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Clovis, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Mandatory age
Over 4 months old
First offense
60-day notice to comply
Shelter adoption rule
No unaltered adoptions
Microchip
Required for exempt unaltered pets
Effective date
October 1, 2009
License
Non-transferable, not for under-18 owners

Summary

Clovis requires every dog or cat over four months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner documents a specific exemption, and no shelter animal may be adopted out unaltered. Municipal Code § 6.1.515 backs the mandate with a 60-day notice-to-comply before any citation, plus a mandatory microchip for exempt unaltered pets.

(a) Spaying or neutering prior to adoption. No dog or cat shall be made available for adoption unless the dog or cat is spayed or neutered in accordance with California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 30503 and 31751.3 or is otherwise exempt pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. (b) Spaying or neutering a dog or cat over the age of four (4) months. No person within the City shall own a dog or cat over the age of four (4) months that has not been spayed or neutered, unless valid written documentation is provided to show proof that the animal is exempt from the requirement to be spayed or neutered ... (d) Violations for not spaying or neutering. First-time violators of this section shall be provided with a sixty (60) day notice to comply prior to the issuance of a citation or the initiation of an enforcement action.

View official code

Full Breakdown

515 imposes a citywide mandatory spay/neuter rule reaching both shelter adoptions and private ownership. 3. 516. Subsection (c) requires every unaltered dog or cat to be implanted with a microchip identifying the owner, and bars transferring an unaltered dog's license or issuing one to anyone under 18. Subsection (d) softens enforcement for first offenders: violators get a 60-day notice to comply before the City issues a citation or opens an enforcement action. The requirement became operative October 1, 2009, and any dog that already held a valid City license on that date was grandfathered until the license expired or October 1, 2010, whichever came first, per subsection (e). 408(a)(3) before reclaiming it.

Violations & Fines

Owning an unaltered dog or cat past four months without a documented exemption violates § 6.1.515(b); first-time offenders receive a 60-day written notice to comply before Clovis Animal Services issues a citation, and continued noncompliance triggers enforcement action and citation fines set in the Master Administrative Fee Schedule. An impounded unaltered animal cannot be redeemed until the owner posts the required spay/neuter deposit under § 6.1.408.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age must my dog or cat be spayed or neutered in Clovis?
Municipal Code § 6.1.515(b) requires every dog or cat over four months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner has written proof of an exemption, such as an active show registration, a guide or service dog role, or a veterinarian's letter documenting a medical delay.
What happens the first time I'm cited for an unaltered pet?
Nothing immediate. Subsection (d) entitles first-time violators to a 60-day written notice to comply before the City issues a citation or starts an enforcement action, giving the owner two months to schedule the surgery or document an exemption.
Can I adopt an unaltered dog or cat from the Clovis shelter?
No. Subsection (a) bars the Animal Shelter from making any dog or cat available for adoption unless it has already been spayed or neutered in compliance with California Food and Agricultural Code §§ 30503 and 31751.3, with no exception for buyer intent to alter it later.
Do exempt unaltered animals still need anything special?
Yes. Subsection (c) requires every unaltered dog or cat to carry an implanted microchip identifying the owner, and its license cannot be transferred to another owner or issued to anyone under 18 years old.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Clovis

Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsChickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsPet Store RulesSome RestrictionsCat RulesLight RestrictionsWildlife FeedingSome RestrictionsMicrochippingLight RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsPet LimitsSome RestrictionsBeekeepingHeavy RestrictionsPet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic ZoningSignificant RestrictionsExotic PetsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsSpecial Events & Permits: Park Event PermitsSome RestrictionsTree Protection: Parkway PlantingSome RestrictionsAccessory Structures: Tiny HomesSignificant Restrictions

All Clovis rules

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