Rohnert Park, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat rule
- unconfined cats over 4 months must be altered, § 6.04.150
- Cat compliance window
- 15 days to alter or prove sterilization
- Pit bull rule
- no unaltered pit bulls citywide, § 6.04.160(A)
- Pit bull exceptions
- 6 listed, incl. age, health, new arrival, show/service dog
- Reclaim requirement
- vet within 10 miles or 5-day affidavit
- Repeat violation
- 2nd impoundment can bring a 2nd charge
Summary
Rohnert Park requires an unconfined cat found outside its owner's yard to be spayed or neutered under § 6.04.150, and separately bars anyone from keeping an unaltered pit bull within city limits under § 6.04.160, unless one of six listed exceptions applies.
No person owning or otherwise having a cat over four months of age in his or her care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such cat to be unconfined in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public or private place, including the exterior yards of the animal owner's property, unless such cat is spayed or neutered. An animal control officer may seize or impound every cat found in violation of this section and shall require the owners or guardians of the cat to either spay or neuter the cat within fifteen days of such violation or produce a certificate of sterilization proving that the cat is already altered. Failure to comply will result in a citation. ... A.No person may own or keep any pit bull within the city limits that the person knew or should have known has not been spayed or neutered.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
150, any cat over four months old that is unconfined in a public street, alley or even the exterior yard of its own owner's property must be spayed or neutered; an animal control officer can seize an unaltered cat found in violation, and the owner then has fifteen days to either sterilize the cat or produce a certificate proving it is already altered before a citation issues. An owner cited under this section can request a hearing within seven calendar days to ask the shelter supervisor to hold the sterilization requirement in abeyance, and that decision is final.
070(Q), that they knew or should have known was unaltered, subject to six exceptions: the dog is under four months old, sterilization would risk serious injury or death per a veterinarian's certification, the dog has been in the city less than thirty days, a breed determination is under appeal, the dog is a registered show dog, or the dog is a working service or assistance dog. A pit bull impounded for violating this rule can only be reclaimed after a shelter-chosen or owner-chosen veterinarian (within ten miles of the shelter) sterilizes it, with proof filed within thirty days, or the owner signs an affidavit committing to sterilization within five days of release.
Violations & Fines
An unaltered cat found in violation of § 6.04.150 can be seized and the owner cited if it isn't sterilized within fifteen days. Failing to reclaim and sterilize an impounded pit bull under § 6.04.160 can trigger a second impoundment and a second violation charge, on top of the standard penalties in Chapter 1.16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to spay or neuter my cat in Rohnert Park?
Are all pit bulls in Rohnert Park required to be fixed?
What if my impounded pit bull can't be sterilized right away?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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