Sierra County, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Sierra County's code reflects its rural ranching character. Section 8.08.020 defines 'animal' for the animal-control chapter as dogs and excludes 'species of animals commonly kept or raised in Sierra County as farm animals, including cattle, sheep, horses, goats and swine.' The same section's 'at large' definition states that livestock are 'not included in this definition of at large animals,' so cattle, sheep, and horses are not treated like loose dogs. Livestock are, however, subject to impoundment: Section 8.08.250 sets impound and redemption fees for 'every impounded animal and/or livestock,' allows charging the actual cost of extraordinary care (including transportation, custody, boarding, and advertising), and lets the Chief of Animal Control return at-large livestock to the owner's property for a time-and-mileage fee. Two former livestock provisions, Section 8.08.210 (impoundment of livestock) and Section 8.08.380 (responsibility of livestock owner), were repealed by Ordinance 767. Keeping livestock is a zoning matter: the A1 agricultural district permits 'commercial livestock, animal husbandry, and poultry farms,' requiring that all animals be cared for without creating a public health problem or nuisance (Section 15.12.160(B)). Importantly, dogs are kept away from stock: Section 8.08.060 lets the Chief of Animal Control, the Sheriff, or a deputy kill any dog found killing, wounding, or persistently pursuing livestock or poultry on land not owned by the dog's owner, and 8.08.140(H) bars permitting a dog to trespass on any farm where livestock or fowl are kept.