San Bernardino, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SBMC § 6.01.160
- Age threshold
- Dogs over 4 months old
- Compliance window
- 60 days for new owners/residents
- Impound deposit
- $100, refundable within 30 days
- Exemptions
- Show purebreds, vet-certified risk, police dogs
Summary
San Bernardino bars owning an unaltered dog over four months old unless it qualifies for a narrow exemption. New residents and new owners get 60 days to comply, and impounded unaltered dogs face a $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit.
(A) No person may own, keep, harbor or maintain a dog over the age of four months which has not been spayed or neutered unless the dog is exempt as follows: (1) The dog is a registered purebred... (2) The animal is unable to be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity... (3) Dogs used by law enforcement agencies. (B) After the effective date of this chapter, pet owners will have 60 days to come into compliance. New pet owners or pet owners new to the city will have 60 days to come into compliance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
160(A) makes it unlawful to own, keep, harbor or maintain a dog over four months of age that has not been spayed or neutered, unless the dog fits one of three exemptions: it is a registered purebred that competed in a sanctioned show or earned a title within the last 365 days; a veterinarian certifies in writing that surgery risks serious harm or death due to age or infirmity, with a target date for eventual compliance; or the dog is used by a law enforcement agency.
160(B), owners get 60 days after the chapter's effective date to comply, and the same 60-day window applies to new pet owners and to owners who are new to the city. 170 lets the owner reclaim it by proving it is already altered, or by paying a $100 spay/neuter deposit and completing the surgery within 30 days, after which the deposit is refunded; missing that window forfeits the $100. 180 for noncompliance with the exemption terms, for a verified complaint that the dog ran loose or escaped, for a prior citation under state, county or municipal animal-care law, or if a court has adjudicated the dog potentially dangerous or vicious. 190, which funds public spay/neuter assistance for dogs and cats.
Violations & Fines
Owning an unaltered dog past the 60-day grace period without a valid exemption exposes the owner to license denial or revocation under § 6.01.180, impoundment costs, and a $100 spay/neuter deposit under § 6.01.170 that is forfeited if the dog is not altered within 30 days of release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is spaying or neutering mandatory for dogs in San Bernardino?
How much time do I have to get a new dog fixed?
What happens if animal control impounds my unaltered dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Mandatory Spay/Neuter in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle mandatory spay/neuter.