LA County Title 10.20.220 caps three dogs and five cats at unincorporated single-family lots without a kennel permit. DACC and the Sheriff investigate hoarding cases as cruelty under California Penal Code §597, with seizure and prosecution.
In unincorporated LA County, LACO Title 10.20.220 limits residences to three dogs over four months and five cats without a kennel permit. The Department of Animal Care and Control enforces with the Sheriff and District Attorney when neglect, filthy conditions, or sheer animal numbers cross into cruelty under California Penal Code §597. DACC officers can seize animals, recover medical and boarding costs, and seek a court order barring future ownership. DACC also serves 45 contract cities, so the same hoarding response model applies even where city codes set different per-household limits.
Exceeding pet limits draws administrative citations, escalating fines, and kennel-permit demands. Cruelty-level hoarding can bring misdemeanor or felony charges, animal seizure, vet-cost restitution, and court-ordered ownership bans for years.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Monica, CA
Portable fire pits on private property in Santa Monica must comply with South Coast AQMD regulations. Burns are prohibited on spare-the-air days. Beach fires...
Santa Monica, CA
Properties in fire hazard zones near Santa Monica must maintain defensible space per CA PRC §4291. Santa Monica itself is largely urban/coastal with limited ...
Santa Monica, CA
Open burning is generally prohibited in Santa Monica under the adopted California Fire Code and SCAQMD Rule 444. Special Event Permits are required for outdo...
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica proper has low wildfire risk as a coastal urban city. The city is not in a State Responsibility Area. Some nearby areas in the Santa Monica Moun...
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica mandates recycling under SB 1383 organics diversion requirements. The city's Resource Recovery Division provides recycling collection. Commercia...
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica provides bulky item pickup through the Resource Recovery Division. Items should be placed at the curb and labeled 'For City Pick-up.' Removal wi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle animal hoarding.
See how Santa Monica's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.