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

Chapter 14.17.020, Animal Keeping, sets performance standards to protect public health, safety and welfare by limiting animal numbers, requiring sanitary and humane conditions, and controlling nuisance impacts. The standards apply citywide to noncommercial keeping of mammals, birds, reptiles and bees, and an administrative use permit is required for keeping animals in San Rafael unless the animal falls within the exempt list: fish; three or fewer dogs over four months per dwelling; ten or fewer cats over four months; any number of dogs, cats or potbellied pigs under four months; three or fewer potbellied pigs under seventy pounds; four or fewer hens; ten or fewer small caged pets, birds or nonnative reptiles; and beekeeping.

For animals outside those thresholds, Section 14.17.020(C) puts the keeping through individual case review, and spaying or neutering is one of nine standards the city may attach to the permit, alongside identification tagging, fencing, food and water storage, sequestering hours, sanitation, inspection access, Fish and Game permit verification and vaccination proof. The community development director can add further conditions needed to support the findings required under Section 14.21.080: compliance with law, humane treatment, and no adverse odor, fly, noise, nuisance, health or procreation impact on neighboring property. Section 14.17.020(E) separately declares nonconforming animal keeping a public nuisance.