Rabbit ownership laws in the US

We make no claims as to the accuracy and completeness of the scope of these laws at any point in time. Please check for yourself to see if the following laws may have been repealed or new laws have been added.

Alabama
From Huntsville Code of Ordinances, '''Sec. 5-105. - Distance of corrals, pens or stables from dwellings.''' It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in charge to keep any animal or fowl in the city in any corral, stable or pen any part of which is within 150 feet of a dwelling occupied by a person other than the owner or person in charge of the animal or fowl or if such dwelling is not occupied, owned by a person other than the owner or person in charge of the animal or fowl; however, this section shall not apply to enclosures in which animals or fowl have been continuously kept before May 10, 1979;... '''Sec. 5-107. - Minimum area of pens.''' It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animals, including fowl, in any pen in the city unless such pen has a minimum area of 15 square feet of space for each animal or fowl to which space each animal or fowl shall have access. '''Sec. 5-110. - Farm animals, exotic animals or reptiles running at large.''' (a) It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in charge of any farm animal, exotic animal or reptile to cause, permit or allow any such farm animal, exotic animal or reptile to run or to be at large. It shall be the special duty of the owner or person in charge of all premises where any farm animal, exotic animal or reptile is kept to see that no farm animal, exotic animal or reptile kept upon the premises is permitted or allowed to be in violation of this article. The fact that a particular farm animal, exotic animal or reptile has been kept on a particular premises, together with its subsequent appearance at large, shall raise a prima facie presumption that the owner or person in charge of the premises committed or authorized the violation, and the burden of proof shall be upon the owner or person in charge to prove otherwise. Any owner or person in charge in violation of this subsection shall be fined a minimum of $25.00 for the first offense and for the second offense within 12 months shall be fined a minimum of $50.00. Any owner or person in charge violating this section more than twice within 12 months shall be considered a habitual offender and shall be cited as set forth in subsection (b) of this section. ...

Arkansas
From Eureka Springs Code of Ordinances, 6.04.06 Running at large ... C. It shall be unlawful to permit any cattle, horse, mule, sheep, goat, rabbit or poultry to run at large in the city. Any such animal running at large in any public place shall be impounded in the manner provided in this chapter. It shall further be unlawful to picket or tie any such animal in any of the streets for the purpose of grazing or feeding. 6.08.02 Number of animals It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor and have custody of more than two (2) rabbits or two (2) chickens, geese, ducks or other domestic fowl provided they are confined at all times in a suitable enclosure. This section shall not apply to the keeping of small caged birds solely as pets.

Colorado
From Aurora local ordinances, '''Sec. 14-42. - Spay or neuter.''' (a) Spay or neuter required. It shall be unlawful to own, possess or keep in the city any dog, rabbit or cat over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. (b) Exceptions. The following are exceptions to the spay or neuter requirements in subsection (a) of this section: (1) Medical. A licensed veterinarian has determined that an animal is medically unsuited to undergo the surgical procedure. A signed statement from a licensed veterinarian is required and shall state specifically the medical grounds for the exemption. (2) Temporary medical. When the animal's medical condition is temporary in nature, the licensed veterinarian shall sign a written statement as to the prognosis of when the surgery may be performed. The date given on that prognosis shall become the expiration date of the temporary medical exemption. After the period of the temporary medical exemption, spay or neuter shall be required unless a licensed veterinarian provides another temporary medical exemption and prognosis of when the surgery may be performed. (3) Transitory status. An animal which is temporarily in the city. When an animal is temporarily in the city for breeding purposes, the owner of such animal is required to have and present, when requested, a certificate of health signed by a licensed veterinarian. (4) Intact animal license. An owner obtains an annual intact animal license and is in compliance with the city annual licensing requirements contained in this chapter. '''Sec. 14-161. - Excessive number prohibited.''' (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor more than three ferrets or two rabbits that are four months of age or older on any premises. Only one litter of offspring may be kept on the premises until the age of four months. (b) Exceptions. (1) Licensed kennels, pet shops and city shelters. (2) Any person providing records of ownership for excessive number of rabbits with the Aurora Animal Care Division within 30 days of the effective date [December 28, 2002] of this section shall not be subject to enforcement of subsection (a) for any rabbits existing at the time of the registration.

District of Columbia
From District of Columbia, § 8-1805. Impoundment. (a) The Mayor shall impound any dogs, cats, rabbits, or ferrets, the combination of which exceeds 4 animals, or any dogs, cats, rabbits, or ferrets beyond the number authorized in an animal hobby permit issued pursuant to § 8-1809. ... § 8-1808. Prohibited conduct. (a) No owner of an animal shall allow the animal to go at large.

Massachusetts
From Massachusetts General Laws Annotated, '''§ 80G. Experiments on vertebrates; vivisection, dissection of animals; care''' ... Live animals used as class pets or for purposes not prohibited in paragraphs one and two hereof in such schools shall be housed or cared for in a safe and humane manner. Said animals shall not remain in school over periods when such schools are not in session, unless adequate care is provided at all times. ... Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

Wisconsin
In Appleton, No person or household shall keep more than six (6) animals, the maximum number of dogs being three (3), maximum number of rabbits being two (2).

In the City of Neenah, (d) Restriction on animals other than pet animals. Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, no premises shall keep more than a total of ten (10) domestic animals which includes but is not limited to the following: rabbits (no more than three (3) rabbits of the ten (10) domestic animals), gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs, reptiles, amphibians, or other similar pets. This limitation shall not apply to fish kept in an aquarium, or to birds kept indoors.

In the City of Wausau, The city municipal code limits ownership to no more than three domestic animals which includes rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats or other similar pets in any one residence.

In Wisconsin Rapids, (3) Rabbits. No more than two adult rabbits are to be kept or maintained at any residential property within the city. No person owning, in possession of, or in charge of the care of any rabbit shall permit the rabbit to be at large within the city. Rabbits shall be confined in adequate enclosures that are neat, clean and free of disturbing odors. (MC#986)

(4) Exceptions. The provisions of Section (2) and (3) above shall not apply to circuses, menageries and other temporary licensed exhibitions. Nor shall it apply to where creatures are in the care, custody or control of a veterinarian for treatment, agricultural fairs, shows or projects of the 4-H, a display for judging purposes, a state-licensed educational institutions, or zoo, if: (MC#986) (a) Their location conforms to the provision of Chapter 11 - Zoning. (b) All animals and animal quarters are kept in a clean and sanitary condition and so maintained as to eliminate objectionable odors. (c) Animals are maintained in quarters so constructed as to prevent their escape. (d) No person resides within 100 feet of the quarters in which the animals are kept. This restriction shall not apply to Section (3) above.