Bellflower, CA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

No fetched Bellflower source contains a section labeled "animal hoarding." Instead, hoarding situations are addressed through several existing rules. Bellflower Municipal Code Chapter 17.16 limits a single-family dwelling to no more than three dogs and three cats over four months of age, so keeping large numbers of animals exceeds the zoning limit and is a code-enforcement matter. Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control) authorizes the Director to impound animals kept contrary to the code at the Bellflower Animal Shelter and addresses animals creating a nuisance or kept in unsanitary or unsafe conditions. Where animals are kept in numbers or conditions that cause neglect, malnourishment, or unsanitary surroundings, California Penal Code Section 597 and Section 597.1 (the state's anti-cruelty and animal-neglect laws) apply and allow seizure of animals and criminal charges; these are typically enforced by the city's animal-services provider (formerly SEAACA, with field response moving to Southwest Patrol Inc. and impound to SPCA-LA after the 2025 restructure). Residents concerned about a possible hoarding situation should report it to the city's animal-services line or code enforcement so welfare checks and the pet-limit rules can be applied.