San Bernardino, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

SBMC § 6.10.010 finds that cat owners who allow their cats to become a public nuisance are responsible for keeping them from interfering with the community's comfortable enjoyment of property, the stated basis for regulating cats separately in Chapter 6.10. To exceed the base limit of five cats over four months old set in § 6.10.020, an owner must obtain a cat fancier permit under § 6.10.030 from the Division of Animal Control. The permit sets graduated caps by property size: up to ten cats on lots up to 10,000 square feet, up to 15 cats on lots between 10,001 and 15,000 square feet, up to 20 cats on lots between 15,001 and 20,000 square feet, and a hard ceiling of 20 cats regardless of how much larger the property is.

All cats under a fancier permit must be kept in compliance with the general animal-care standard at § 6.01.060 and any other cat-related sections of Title 6. Permit fees are set by resolution of the Mayor and City Council and apply in addition to any other required permits or licenses. No permit may issue to a household where a resident has two or more convictions under Title 6, or any conviction for animal cruelty or animal fighting, within the 18 months before applying. The animal control officer must be allowed to enter and inspect the property at any reasonable time to check compliance, and any Title 6 or state animal-law violation, unpaid fines or fees, refusal of inspection, or a cruelty conviction is grounds to revoke the permit under § 6.10.030(5)-(6).