Menifee, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)
Key Facts
- Dogs
- Spay/neuter, certificate of sterility, or unaltered dog license
- Cats
- Spay/neuter mandatory at 4 months; no unaltered-cat license option
- Medical exemption
- Written confirmation from CA licensed veterinarian
- Breeder exemption
- Recognized breeders per City/contract provider policies
- Enforcement trigger
- Citation only with concurrent animal-law violation
Summary
Menifee requires dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered. An unaltered dog may be kept only with a certificate of sterility or a special unaltered dog license; keeping any unspayed or unaltered cat four months or older is flatly unlawful.
SECTION 10.04.03: Control of unspayed and unaltered cats. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep any unspayed or unaltered cat four months of age or older within the City of Menifee. ... SECTION 10.04.13: Mandatory spaying and neutering. A. Altered dogs and cats. 1. Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered and unspayed dog or cat in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with this chapter. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must have the animal spayed or neutered or provide a certificate of sterility.
Full Breakdown
13 (Ord. 2018-252) provides that no person may own, keep or harbor an unaltered and unspayed dog or cat in violation of the section. A dog owner must have the dog spayed or neutered, provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license; a cat owner must have the animal spayed or neutered or provide a certificate of sterility. 03 separately makes it unlawful to own, harbor or keep any unspayed or unaltered cat four months of age or older in the City.
Exemptions cover animals with a high likelihood of serious bodily harm or death from the procedure due to age or infirmity (confirmed in writing by a California licensed veterinarian) and animals owned by recognized breeders as defined by City or contract-provider policies. 13(B)). 13(E), a citation for violating the spay/neuter rule may issue only when the owner is concurrently cited for another animal-related violation, such as a dog at large, no license, leash law or rabies vaccination violations.
Violations & Fines
An administrative citation, infraction or other authorized penalty may be issued when the owner is concurrently cited for another state or local animal violation (Section 10.04.13(E)). Impounded unaltered animals must be spayed/neutered or licensed before release, with costs a lien on the animal; animals not redeemed within 14 days may be deemed abandoned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to spay or neuter my dog in Menifee?
Can I keep an unspayed cat in Menifee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Menifee
California rules heatmap·Compare Menifee to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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