A Colorado city is threatening “enforcement action” against residents with more than four pets following the approval of a new ordinance limiting the number of pets residents can own.
Northglenn, which is located near Denver, Colorado, recently announced that an “important change” will “soon take effect regarding pet ownership” in the city. The city’s website notes that the City Council passed a new pet ordinance “at the request of residents” and following “extensive research and discussion.”
According to the city’s website, the new ordinance will limit the number of pets a household can have at each residence in an effort to “maintain a balanced and comfortable environment for all community members.”
The city’s website states, “The ordinance was introduced in response to concerns raised by residents regarding excessive noise and waste caused by a high number of pets in some neighborhoods.”
Under the new city ordinance, residents of Northglenn will be limited to four dogs, four cats, or a combination of “no more than four” dogs and cats per household.
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The city’s website acknowledges the “strong bonds” many of Northglenn’s residents have with their pets. As part of a “compassionate transition,” the city said that residents with more than four dogs and cats will be eligible to apply for a “previously owned pet exception.” Residents who apply for a “previously owned pet exception” prior to August 1 will be allowed to keep their current pets even if they exceed the new limit established by the ordinance.
“Our goal is to work with residents to ensure compliance through education and outreach before any enforcement action is taken,” the city states on its website. “If you don’t tell us about your extra pets by the deadline, it could result in enforcement action, including a potential court order requiring pet removal.”
“Pets bring joy and companionship to our lives, but they also come with responsibilities,” the city adds. “By establishing reasonable pet limits, we aim to ensure that everyone living in Northglenn, both pet owners and non-pet owners, can enjoy their homes and neighborhoods.”
Northglenn’s website also notes that many other cities in Colorado have previously adopted pet regulations and that Northglenn was the only city located in Adams County without a limit on the number of pets each household could have prior to the new ordinance.
