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

020 makes it unlawful to own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog or cat over four months old anywhere in the city. Owners must have the animal spayed or neutered, produce a veterinarian's certificate of sterility, or obtain one of two licenses: an unaltered exempt license or a hobby breeder license, which authorizes no more than one litter per animal every twelve months. Feral and free-roaming unaltered cats four months or older are covered by the same prohibition under subsection C, and the city or its animal control agency may run trap-and-release or spay/neuter programs to manage feral colonies.

Exemptions requiring a veterinarian's written confirmation cover dogs and cats whose health would be endangered by surgery, female dogs over ten years and male dogs over twelve, law enforcement animals, licensed service animals, and competition dogs or cats registered with an approved breed club or national registry. An owner offering an unaltered dog or cat for sale, trade, or adoption must disclose the license number to the buyer and notify animal control of the new owner within ten days. When an unaltered dog or cat is impounded, the agency will not release it until the owner proves prior sterilization, pays to have the animal spayed or neutered by the agency's veterinarian, or signs a sworn statement promising sterilization within ten days of release.

The agency may deny or revoke a license after three verified complaints of neglect or running at large, and a revoked license carries a thirty-day waiting period before reapplication with no fee refund.