Bakersfield, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Kennel threshold
- More than 3 dogs, 12+ weeks old
- License authority
- Bakersfield Police Department, annual
- Cat limit
- No numeric cap in city code
- Inspection
- Animal control may inspect anytime
- Appeal window
- 15 days to request hearing
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
Bakersfield's municipal code does not cap cats, but any premises keeping more than three dogs at least twelve weeks old is legally a "kennel" under Chapter 6.06, and operating one without a police-issued annual license is unlawful. The fourth dog is the trigger: owners with three or fewer dogs need only the standard individual dog license.
“Kennel” means any premises on which more than three dogs at least twelve weeks of age are kept including any business of boarding, breeding, or providing day care for dogs. A “kennel” does not include: (1) the public shelter; (2) any animal care facility, kennel, pound or training facility operated by any subdivision of local, state, or federal government; (3) any humane society, any veterinary hospital, or any research facility... A. No person shall operate a kennel without having first obtained a license under this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010). 020 makes it unlawful to operate a kennel without first obtaining a license from the Bakersfield Police Department. 040); the license is valid for one year unless suspended or revoked. 070. 080. 100). The code sets no separate numeric limit for cats.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unlicensed kennel, keeping more than three dogs without a police-issued license, violates BMC § 6.06.020 and is enforced under the citywide general penalty in Chapter 1.40: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense (§ 1.40.010). A violation of Chapter 6.06 is also independent grounds for the police chief to suspend or revoke the kennel license (§ 6.06.120).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I keep in Bakersfield without a license?
Is there a limit on the number of cats I can own?
What happens if I run an unlicensed kennel?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
California rules heatmap·Compare Bakersfield to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle pet limits.