General Environmental Services Requirements

An Animal Maintenance Permit is required if a person residing in the City of Wichita wishes to keep more than 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 rabbits, six fouls, or one livestock animal (e.g. cow, horse, sheep, goat).

• 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 for an Animal Maintenance Permit is $25.00 for animals other than livestock and $100 for livestock.  The permit expires one year after the date of issuance and must be renewed each year. 

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

Minimum Number of Animals Requiring Application of Ordinance

No more than three kinds of animals may be maintained at the same location within the city limits.

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.

Kind & Number of Animals Allowed by Permit & Fees

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 REQUIRED FOR PERMIT	MAXIMUM ALLOWED WITH PERMIT	PERMIT FEE
Dogs, excluding pit bulls	3	4	$25.00
Pit Bulls – must have microchip and be spayed or neutered	2	2	$25.00
Cats	3	4	$25.00
Fowl	4	12 (25 pigeons)	$25.00
Sheep	1	One animal per acre	$100.00
Goats - (Nannies only)	1	One animal per acre	$100.00
Horses	1	One animal per acre	$100.00
Cattle	1	One animal per acre	$100.00
Ratites	1	One animal per acre	$100.00
Pig – Neutered, miniature Vietnamese Pot-Bellied)	1	1	$25.00
Rabbits	3	12	$25.00
Other	3	(25 fur-bearing animals, i.e. chinchilla, mink)	$100.00

One Permit fee will be applied per residential unit. For example if the person has three dogs and three cats, the permit fee will be $25.00. If the person has one horse and three dogs, the permit fee is $100.00.

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 twenty feet from the property line. Stables, coops, pens and other structures for the housing of animals shall comply with all zoning requirements of the City of Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Zoning Code.  Enclosures for smaller animals must be ten feet from the property line if located within fifty feet of an adjacent dwelling.

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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