of April each year. The costs of permits acquired in the middle of a permit year are not prorated.

If you want to receive a municipal animal maintenance permit, download and fill out the Domestic Animal Maintenance Form.

Minimum Number of Animals Requiring Application of Ordinance

  • three dogs, cats, or rabbits, or
  • six fowl of any kind, or
  • one sheep, nanny goat, cow, horse, or ratite, or
  • three animals of any other kind

Types of Use

Personal pets and hobby use only.

Animals Specifically Prohibited

Male goats, roosters, guinea cocks, peacocks, or other birds that by nature exhibit loud calls, or hogs are not allowed. (Exception: one registered, miniature, neutered pot-bellied pig per household with a permit.) Please contact Environmental Services at (316) 268-8351 if you have questions about exotic animals that may be prohibited.

Maximum Number and Kind of Animals Permitted

  • Four dogs
  • Four cats (Except catteries of 5 or more cats with commercial permit and home occupation license)
  • 12 rabbits
  • 12 fowl of any kind (25 pigeons)
  • Two sheep
  • Two nanny goats
  • One cow
  • Two horses
  • Two ratites (ie, ostrich, emu, etc)
  • 25 fur-bearing animals (100 chinchillas) with a home occupation license

No more than three categories of animals may be maintained at the same location.

The following chart shows the minimum number of animals requiring a permit and the maximum number of animals allowed with a permit.

Kind of Animal

Minimum

Maximum

Dogs 3 4
Cats 3 4
Fowl 6 12
(25 pigeons)
Sheep 1 2
Goats (Nannies only) 1 2
Horses 1 2
Cattle 1 1
Ratites 1 2
Pig
(Neutered, miniature Vietnamese Pot-Bellied)
1 1
Rabbits 3 12
Other 3 (25 fur-bearing animals, i.e. chinchilla, mink)

Space Required

These limits relate to residential premises of less than five acres. For information about animal maintenance regulations on residential properties of more than 5 acres, contact Environmental Services at (316) 268-8351.

Distance Requirements for Animal Enclosures

Enclosures for large animals must be 200 feet from adjacent dwellings and ten feet from the property line. Enclosures for smaller animals must be ten feet from the property line if located within fifty feet of an adjacent dwelling. The Health Officer will evaluate properties for which valid residential classification permits exist on the effective date of this section, and will issue waivers of distance and setback requirements where such waivers do not adversely affect public health and safety, pose a threat to the environment, or constitute a nuisance to adjacent householders. Criteria for review will include, in addition to site-specific requirements, the following universally applicable requirements:

  • That the animals will be kept or maintained at all times in a safe and sanitary manner,

  • That the quarters in which such animals are kept or confined will be adequately lighted and ventilated and are so constructed and maintained that they can be kept in a clean and sanitary condition,

  • That the health and well-being of the animals will not in any way be endangered by the manner of keeping or confinement,

  • That the animals will not unreasonably annoy humans, endanger the life, health or safety of other animals or persons or substantially interfere with the rights of citizens to the enjoyment of life or property,

  • That the keeping of such animals will not harm the surrounding neighborhood or unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet of the surrounding neighborhood,

  • That the keeping of such animals will not cause fouling of the air by offensive odors and thereby create or cause unreasonable annoyance or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animals are kept or harbored,

  • That the animals will not repeatedly run or be found at large, will not damage property or deposit excretory matter upon the property of anyone other than their owner,

  • That the animals will not make disturbing noises, i.e., continued and repeated or untimely howling, barking, whining or other similar utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance or discomfort to neighbors and others in close proximity to the premises where the animals are kept or harbored, or otherwise be unreasonably offensive or dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare, by virtue of their behavior, number, type or manner of keeping.

  • That the applicant, or any person who will share in the care, custody and control of the animals, is not currently in violation of, or has not previously violated any applicable City, state or federal laws, codes, rules or regulations, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to the care and control of animals and the maintenance of their property, which would reflect adversely on their ability to fully comply with the conditions of the subject permit.

  • Special Environmental Services Requirements and Considerations

    • Animal shelters and board fences are to be maintained in good repair and protected from deterioration by painting. Enclosures including fences where domestic animals, such as horses, cows, sheep, and goats are maintained, shall be constructed in a manner using dimension lumber materials or other effective means to prevent animals from breaking out.

    • Solid wastes accumulated from cleaning of domestic animal shelters subject to residential classification are to be disposed of at least once each week.

    • Dogs and cats are considered mature at five months of age.

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