Grass Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Nevada County regulates livestock under Land Use and Development Code Sec. 12.03.040 (Animal Keeping and Raising). 'Large animals' are defined to include horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, swine, llamas, alpacas, and similar livestock. The keeping of large animals is not allowed on parcels of less than 0.5 acre. On parcels from 0.5 to 3 acres, no more than one mature large animal may be kept for each 0.5 acre of land, though this standard may be exceeded with an approved Use Permit. On parcels larger than 3 acres there is no limit on the number of large animals, and there is no limit for occasional mob or rotation grazing where livestock are confined briefly and moved regularly. Per Table 12.03.040.C, large animals carry 'No Limit' in the agricultural and rural districts but are 'Not Allowed' in the R1, R2, R3 residential, commercial, and industrial districts. Commercial stables are not covered by this table and require a separate use permit in rural districts. All animals must be cared for so as not to create a public health problem or nuisance, and all pens, enclosures, and cages must be kept to discourage flies, disease vectors, and odors (Ord. 2223).