Stanislaus County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Kennel threshold
- 5+ dogs/cats over 4 months
- License required
- Before operating at that threshold
- Exempt
- Govt shelters, nonprofits, vet hospitals
- Collective licensing
- One kennel license covers all dogs
- Revocation grounds
- Animal-cruelty conviction (§ 7.24.060)
Summary
There's no flat cap on pets per household, but keeping five or more dogs or cats over four months old makes the property a "kennel" under Section 7.08.080, and Section 7.24.010 requires a kennel license before anyone may operate one: commercial or not.
"Kennel" means a place where five or more dogs or cats over four months of age are kept for commercial or noncommercial purposes. The term "kennel" shall not apply to animal shelters operated by governmental agencies, nonprofit societies for the care of stray animals or to veterinary hospitals. A kennel is defined in Section 7.08.080. No person shall, without first obtaining a kennel license, keep, conduct or operate any dog kennel, cat kennel, pet shop, zoo, animal rental establishment, riding academy, livery stable, boarding stable, pony ride, livestock auction or market, rodeo, pet show, animal exhibition, or any other use of animals for a commercial or noncommercial purpose.
Full Breakdown
080 defines "kennel" as any place where five or more dogs or cats over four months of age are kept, whether for commercial or noncommercial purposes: explicitly excluding government-operated animal shelters, nonprofit stray-animal societies, and veterinary hospitals. Because the definition doesn't distinguish a backyard from a business, a private household that reaches five qualifying animals is legally a kennel under Title 7. 080 definition directly. The one built-in carve-out is for an animal show or use sponsored and controlled by an organization that the animal services executive director determines has proper rules to prevent animal abuse.
20, though any kennel dog that leaves the kennel's confines still needs its own individual license. 050 requires certification that the keeping of animals won't violate any law, won't endanger community health, peace or safety, that premises are clean and sanitary without suffering, cruelty or abuse, and that the applicant hasn't had a similar license revoked within the prior year.
Violations & Fines
Keeping five or more dogs or cats over four months old without a kennel license is a Title 7 violation, an infraction under Chapter 7.48 capped at a $300 fine, and SASA can also suspend or revoke a kennel license under Section 7.24.060 if the operator is convicted of an animal-cruelty offense under Penal Code Sections 596, 597, 597.1, 598, or 599.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I legally keep in unincorporated Stanislaus County?
Do I need a separate license for every dog if I have a kennel license?
Can SASA take away my kennel license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stanislaus County
California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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