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

Section 6.06.020(A) requires every dog or cat over four months of age to be altered, or for the owner to hold a certificate of sterility, an unaltered exempt license, or a hobby breeder license. Subsection (A)(2) lists the exemption categories eligible for an unaltered exempt license: a veterinarian-certified health or age risk from surgery, senior dogs (females over 10, males over 12), law-enforcement animals, qualified service animals, and 'competition' dogs or cats registered with bodies such as the American Kennel Club or Cat Fanciers' Association that have shown within the past 365 days.

A hobby breeder license under subsection (B) allows no more than one litter per animal every 12 months, and additional litters draw penalties. The Animal Control Agency, which administers licensing citywide, may deny or revoke an unaltered exempt or hobby breeder license for noncompliance, three verified at-large or neglect complaints, a prior citation for animal-care violations, an adjudicated dangerous-dog finding, a prior revocation, or a material misrepresentation on the application; a denied applicant gets half the fee refunded, while a revoked licensee forfeits the whole fee and must wait 30 days to reapply.

An owner may appeal a denial or revocation in writing within 15 days, triggering an informal Animal Control Agency hearing within 45 days whose decision is final. Anyone offering an unaltered dog for sale, trade or adoption must disclose the license number, and must notify the Animal Control Agency of the new owner's name and address within 10 days of transfer.