Whittier, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

The City of Whittier does not separately codify which large animals may be kept; it relies on the adopted LA County Code Title 10 (Whittier MC 6.04.020) for animal control and on its own zoning code for land use. Under LA County Code Chapter 10.32 (Animals Running at Large), it is unlawful, and a misdemeanor, for an owner or custodian of livestock to allow the animal to run at large on public property or to enter another person's private property without written consent; owners also bear the county's costs to restrain, capture or rescue stray livestock. LA County Code Chapter 10.40 (General Requirements) imposes care duties on all animal owners: structurally sound housing, adequate food and water, sanitary enclosures that control odors and disease, and noise control. What Title 10 does not do is grant a right to keep horses, cattle, goats or sheep anywhere; in an incorporated, largely residential city of roughly 87,000, the keeping of livestock is controlled by the Whittier zoning code (Title 18) and is typically restricted to specific zones or lot sizes. Residents should confirm with the city Planning Division before bringing in any livestock. Note that unincorporated areas called "Whittier" answer to LA County zoning instead.