Yuba City, CA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

Animal hoarding in California is prosecuted primarily under Penal Code §597, a "wobbler" offense (chargeable as misdemeanor or felony) that prohibits depriving any animal of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, or subjecting it to needless suffering. The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC) defines hoarding as accumulating animals such that owners cannot provide minimum standards of nutrition, sanitation, and veterinary care, while failing to acknowledge the deteriorating condition. Penal Code §597.1 authorizes peace officers and humane officers to immediately seize animals when an owner has failed to provide necessary care, with the owner liable for impound and care costs prior to release. Yuba City Municipal Code Title 4 Chapter 12 (Regulations Pertaining to Dogs and Other Animals) provides the local licensing, vaccination, and animal-keeping limits that Code Enforcement uses to detect hoarding situations — including the 12-animal cap on small animals in §8-5.5001 (zoning) and the dog licensing requirements in Chapter 12. Yuba City contracts with Sutter Animal Services for shelter and humane officer functions. Serious cases are referred to the Sutter County District Attorney for §597 prosecution. Convicted hoarders may be ordered under Penal Code §597(g) to undergo mental health counseling — hoarding disorder is recognized in DSM-5 — and may be prohibited from owning animals for up to 10 years.