Regulation .04 Conditions for Keeping Allowed Wild, Exotic, Hybrid, and Livestock Animals.
Current through 2026-01-20. Source: COBRA Register Volume 04, Issue 02. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., COBRA § 13.03.01.04 (2026)
Regulation .04 Conditions for Keeping Allowed Wild, Exotic, Hybrid, and Livestock Animals.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Except as provided in <cite data-path="13.03.01.04|J.">§J of this regulation</cite>, a person or entity shall meet the following conditions for keeping an allowed wild, exotic, hybrid, or livestock animal.
B.
Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pigs.
(1)
A person may keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig if:
(a)
A permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control; and
(b)
A veterinary record is presented to the Office of Animal control to show that the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig is altered.
(2)
A person may not keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig if the animal:
(a)
Measures greater than 22 inches in height at the shoulder; or
(b)
Weighs more than 150 pounds.
(3)
A person permitted to keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig shall ensure that the animal is:
(a)
Kept in a clean and sanitary environment that will prevent:
(i)
Disease;
(ii)
Odor; and
(iii)
Insect or rodent breeding;
(b)
Provided with routine and emergency veterinary care as needed; and
(c)
Neutered prior to 9 weeks, if it is a boar; or
(d)
Spayed prior to 6 months, if it is a gilt.
(4)
A person permitted to keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig shall ensure that the animal’s tusks are properly filed by an experienced handler so tusks do not show outside of the mouth when the mouth is closed.
(5)
Except as provided in §6 of <cite data-path="13.03.01.04">this Regulation</cite>, a person who is permitted to keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig may not remove the animal’s tusks unless removal of the tusks is deemed medically necessary for the health of the animal.
(6)
A person permitted to keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig may keep a rescue Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig that has had its tusks removed by a previous owner.
(7)
The Office of Animal Control may require paperwork from a person permitted to keep a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig which demonstrates that:
(i)
Tusk removal was medically necessary; or
(ii)
The Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig is a bona fide rescue animal.
C.
Pigeons.
(1)
A person may keep a pigeon if:
(a)
A permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control;
(b)
Applicable zoning and building permits or authorizations have been obtained; and
(c)
The total number of pigeons kept is fewer than 125.
(2)
A person permitted to keep a pigeon shall ensure that the pigeon coop or loft:
(a)
Contains a minimum of 1 square foot of floor space for each pigeon over the age of one month;
(b)
Is constructed so that the interior is:
(i)
Dry;
(ii)
Airy;
(iii)
Bright; and
(iv)
Adequately ventilated; and
(c)
Is maintained and kept in a clean manner to prevent:
(i)
Disease;
(ii)
Odor; and
(iii)
Insect or rodent breeding.
(3)
A person permitted to keep a pigeon shall ensure that feed is stored and administered in a manner that prevents attracting rodents.
(4)
A person permitted to keep a pigeon may not allow the animal to:
(a)
Be outside the coop or loft other than a maximum of three hours per day of supervised exercise; or
(b)
Perch or linger on the property or buildings of others.
D.
Miniature, Dwarf, or Pygmy Goats.
(1)
A person may keep a Miniature, Dwarf, or Pygmy goat if a permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A person permitted to keep a Miniature, Dwarf, or Pygmy goat shall ensure that:
(a)
The animal is dehorned; and
(b)
Males over the age of 6 months are neutered.
(3)
A person permitted to keep a Miniature, Dwarf, or Pygmy goat shall provide the animal with:
(a)
Potable water at all times;
(b)
Adequate amounts of feed; and
(c)
Routine and emergency veterinary care as needed.
(4)
A person permitted to keep a Miniature, Dwarf, or Pygmy goat shall ensure the yard in which the animal is kept:
(a)
Is well-maintained and clean; and
(b)
Contains:
(i)
A minimum of 150 square feet of permeable space available per goat;
(ii)
Fencing to prevent roaming; and
(iii)
Proper grading and drainage.
(5)
A person permitted to keep a Miniature, Dwarf, or Pygmy goat may keep:
(a)
Two female or neutered goats, plus their offspring up to 6 months of age, on lots less than 20,000 square feet; and
(b)
One additional goat for every 5,000 square feet of lot area over 20,000 square feet, up to a maximum of 6 goats over the age of 6 months.
E.
Ferrets.
(1)
A person may keep a ferret if:
(a)
A permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control; and
(b)
Evidence of a current rabies vaccination is provided to the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A person permitted to keep a ferret shall provide the animal with:
(a)
Adequate food that is highly concentrated with fat as the main source of calories and highly digestible meat-based protein;
(b)
Potable water at all times;
(c)
Adequate exercise in an appropriate enclosed area; and
(d)
Routine and emergency veterinary care as needed.
F.
Snakes up to 5 Feet Long.
(1)
A person may keep a snake capable of growing to a length of no more than 5 feet when fully grown if a permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A person permitted to keep a snake up to 5 feet long shall provide the animal with:
(a)
Potable water at all times;
(b)
Adequate food appropriate for the species;
(c)
An adequate enclosure with sufficient space so as not to be inhumane;
(d)
Adequate heating and lighting as required for the species; and
(e)
Routine and emergency veterinary care as needed.
G.
Lizards up to 4 Feet Long.
(1)
A person may keep a lizard capable of growing to a length of no more than 4 feet when fully grown if a permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A person permitted to keep a lizard up to 4 feet long shall provide the animal with:
(a)
Potable water at all times;
(b)
Adequate food appropriate for the species;
(c)
An adequate enclosure with sufficient space so as not to be inhumane;
(d)
Adequate heating and lighting as required for the species; and
(e)
Routine and emergency veterinary care as needed.
H.
Green Iguanas between 30 inches and 6 feet Long.
(1)
A person may keep a green iguana that is a minimum of 30 inches in length but no more than 6 feet in length when fully grown if a permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A person permitted to keep a green iguana between 30 inches and 6 feet long shall provide the animal with:
(a)
Potable water at all times;
(b)
Adequate food as appropriate for the species;
(c)
An adequate enclosure with sufficient space so as not to be inhumane;
(d)
Adequate heating and lighting as required for the species; and
(e)
Routine and emergency veterinary care as needed.
I.
Hens.
(1)
A person may keep a hen if:
(a)
A permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control;
(b)
A Maryland Poultry Premises Registration is obtained through the Maryland Department of Agriculture; and
(c)
All applicable zoning and building permits or authorizations are obtained prior to building or using a hen coop or loft.
(2)
If a person permitted to keep a hen plans to sell or otherwise provide eggs, an egg producers license shall be obtained through the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
(3)
A person permitted to keep a hen shall ensure that the animal:
(a)
Is provided with:
(i)
Potable water;
(ii)
Proper feed; and
(iii)
Veterinary care if the animal is known or suspected to be sick or injured.
(b)
Does not perch or roam on the property of others.
(4)
A person permitted to keep a hen shall provide a coop or loft to house the animal that:
(a)
Is well-constructed;
(b)
Is sanitary and adequately sized;
(c)
Provides shade during warm weather;
(d)
Provides suitable protection from inclement weather and predation;
(e)
Is not within 15 feet of a residence;
(f)
Is cleaned and managed to minimize odors and materials that may attract rodents;
(g)
Is moved frequently to minimize turf destruction and the build-up of manure borne pathogens such as coccidiosis and roundworms; and
(h)
Allows a minimum of 2 square feet per hen.
(5)
A person permitted to keep a hen may keep:
(a)
Four hens over the age of 1 month on a lot less than 2,000 square feet; and
(b)
One additional hen over the age of 1 month for every additional 1,000 square feet of lot area over 2,000 square feet, not to exceed a total of 10 hens.
J.
Hens – Community Farms or Gardens or Urban Agricultural Enterprises.
(1)
A community farm or garden or urban agricultural enterprise may keep hens in numbers greater than 10 if a permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A community farm or garden or urban agricultural enterprise shall include a written management plan with the permit application stating how:
(a)
The hens will be housed;
(b)
The hens and their feed will be protected from predators and other pests;
(c)
Waste will be managed; and
(d)
Impacts to surrounding property owners and neighbors will be minimized.
(3)
The Health Commissioner may deny a permit to keep hens in numbers greater than 10 to a community farm or garden or urban agricultural enterprise at their discretion.
(4)
In addition to adhering to the provisions noted in <cite data-path="13.03.01.04|I.|(1)">§I(1)</cite><cite data-path="13.03.01.04|I.|(4)">—(4)</cite> of <cite data-path="13.03.01.04">this regulation</cite>, a community farm or garden or urban agricultural enterprise permitted to keep hens may keep:
(a)
Up to 10 hens on lots greater than 5,000; and
(b)
One additional hen over the age of 1 month for every additional 1,000 square feet of lot area, not to exceed a total of 50 hens.
K.
Honey Bees.
(1)
A person may keep honey bees if:
(a)
A permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control; and
(b)
The activity is registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
(2)
A person permitted to keep honey bees may keep:
(a)
Two colonies and 1 nucleus colony for lots up to 2,500 square feet; and
(b)
One additional colony and 1 additional nucleus colony for every additional 2,500 square feet of lot area over 2,500 square feet.
(3)
Requirements for hives housing colonies.
(a)
Except where a solid wall or fence measuring at least 5 feet in height and at least 5 feet in width is located at a lot line to provide a barrier, a person permitted to keep honey bees shall ensure that:
(i)
The bees or hive are not located within 5 feet of a lot line; and
(ii)
The bees or hive are inaccessible to the public.
(b)
A person permitted to keep honey bees shall ensure that honey bee movement to and from the hive does not unreasonably interfere with:
(i)
The reasonable enjoyment of the property of others;
(ii)
The comfort of the public or domestic animals; or
(iii)
The use of a public right-of-way.
L.
Rabbits.
(1)
A person may keep a rabbit if a permit is obtained from the Office of Animal Control.
(2)
A person applying for a permit to keep a rabbit shall include a written management plan with the permit application stating how:
(a)
The rabbit will be housed;
(b)
Waste will be managed;
(c)
The rabbit and their feed will be protected from predators and other pests;
(d)
The keeping of breeding pairs and young will be managed to avoid unwanted litters resulting in rabbits exceeding the number allowed; and
(e)
Aggressive behavior in group housing will be monitored, specifically in male rabbits, to mitigate injuries caused by fighting.
(3)
A person permitted to keep a rabbit may keep:
(a)
Up to 12 total rabbits with no more than 1 breeding pair on lots less than 1,000 square feet; or
(b)
Up to 24 total rabbits with no more than 2 breeding pairs on lots greater than 1,000 square feet.
(4)
A person permitted to keep a rabbit shall provide the animal with a shelter that:
(a)
Allows a minimum of 3 square feet per rabbit;
(b)
Provides suitable protection from inclement weather;
(c)
Is adequately sized and not within 15 feet of a residence;
(d)
Is kept clean and free of odors or materials that may attract rodents; and
(e)
Is moved frequently to minimize turf destruction and the buildup of manure borne pathogens.
(5)
A person permitted to keep a rabbit shall provide the animal with:
(a)
Shade during warm weather;
(b)
Adequate potable water at all times;
(c)
Adequate amounts of feed at all times; and
(d)
Veterinary care if the animal is known or suspected to be sick or injured.