Santa Clarita, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)
Key Facts
- Base rule
- Dogs over 4 months must be altered
- Alternative
- Annual unaltered dog license, Sec. 8.20.355
- 1st offense fine
- Up to $250 infraction
- 2nd offense penalty
- Up to $1,000 and/or 6 months jail
- Adopted
- Ordinance 06-11, Dec. 12, 2006
Summary
Santa Clarita requires every dog over four months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner instead obtains an annual unaltered dog license under Section 8.20.355. Section 8.20.350 makes it unlawful to own an unaltered dog without that license, and penalties escalate from a $250 infraction to a misdemeanor.
A. No person may own, keep, or harbor a dog over the age of four (4) months in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with Section 8.20.355. B. The owner or custodian of a dog which is unable to be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity must obtain written confirmation of that fact from a licensed veterinarian.
Full Breakdown
355. Subsection B carves out a medical exception: if a veterinarian confirms the dog cannot be altered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death, the owner must get written confirmation and, if the dog cannot be fixed within thirty days, apply for the unaltered license instead. 097, a law-enforcement dog, a qualified service or assistance dog, or a dog a veterinarian says cannot safely be altered. 360 for reasons including an owner letting the dog run loose, a prior citation for an animal-care violation, or a female dog having more than one litter a year or five litters in her lifetime; a denial refunds half the license fee, while a revocation refunds none. 365 gives the owner ten days to request a hearing before the license is denied or revoked.
Violations & Fines
Section 8.20.375 sets tiered penalties for violating the spay/neuter law. A first offense is an infraction with a fine up to $250, and it becomes a second violation if the underlying problem isn't fixed within thirty days of notice. A second violation within a year is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, with each further violation in that year charged as an additional misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to spay or neuter my dog in Santa Clarita?
What's the fine for an unaltered, unlicensed dog?
Can the city take away my unaltered dog license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clarita
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