Mono County, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Mono County is a high-desert ranching county where cattle, horses and sheep are common, particularly in the Bridgeport Valley. Livestock keeping is governed primarily by the Mono County General Plan Land Use Element animal-keeping standards (development standard Section 04.270) rather than a single livestock ordinance. The standards express limits in 'animal units': one animal unit equals one cow, bull, horse, mule, donkey or llama; two pigs, goats or sheep; six geese or turkeys; ten chickens or ducks; or twelve fur-bearing animals including rabbits. In Estate Residential, Rural Residential, Rural Mobile Home, Agriculture, Public Facilities and Open Space designations, parcels of ten acres or less are generally allowed one animal unit per 10,000 square feet of lot area, and parcels over ten acres have no numeric limit. The Agriculture (AG) designation expressly permits animal husbandry and allows large accessory agricultural buildings such as hay barns. Animals generally must be kept at least fifty feet from any habitable structure other than the owner's residence, though that setback does not apply in the OS, PF and AG designations. The Title 9 dog code reinforces ranching by exempting dogs herding or controlling livestock from the 'at large' definition (Section 9.44.010). California estray and livestock-trespass statutes in the Food and Agricultural Code also apply to stray or trespassing animals. Confirm your parcel's specific designation and standards with Mono County Community Development.