Animal By-laws

Clarington has updated our Exotic Animal By-law to allow residents in rural hamlets, rural clusters, and the Village of Orono, to keep backyard chickens for the purpose of egg laying. Under the updated By-law, residents in these areas may keep two to four urban chickens, within a coop with an enclosed area, subject to certain regulations. Learn more.

Clarington has several by-laws to regulate animal care, control, licensing and what animals a resident can own.

• The Exotic Animal By-law regulates the keeping of certain animals.
  • View the Exotic Animal Entertainment Event Permit Application (PDF)
• The Kennel By-law regulates the licensing and governing of kennels.
• The Responsible Pet Owners By-law regulates responsible pet ownership and the licensing of all cats and dogs

Submit a complaint or concern

To help serve you better and provide more efficient service, we’ve launched Service Clarington — a new online customer portal. File by-law complaints, report problems, and apply and pay for permits and licences in one convenient place. Get started by visiting service.clarington.net to create an account.

If you are concerned about the enforcement of these by-laws, please submit a complaint or concern or contact our Municipal Law Enforcement Division at 905-623-3379 ext. 2105.

Submit an animal complaint or concern.