Animals + Pets

Animals + Pets

The City of Overland Park takes steps to make sure all residents and their pets are safe, healthy, and happy.

Learn more about the City’s leash laws and animal ordinances, the pet licensing program and how animal control can help keep your neighborhood safe and pet-friendly.

Licenses + Permits

Overland Park licenses and permits many animals in the city in order to make sure our neighborhoods, residents, and pets are as safe and healthy as possible.

Animal Control

Overland Park’s animal control unit maintains peace and quiet in our neighborhoods, protects public and private property, and provides a safe environment for residents and pets.

Leash Law

Dogs in Overland Park must be on a leash at all times when not confined to a cage, residence, or backyard.

Properly Dispose of Pet Waste

Did You Know?

The storm drainage system is completely separate from the sanitary sewer system. While the storm system carries rainwater runoff directly to creeks and streams, the sanitary sewer collects wastewater from sinks, toilets, dishwashers and floor drains, sending it to a treatment plant where pollutants are removed before the water is released into the environment. Stormwater runoff from streets, parking lots and lawns flows untreated into local streams, rivers, and lakes. That’s why it’s important to use Stormwater Best Management Practices every day.

Pet waste left on streets or lawns doesn’t disappear or act as fertilizer—it washes into storm drains and waterways, carrying harmful bacteria like E. coli and fecal coliform. In large amounts, these bacteria can pollute local streams and lakes, making them unsafe for people. It may not seem like a big deal, but with thousands of pets in Overland Park, it adds up.

In addition, Overland Park ordinance 7.58.050 prohibits pet waste from entering storm drains or ditches.

Best Management Practices

Help prevent stormwater pollution by:

  • Teaching children how to clean up after their pets properly
  • Taking advantage of the complimentary waste bags offered at parks and along greenways
  • Carrying extra bags when walking your pet or when traveling
  • Offering extra bags to owners who are without their own

Actions to Avoid

To protect local waterways from pet waste, avoid:

  • Putting pet waste in storm drains;
  • Leaving pet waste on the lawn;
  • Throwing pet waste into the woods;
  • Tossing pet waste over the fence into someone else’s yard;
  • Dropping pet waste into drainage ditches;
  • And rinsing pet waste from kennel floors directly on the ground.

Animal Guidelines

To report animals running loose and/or noisy animals: 913-895-6300

For Licensing Information: 913-895-6150

Property damage by animals

Owners must prevent their animals from entering and damaging any sidewalk, parkland, or private or public property, including flower beds, trees, shrubs, lawns and gardens.

Animals may defecate on public property only if the owner immediately cleans it up. Animals may urinate on public property, but not on flower beds, shrubs, bushes, trees or other plants, except grass.

Animals may not defecate or urinate on private property. Keep pets out of neighbors’ yards.

Noise Disturbance

It is unlawful to allow any animal you own, keep or harbor to create a noise disturbance. This includes howling, barking, or other loud, unprovoked sounds that are so intense or persistent they disrupt a reasonable person’s peace and quiet or negatively affect someone’s health.

Cat Control

All cats must be under their owner’s control at all times. A cat is not under control in the following situations:

  • If a neighbor complains in person or in writing that the cat is entering upon the neighbor’s property and it is found on that neighbor’s property after the complaint.
  • If the cat causes injury to a person or animal.
  • If a cat causes damage to the property of another by breaking, bruising, tearing up, digging up, crushing, or injuring a lawn, garden, flower bed, plant, shrub or tree in any manner, or defecating or urinating upon any private property.
Dogs running loose

All dogs must stay on their owner’s property unless one of the following conditions applies:

• The dog is on a leash no longer than 10 feet and under the control of a responsible person.
• The dog is confined in a cage or inside a motor vehicle for a limited time. Note: Dogs may not be transported in the open bed of a truck unless secured in a cage or on a leash that prevents them from jumping or falling out.
• The dog is under the handler’s control during an organized dog club trial, show or exhibition.
• The dog is under the handler’s control while participating in legal hunting activities.

Confined to residential property

Confined to the residential property means:

• The dog is inside the owner’s home.
• If outside, the dog is physically restrained by a chain, leash, suitable fence,or other secure method that prevents escape or risk to public safety.
• The dog is on the property and in the owner’s physical presence, under clear and immediate voice control.
• The dog is contained by an electronic fence or electronic collar. Dogs using this method must remain at least 10 feet from any public sidewalk or neighboring property line and may not be confined in the front yard.

Dogs may not be tethered outside except between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and never for more than 30 minutes without supervision.

Impoundment of animals

If an animal is found running at large off its owner’s, keeper’s, or harborer’s property, Animal Control may seize and impound it until all shelter and veterinary fees are paid.

Impounded animals can be reclaimed at:
Great Plains SPCA – Lost Pet Center
5424 Antioch Drive
Merriam, KS 66202
913-808-3347

Animals not reclaimed within seven days may be adopted out, humanely euthanized, or otherwise handled according to enforcement procedures.

Animal bites

Whenever an animal bites, scratches, or otherwise injures a person, it must be quarantined immediately at the owner’s expense. Quarantine may occur with a Johnson County veterinarian chosen by the owner or with the City’s impounding agent.

If the investigating officer confirms that the animal was properly confined—on a chain or leash, within a fence or electronic fence, or inside a building—and that it is licensed and current on rabies vaccinations, the animal may remain on the owner’s property during quarantine. The owner must sign a statement agreeing to keep the animal on the property for the full quarantine period.

If the injured person requests off-site quarantine, they must be willing to cover the cost at the veterinarian selected by the owner.

Animal welfare

It is illegal for an owner to neglect an animal’s basic needs, including proper care, food, water, medical attention, shelter and daily exercise. It is also illegal to leave an animal in a motor vehicle under weather conditions that could endanger its health.

Officers may take custody of any animal showing clear signs of cruelty, with or without the owner’s permission, on public or private property, when immediate action is needed to prevent further injury or suffering.

Pet Resources