Del Norte County, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Title 8, Chapter 3 (Livestock) of the Del Norte County Code defines 'livestock' to mean any bovine animal, goats, pigs, sheep and poultry, as poultry is defined in California Food and Agricultural Code Section 24657. The chapter imposes a duty of care: the owner or custodian must provide necessary food, proper drink, and proper shelter, secure veterinary care, restrain the animal from roaming at large in a humane manner, and securely confine it in a building, lawful fence, pen, or other enclosure of which the animal cannot escape, so it is not left unattended and of a foul or unclean nature. Owners must exercise reasonable care and precautions to prevent livestock from leaving the real property limits of the owner or custodian. Livestock found at large is subject to immediate seizure and impoundment. The ordinance also provides for impoundment of any stray animal (notifying the California Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture) and a process for stray or abandoned livestock (such as a horse, mule, sheep, swine, burro, alpaca, llama, or goat), under which Animal Control conducts a reasonable search for the owner, notifies the Department of Food and Agriculture, and holds the animal; if the owner does not claim the animal and pay impoundment fees within the set period, the animal is deemed abandoned and available for adoption or euthanasia. Del Norte County Animal Services impounds stray dogs and livestock and investigates livestock complaints.