Santa Rosa, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Article II of Chapter 7-30 imposes a spay-and-neuter mandate separate from, and broader than, the potentially-dangerous-animal microchip rule in Article I. 110 (parks and playgrounds) must have that dog spayed or neutered at their own expense. The seven exceptions are narrow but specific: trained law-enforcement dogs or their approved breeding stock; trained service, guide, signal or social assistance dogs or their approved breeding stock; trained search-and-rescue dogs or their approved breeding stock; dogs with a licensed veterinarian's certificate documenting a health reason not to alter the dog; trained herding, livestock-guardian, or hunting dogs or their approved breeding stock; dogs boarded at a licensed kennel or business for professional training or resale; and dogs registered with the American Kennel Club, United Kingdom Kennel Club, or American Dog Breeders Association and kept for show, field trials, or agility. 200 exceptions, regardless of whether it has ever been cited for running at large. 010.