Calaveras County, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Calaveras County Code Section 6.10.070 makes it unlawful for anyone in charge of livestock to allow the animal 'to be placed, staked, or to graze or be upon the land of another' without the landowner's written consent, or upon public lands or highways, or to run at large; a third violation within 24 months is a misdemeanor. Section 6.10.080 separately prohibits turning out or allowing 'a stallion, bull, boar, ram or male goat' to run at large. 'Livestock' is defined in Section 6.04.030 to include horses, donkeys, mules, burros, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits, and fowl (including ostriches, emus, and rheas) and similar domestic animals, excluding dogs and cats. On the land-use side, Zoning Code Section 17.25.060(F) allows livestock on RR-zoned land and RA lots under 10 acres at one animal-equivalent unit per acre (one-acre minimum), while Section 17.25.070 permits larger 'animal production' operations on GF, A1, AP, and RA parcels of 10 acres or more, with thresholds such as 200 dairy cows or 750 larger hogs before an Administrative Use Permit is required. The County Code's nuisance rule (Section 6.10.110) exempts qualifying agricultural operations under California Civil Code Sections 3482.5 and 3482.6.