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

Under Calaveras County Code Section 6.16.010, every owner of 'four or more dogs or five or more cats over the age of four months' that are not covered by a kennel license must obtain an animal permit from the director of Animal Services. Section 6.04.030 likewise defines 'animal permit' as authorizing a person to keep four or more dogs, or five or more cats, of at least four months old for noncommercial purposes. If a permit is denied or revoked, the owner must reduce their animals to 'no more than three dogs or no more than four cats' within thirty days (Section 6.16.010). Section 6.16.020 establishes three permit types: interim animal permits, ranch dog permits, and foster care permits. Reflecting the county's ranching character, Section 6.16.040 authorizes a 'ranch dog permit' for owners of more than three dogs who can show the dogs are necessary for a legitimate livestock-production endeavor, provided each dog over four months is individually licensed and rabies-vaccinated, the dogs are identified on the application, kept so as not to become a nuisance, and the director is notified within ten days of acquiring additional dogs. Keeping four-plus dogs or five-plus cats as a commercial operation instead requires a kennel license under Chapter 6.18.