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

The mandate applies equally to dogs and cats past four months, and the code offers alternatives to surgery: a veterinarian's written certificate of sterility, an unaltered exempt license, a hobby breeder license limited to one litter per animal every twelve months, or qualifying for a listed exemption outright. Exemptions include an animal a licensed veterinarian certifies as facing a high risk of serious harm or death from the surgery, a female dog over ten years old or male dog over twelve (still required to hold an unaltered exempt license), an animal owned by a recognized breed club member who follows a genetic-health code of ethics, a law enforcement or qualified service animal, and a competition dog or cat that has shown within the past 365 days or holds an approved title.

The animal control agency can deny or revoke an exempt or hobby breeder license for noncompliance, three or more verified complaints, a prior citation, a dangerousness finding, a prior revocation, or a material misstatement, refunding half the fee on denial and none on revocation; the owner has fifteen days to request a hearing, held within sixty days, and the decision is final. Anyone transferring an unaltered dog or cat must notify the animal control agency of the new owner within fifteen days, and the license and microchip numbers must appear on the transfer document.

Under subsection (b)(7), a violation may be handled as an administrative citation, an infraction, or, absent those, the section 1-5 misdemeanor default of up to $1,000 in fines or six months in jail.