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

Modoc County does not have a dedicated animal-hoarding ordinance, and its animal code (Title 6) contains no pet-number limit or kennel-licensing threshold that would cap how many animals a person may accumulate. The most directly relevant county provision is Section 6.02.109, which forbids the abandonment or dumping of any animal, making it 'a crime punishable by a fine of up to one thousand dollars, or confinement in a county jail of up to six months, or both,' and directs residents to the Sheriff's office or Humane Society to surrender unwanted animals. The County Code also requires that impounded animals be provided proper and sufficient food, shelter, and water (Section 6.02.093). For the serious neglect and overcrowding that define hoarding, the controlling law is statewide. California Penal Code Section 597 makes it a crime, chargeable as a misdemeanor or felony, to deprive an animal of necessary food, water, or shelter or to subject it to needless suffering; overcrowding that compromises animals' health and safety is the hallmark of hoarding cases prosecuted under this section. Penal Code Section 597.1 addresses the failure to care for animals and authorizes peace officers and veterinarians to seize neglected animals, provide care, hold post-seizure hearings, and recover costs from the owner. The Modoc County Sheriff's animal control works with these state provisions when intervening in hoarding or neglect situations in the unincorporated county.