Arcadia, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Cat rules sit in Part 4, Cats, of Chapter 1 of Article IV of the Arcadia Municipal Code, added by Ord. 1754 adopted 10-5-82. Section 4141.1 defines a cat as the commonly known domestic house cat of any age, female as well as male. Section 4141.2 defines a kennel as any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises where four or more cats are kept or maintained for any purpose, including boarding, keeping for sale or keeping for hire.

Section 4142 is the distance rule. Nobody can house, maintain or keep more than three cats over the age of four months within 250 feet of any dwelling in use or occupied by people other than the cats' owner.

Section 4142.2 covers the other side of that line. Four or more cats over four months old at one place, more than 250 feet from every dwelling other than the owner's, require a permit from the City Council to keep or maintain a kennel, issued under Article VI of Chapter 2 of the Code. The Council grants or refuses the permit in its discretion and can prescribe the conditions it considers advisable or necessary to prevent the cats from becoming a nuisance.

Section 4142.1 adds a business permit. Anyone carrying on the business of housing, keeping or maintaining cats for breeding, for medical treatment, or for care for hire needs the same Council kennel permit first, again with discretion to grant or refuse and to set conditions.

Cats also fall under the animal nuisance procedure in Sections 4139.1 through 4139.6, which covers birds and animals including household pets. When three or more persons complain to the Chief of Police, the Chief investigates, notifies the keeper, and allows ten days to correct the problem before setting a public hearing. Findings follow within fifteen days. Failure to comply with the Chief's determination is a misdemeanor under Section 4139.4, and Section 4139.5 lets the Chief abate the nuisance by relocating or removing the animals. Costs become a special assessment, and a Notice of Lien bears interest at six percent per year under Section 4139.5.2.