How Many Dogs or Cats Can You Have in Hawaii?

Two Aussies and a white cat

Hawaii state law does impose a limit on the number of cats or dogs you can own. However, it does authorize each county to enact its own limits on pet ownership. Therefore, how many dogs or cats you can have in Hawaii depends on where you reside, but in some places, you can own up to ten dogs or cats. However, it is advisable to contact your local animal control to determine how many pets each household in your area is limited to. Moreover, landlords or property management companies have the right to impose a limit on the number and type of pets kept on their properties. Buildings that are considered pet-friendly in Hawaii allow from two to five pets per household. Take the pet ownership laws in Honolulu for example.

Honolulu, HI

Each household in Honolulu, Hawaii, is limited to a maximum of ten dogs, according to the Honolulu Police Department (HPD). Honolulu residents are also limited to two chickens per resident. Cat owners in Honolulu can have as many domestic felines as they can care for. Honolulu has an "Animal Nuisance" law. The HPD defines a nuisance animal as any animal that makes noise intermittently for one-half hour or more or makes noise continuously and/or incessantly for ten minutes and disturbs anyone at any time of day or night.

Also, owning more than ten dogs or two chickens is deemed an animal nuisance offense in Honolulu. There is also a "Dangerous dog" law in Honolulu. As per the HPD, a dangerous dog is any dog, regardless of breed, that, without provocation, attacks a person or domestic animal, causing bodily injury to the person or serious injury or death to a domestic animal. Any dog that is declared dangerous in Honolulu may be restricted or taken custody of by the Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS).

Other animals that are considered "common domestic household pets" in Honolulu include mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, and birds. Public parks in Honolulu do not permit dogs without a valid license tag attached to their collar. Honolulu dog parks also require dog owners to carry equipment for the removal and disposal of feces deposited by their dogs. Furthermore, female dogs in estrus are prohibited from entering off-leash dog parks. For more information, refer to Honolulu Code § 10-1.7.

Hawaii County, HI

Hawaii County does not impose a limit on how many cats or dogs you can own. However, the County's animal ordinance prohibits the keeping of "Noisy dogs." By the County's definition, a noisy dog is any dog that makes noise continuously or incessantly for ten minutes. Or, any dog that barks, bays, cries, or howls intermittently for 20 minutes within a 30-minute period of time to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night. However, a dog who is barking at someone trespassing or threatening to trespass upon its owner's property is not deemed a noisy dog.

Further, dogs and cats are banned from County beach parks, restaurants, grocery stores, meat markets, and fruit or vegetable stores. These restrictions do not apply to law enforcement dogs, "Seeing Eye" dogs, or other dogs necessarily used for the benefit of handicapped persons. Hawaii County has a leash law requiring all dogs in public places to be on a leash not more than six feet long. 

Also, Hawaii County has restrictions on dangerous dogs, which are defined as any dogs that, without provocation, attack a person or animal. A dog’s breed, according to the County Code, is not considered in determining whether or not it is dangerous. A dangerous dog may be slain by any animal control officer if it is found running at large and cannot be taken up or tranquilized and impounded.

Maui County, HI

The number of dogs or cats you can own in Maui County isn't restricted, however, all dogs over four months of age residing within the County are required to be licensed. You should apply for a dog license within thirty days after obtaining a dog over the age of four months in Maui County.

Kauai County also does not limit the number of cats or dogs you can have, but it has a dangerous dog law.

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