§ 30-15-101 — Pet animal control and licensing

Colorado § 30-15-101

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 30: Government
• Art.: Regulation Under Police Power

Text

(1) (a) The board of county
commissioners of any county may adopt a resolution for the control and licensing of
dogs and other pet animals as provided in this part 1. The resolution may:

(I) Require licensing of dogs and other pet animals by owners and impose
reasonable conditions and fees on the same. No registration permit or license shall
be issued by any board of county commissioners unless and until the owner of a
dog, cat, or ferret exhibits to the board or designated official a valid rabies
vaccination certificate indicating the dog, cat, or ferret has been vaccinated against
rabies by a licensed veterinarian. The county pet animal control resolution may
exempt dogs, cats, or ferrets below a specified age from licensing and registration
or vaccination requirements, or both; except that the recommendations of the
department of public health and environment shall be followed concerning the
minimum age for the vaccination.

(II) Require that dogs and other pet animals be under control at all times and
define control, which may vary from time to time, place to place, and animal to
animal;

(III) Define vicious dog and vicious animal;

(IV) Establish a dog pound, or other animal holding facility, and engage
personnel to operate it and otherwise to enforce the county dog control resolution
or any other resolution concerning the control of pet animals;

(V) Provide for the impoundment of animals which are vicious, not under
control, or otherwise not in conformity with the resolutions;

(VI) Establish terms and conditions for the release or other disposition of
impounded animals;

(VII) Establish such other reasonable regulations and restrictions for the
control of dogs and other pet animals as the board of county commissioners may
deem necessary.

(b) The control provisions of such resolution, as provided in subparagraph (II)
of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), shall not apply to dogs while actually
working livestock, locating or retrieving wild game in season for a licensed hunter,
or assisting law enforcement officers or while actually being trained for any of
these pursuits.

(2) In order to implement the provisions of this section, any county or
municipality may enter into an intergovernmental agreement pursuant to the
provisions of part 2 of article 1 of title 29, C.R.S., to provide for the control,
licensing, impounding, or disposition of dogs or other pet animals or to provide for
the accomplishment of any other aspect of a county or municipal dog control or pet
animal control licensing resolution or ordinance.

(3) Repealed.

Legislative History

Source: L. 77: Entire part R&RE, p. 1443, � 1, effective July 7. L. 94: Entire section amended, p. 1239, � 10, effective May 22; (1)(a)(I) amended, p. 2799, � 556, effective July 1. L. 2005: IP(1)(a) and (1)(a)(I) amended, p. 773, � 55, effective June 1. L. 2014: IP(1)(a) and (1)(a)(I) amended, (HB 14-1313), ch. 368, p. 1758, � 1, effective August 6. L. 2025: (3) repealed, (SB 25-275), ch. 377, p. 2109, � 336, effective August 6.