Palm Springs, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Litter cap
- 3 litters per household per 36 months
- Permit term
- 1 year, renewable
- First-violation fine
- $500
- Third+ violation fine
- $1,000 each
- Issued at
- Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Summary
Anyone whose cat breeds within Palm Springs city limits must first hold a City breeding permit, renewed annually for a fee the City Council sets by resolution. Permits cap breeding at three litters per household in any 36-month period, and unpermitted breeding draws administrative fines starting at $500 per violation.
No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored or kept within the City to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit. ... The breeding permit shall authorize no more than three dog or cat litters per domestic household in any 36 month period, or the offering of a male dog or cat for stud three times in any 36 month period. ... Any cat or dog owner whose animal has been bred ... more than three times in a 36 month period in violation of Section 10.24.040(E)(1), with or without a permit, or who has violated Section 10.24.040(E)(2) or (E)(4), shall be deemed to have violated this Code and shall be subject to an immediate five hundred dollar ($500) administrative fine for the first violation, seven hundred fifty dollar ($750) for the second violation, and $1,000 for each additional violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).
Full Breakdown
040(A) makes it unlawful to cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored or kept in the City to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit from the City Manager or the Manager's designee; the Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter is the only entity exempt. Permits run one year from issuance and are renewable, with an annual fee set by City Council resolution under subsection (B). Subsection (D) bars issuance to anyone with a household animal-cruelty, neglect, or dog-fighting conviction, anyone who gave false information, anyone who violated Title 10 in the prior 36 months, or where the breeding would serve an unlawful purpose.
Subsection (E) caps a permit at three cat litters per household, or three stud offerings, in any 36-month period, requires roughly a 12-month gap between litters where practicable, and requires the permit number to appear on any advertisement and on any sale or transfer receipt; breeding permits are issued in person at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, where the City keeps a register of each holder, issuance date, and litter history. 045 layers on administrative fines: a first unpermitted-breeding violation may be cured within 30 days by obtaining the permit, but only once, after which a $500 fine applies; exceeding three litters in 36 months or violating the advertising or recordkeeping rules brings an immediate $500 fine for the first violation, $750 for the second, and $1,000 for each violation after that.
Violations & Fines
A first unpermitted breeding may be cured within 30 days by obtaining a permit, but only once; after that, or for exceeding the three-litter cap or advertising/recordkeeping violations, the owner faces an immediate $500 administrative fine, rising to $750 for a second violation and $1,000 for each violation thereafter, plus possible permit revocation under Section 10.24.040 procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit if my cat has kittens once?
How many litters can a permit holder have?
What can get a breeding permit revoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
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