Northglenn council adopts limit of four household pets with grandfathering and implementation delay

Northglenn City Council on March 10 approved an ordinance limiting household pets to four per address, adopting CB20‑26 on second reading with a provision allowing existing households that exceed the limit to register those animals and a delayed enforcement date of Aug. 1, 2025.

The ordinance, presented to council by Police Chief Jim May, aims to give the city a tool to address extreme situations while promising a “compassionate approach” for residents who already own more pets. Chief May said residents who currently exceed the proposed limit will be eligible for a “previously owned exception” if they submit identifying details — pet name, age, breed and acquisition date — and the city will run a communication outreach program before enforcement begins on Aug. 1, 2025.

The matter drew substantial public comment during a required public hearing. Several speakers urged council not to adopt a numeric cap or to raise it to six. Rebecca Robinson of Downing Drive told council she opposed the ordinance and asked that the city either omit a numeric cap or raise it to six, arguing the law would “promote pet abandonment and exclusivity” and that existing nuisance laws would better address problems. “Please represent the pet owners, the avid pet owners in this community,” Robinson said. Other speakers, including Zach Eudice, JC Fisher and Noel Evelyn, repeated concerns that the limit would harm multigenerational and multifamily households and said nuisance, noise and hygiene ordinances should be used instead.

Council members and staff clarified enforcement and exceptions during discussion. City Attorney Corey Hoffman said the exemption applies only to pets already present before the ordinance’s effective date; residents may not use the exemption to add new animals after that date except where other state or federal law (for example, accommodations under the Fair Housing Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act) requires a different outcome. Hoffman also noted judges have discretion on remedies when a prosecution occurs and that a judge typically sets a return date to confirm compliance.

Councilmember Nowicki asked how enforcement would work; Chief May said enforcement will largely be complaint-driven and that officers or code staff who observe animal welfare problems can take action independent of the numeric limit. As Councilmember Gough emphasized, the grandfathered exemption does not remove other legal obligations: “They are still subject to all the other regulations in the city,” she said.

Council members also discussed practical questions such as household definitions and accessory dwelling units. Staff noted the code treats an address as the unit of regulation; accessory dwelling units at a single address count toward the same pet total. The council heard concerns about fostering animals and whether temporary fosters would trigger violations; staff said fostering practices vary by organization and would be difficult to standardize for the exemption.

The ordinance passed unanimously. The roll call showed all present council members voting yes; one council member, Jack Jaramillo, was recorded as absent. The police department and city communications staff will run the outreach described in the ordinance memo before the Aug. 1 enforcement start date.

The adoption leaves in place other city code provisions addressing animal noise and public nuisance. City Attorney Hoffman and Chief May said complaints about barking, smell or other conditions will continue to be handled under those existing chapters of the municipal code.

Councilmembers who spoke urged staff to monitor implementation and to provide data back to council on complaints and enforcement outcomes. The city will provide guidance to residents about how to register a previously owned exemption and the information required for that process.