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Anaheim, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified April 2026

Key Facts

Animal Limits
Per zone in municipal code
OC Animal Care
(714) 935-6848
Cruelty Law
CA Penal Code 597
Code Enforcement
(714) 765-4413

Summary

Animal hoarding in Anaheim is addressed through animal keeping limits in the municipal code and nuisance abatement. Exceeding permitted animal numbers or maintaining unsanitary conditions triggers enforcement by Code Enforcement and OC Animal Care.

597. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c) of this section or Section 599c, a person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal, is guilty of a crime punishable pursuant to subdivision (d). (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), a person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills an animal, or causes or procures an animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects an animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses an animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter, or protection from the weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the animal when unfit for labor, is, for each offense, guilty of a crime punishable pursuant to subdivision (d).

Source: CA Penal Code 597 Animal CrueltyView official code

Full Breakdown

Anaheim's municipal code limits the number of animals per household by zone. Exceeding these limits or maintaining hoarding conditions (unsanitary environments, neglect, odor) triggers code enforcement. OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 investigates welfare complaints. Criminal animal cruelty is prosecuted under CA Penal Code 597.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding animal limits: code violation with fines. Animal cruelty under PC 597: misdemeanor up to $20,000 fine and imprisonment. Nuisance conditions: abatement with cost recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pets can I have in Anaheim?
Limits vary by zone. Contact Code Enforcement at (714) 765-4413 for your zone's specific limits.
How do I report animal hoarding?
Contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 for welfare concerns. For code violations, call (714) 765-4413.
What are the penalties?
Code fines for exceeding limits. Animal cruelty under PC 597 carries up to $20,000 fine and imprisonment.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Anaheim

All Anaheim rules

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

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