San Clemente imposes no breed-specific dog ban. California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 bars cities from regulating dogs by breed. The city instead uses a conduct-based potentially-dangerous and vicious dog process in SCMC Chapter 6.20.
No San Clemente ordinance bans pit bulls, Rottweilers, or any breed. California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 preempts local dog rules 'specific as to breed,' so breed bans are unlawful statewide. SCMC 6.04.010 defines 'potentially dangerous dog' and 'vicious dog' by direct reference to Food and Agricultural Code sections 31602 and 31603, which are behavior-based. SCMC Chapter 6.20 (Ord. 1797, eff. 11-4-2025) lets the CASA general manager declare a dog potentially dangerous or vicious after a hearing and impose conditions such as secure enclosure, leash and muzzle, spay/neuter, and microchipping, or order a vicious dog destroyed. Health and Safety Code 122331 permits only breed-specific spay/neuter programs. Private landlords and HOAs may still set breed terms in leases or CC&Rs.
There is no breed-based offense. A dog can be declared potentially dangerous or vicious after a hearing before the CASA general manager. Violating a Chapter 6.20 designation or its conditions is a misdemeanor (SCMC 6.20.130).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
san-clemente-ca
Under California SB 1383, San Clemente requires single-family and multifamily residents to subscribe to organics collection and recycle green waste and food ...
san-clemente-ca
San Clemente's Landscape Standards require living, drought-tolerant plant material and permeable surfaces, with required landscaping at least 60 percent Cali...
san-clemente-ca
San Clemente's Landscape Standards require drought-tolerant, water-efficient landscaping for new and rehabilitated projects. Under Municipal Code Section 17....
san-clemente-ca
San Clemente has no ordinance prohibiting residential rainwater harvesting, and California's Rainwater Capture Act (2012) allows homeowners to collect roofto...
san-clemente-ca
The City of San Clemente is the water utility for most of the city; the Talega area is served by Santa Margarita Water District. Permanent water-waste restri...
san-clemente-ca
San Clemente's annual Weed Abatement Program treats overgrown weeds and dry vegetation as a fire hazard and nuisance. Owners must clear weeds and debris by M...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle breed restrictions.
See how San Clemente's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.