Animal Noise Violations: Barking Dogs
All dogs bark, but excessive animal noise can cause a nuisance in a neighborhood. You may file a report online regarding excessive barking. Our first step in attempting to resolve the problem is to notify your neighbor that their dog is causing a disturbance in the neighborhood and allow them some time to work on solving the problem. If you have not noticed a difference after ten days, please file an additional report. Further reports will result in an officer investigating the location. If an animal noise violation occurs when the officer is at the location, a ticket will be issued. If no violation is observed, a warning will be issued. Our officers can only ticket violations that they witness. In order to help our officers resolve this problem, please make note of the time of day that the barking is most likely to take place when you make your report. Tickets cannot be issued based on audio tapes.

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At Large Violations: Dogs Running Off Leash
In the City of Philadelphia, it is against the law to allow your dog to roam off leash. There is no law requiring cats be on leash. You may file a report online regarding a neighbor who allows their pet to roam off leash in the neighborhood. Our officers can only ticket violations that they witness. In order to help our officers resolve this problem, please make note of the time of day that the dog is allowed to roam off leash. If an officer witnesses the dog roaming off leash while investigating the report, a ticket will be issued. If no violation is observed, a warning will be issued.

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Animal Waste Violations: Owners Not Cleaning Up After Their Pets
Animal waste must be picked up and disposed of properly in a waste receptacle for garbage pickup. If you have a problem in your neighborhood with a resident who does not routinely clean up after their dog, you may file a report online. Please describe the problem, including the location where the waste is left (front yard, back yard, alley). An officer will investigate your report and if visible animal waste is found at the time of the visit, a ticket will be issued. Our officers cannot ticket based on odors; animal waste must be seen at the time of the visit. If no violation is observed, a warning will be issued. Tickets cannot be issued based on photographs.

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Farm/Illegal Animal Violations (Including Chickens or Roosters)
It is illegal to possess farm animals in the City of Philadelphia. Farm animals include chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, or other farm animals. Horses are not considered farm animals under this ordinance. Other animals that are illegal to own include alligators, caiman and venomous reptiles and snakes. Exceptions to this ordinance include keeping animals to be slaughtered within 24 hours, animals brought in by a slaughterhouse or commercial retailer of live animals sold to be killed for use as food or animals at a circus or other licensed entertainment venue. You can report illegal animals online. An officer will investigate your report and a ticket will be issued if a violation is found at the time of the visit. If no violation is observed, a warning will be issued. Our officers do not have the authority to remove illegal animals except at the direction of the police department, at the direction of a judge, or at the direction of the Department of Health in the event of a health emergency.

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