Standards for carriages.
Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-242
in effectSec. 8-242. - Standards for carriages.
In addition to all other applicable standards and requirements of this division, all horse drawn carriages shall conform to the following standards:
(1) Carriage services shall not operate on any of the public streets of the city except on those public streets as approved by the City of Huntsville's Traffic Engineering or Police Department.
(2) Carriages shall not exceed 12 feet in length or six feet in width and must be authentically styled passenger carriages.
(3) All animals used to pull such carriages on the public streets must be equipped with a diapering apparatus that prevents the droppings of such animal from being deposited on the city streets and must be properly shod for street surfaces.
(4) All carriages must have proper lighting for nighttime operation including headlights, taillights, turn signals, and reflectors, continuously maintained in operating condition, and must display a slow moving vehicle emblem.
(5) All carriages and horses must be transported by truck or trailer to permitted locations.
(6) Only horses and mules in good health with adequate muscle tone and proper body conditions and have been certified as fit to work by a licensed equine veterinarian will be used to pull carriages.
(7) No equine will be used to pull a carriage if it has injuries or wounds, is lame, or unsound in one or more limbs or which has any other ailment without a specific written approval by a licensed equine veterinarian.
(8) The hooves of working horses or mules will be properly shod with appropriate shoes. Shoes which are designed to prevent slipping and absorb shocks will be utilized when working on paved surface.
(9) Each carriage animal will be properly sized relative to weight, size, and load capacity of carriage it will pull and the terrain over which it will operate.
(10) Working carriage animals shall be examined by a licensed equine veterinarian at least once per year and shall receive all necessary immunizations and be dewormed at appropriate intervals to control internal parasites. Carriage animals must be examined by a licensed equine veterinarian upon request of the City of Huntsville Animal Control Director, or their designee, to insure compliance with these requirements.
(11) Horses must be removed from the streets during extremely hot or cold weather, as determined by the animal control director, or their designee.
(12) Carriage horse and mules shall not be worked more than three consecutive hours without a rest period with a maximum of nine hours worked per day. A ten-minute rest period shall be provided every hour during the work period.
(13) Carriage horse and mules shall not be worked more than six consecutive days without being provided a rest period of at least one day before the resumption of work.
(14) Fresh water shall be made available and each animal given the opportunity to drink during each rest period and during the hourly ten-minute break.
(15) Owners/drivers shall be knowledgeable in equine husbandry, training, and emergency first-aid. They must be knowledgeable in the proper use and maintenance of harnesses, tacks, and carriages or have in their employ a manager with such expertise.
(16) Carriage operators who have been convicted of animal cruelty shall have the carriage license revoked.
(17) This carriage license shall not be transferable.
(Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)
Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8BU_ARTIVVEHI_DIV2LIVE_SDIVVEAUCOINVE_S8-242STCAFetched: 11/6/2026