Chula Vista, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- CVMC 6.04.040
- Under 3,500 sq ft / multi-family
- 1 dog + 1 cat max (or 2/2 same species)
- 3,500–<10,000 sq ft
- 3 dogs + 3 cats max
- 20,000+ sq ft
- 6 dogs + 6 cats max
- Age threshold
- Counts animals over 6 months old
- Waiver authority
- City Manager, case-by-case, up to section limits
Summary
Chula Vista caps dogs and cats by lot size: small lots and apartments get just two pets total, while the largest single-family lots can keep up to six dogs and six cats. The City Manager can waive the cap case by case.
A. Single-family lots of less than 3,500 square feet and all multiple-family dwellings (i.e., attached apartments, condominiums and/or townhomes): The keeping of any animal other than one dog and one cat, or two dogs or two cats, per dwelling unit is prohibited. ... E. Single-family lots of 20,000 square feet or larger: The keeping of more than six dogs and six cats is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3623, passed May 19, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040 sets a sliding scale tied to lot size and dwelling type. On single-family lots under 3,500 square feet and in all multi-family dwellings, apartments, condos and townhomes, subsection A prohibits keeping more than one dog and one cat, or two dogs, or two cats, per dwelling unit. Subsection B allows up to three dogs and three cats on lots of at least 3,500 but less than 10,000 square feet. Subsection C raises the cap to four dogs and four cats on lots of 10,000 to under 15,000 square feet.
Subsection D allows five of each on lots of 15,000 to under 20,000 square feet, and subsection E allows six dogs and six cats on lots of 20,000 square feet or more. 08 CVMC. Subsection G gives the City Manager or a designee authority to waive these limits on a case-by-case basis up to the totals stated in the section, meaning the City can grant relief but cannot exceed the section's own ceilings. Subsection H clarifies the counts apply only to animals over six months old, so litters of puppies or kittens under that age do not count toward the limit. The section was last amended by Ordinance 3226 in 2012 and traces to a 1961 original ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more dogs or cats than the applicable lot-size limit allows is enforceable as a general municipal code violation under CVMC § 1.20.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in county jail, or, at the City Prosecutor's discretion, an infraction carrying a $100 first-offense fine, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I have in a Chula Vista apartment?
Can I keep more pets if I have a big yard?
Do puppies and kittens count toward the household pet limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chula Vista
California rules heatmap·Compare Chula Vista to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle pet limits.