Alpine County, CA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

Alpine County does not have a stand-alone animal-hoarding chapter, but several provisions and state law address the conduct. The Animal Control Ordinance's 'kennel' definition (five or more dogs and/or cats) means anyone keeping that many animals in the unincorporated county must obtain a use permit (Sections 6.04.020, 18.32.030(D), 18.16.030(C)), which gives the County a regulatory hook before numbers become unmanageable. Animal control officers are vested with public-officer authority and 'may, in the performance of his duties, enter upon any property pursuant to law to ascertain if any of the provisions of this chapter or any state laws relating to disease, care, treatment, impounding or cruelty to animals are being violated' (Section 6.04.030). Officers may seize and impound diseased or vicious animals (Section 6.04.140) and 'shall take up and impound all stray animals' (6.04.180), and must provide impounded animals suitable food, water and shelter (6.04.200). The primary tool against true hoarding is state law: California Penal Code Section 597 criminalizes depriving animals of necessary food, drink or shelter and cruelty, and overcrowding that compromises animals' health can be charged under it; Penal Code Section 597.1 governs seizure of neglected animals and Section 597f addresses abandoned or neglected animals. These can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies.