Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Solano County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified June 2026

Key Facts

Fixed pet cap in code
None in Chapter 4
Kennel trigger (dogs)
Keeping dogs over 4 months as a business (sec. 4-85)
Cattery trigger (cats)
Keeping cats over 4 months as a business (sec. 4-85)
Number-based nuisance
Abatable by 'number or types' of animals (sec. 4-11)
Dog licensing
Required for dogs over 4 months (sec. 4-139)

Summary

Solano County Code Chapter 4 sets no fixed numeric limit on how many dogs or cats a household may keep in unincorporated areas. Instead, keeping dogs or cats over four months of age as a business, or in numbers that create a nuisance, can trigger kennel/cattery licensing or animal-nuisance rules. Dogs over four months must be licensed.

City-specific rules exist: Vacaville, Vallejo, and Fairfield have their own pet limits rules that differ from Solano County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

(b) A person shall be deemed to maintain or operate a commercial kennel if the person, without an applicable general business license in effect, keeps, harbors, or maintains dogs over four (4) months of age. (c) A person shall be deemed to maintain or operate a commercial cattery if the person, without an applicable general business license in effect, keeps, harbors, or maintains cats over four (4) months of age.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Unincorporated Solano County does not impose a simple cap (such as 'no more than three dogs') in County Code Chapter 4. Instead, the chapter regulates concentrations of animals through its kennel/cattery and nuisance provisions. Under Article VI, a person is deemed to operate a commercial kennel if, without an applicable general business license, they keep, harbor, or maintain dogs over four months of age, and a commercial cattery if they keep cats over four months of age (section 4-85); operating a kennel or cattery requires proper zoning and an annual license.

Separately, the 'animal nuisance' definition in section 4-11 includes causing offense or danger to public health, safety, or welfare 'by virtue of the number or types of animals maintained,' so a large number of animals that creates odor, unsanitary conditions, or disturbance can be abated as a nuisance under Article V. All dogs over four months of age must be licensed within 30 days (section 4-139), which functions as a per-animal control. Because the controlling limits come from zoning, business-licensing, and nuisance standards rather than a flat household cap, residents with many pets should confirm kennel/zoning requirements with the County.

Violations & Fines

Keeping dogs or cats over four months of age as a business without proper zoning and a kennel/cattery license violates Article VI and can lead to citation, license denial or revocation, and removal of animals. Maintaining animals in numbers that create a nuisance can be abated under Article V, including impoundment after a hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dogs or cats can I have in unincorporated Solano County?
County Code Chapter 4 sets no fixed numeric household limit. However, keeping dogs or cats over four months of age as a business makes you a kennel or cattery requiring proper zoning and a license (section 4-85), and keeping animals in numbers that create a nuisance can be abated under the animal-nuisance rules (sections 4-11 and Article V).
Do I need a license for each dog?
Yes. Section 4-139 requires every dog over four months of age to be licensed within 30 days of ownership or possession, after a current rabies vaccination certificate is issued by a licensed veterinarian. Cat licensing is available but optional under section 4-142.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Solano County

All Solano County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview

Get notified when Pet Limits in Solano County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Pet Limits in Cities Across Solano County