Cupertino, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1/RC1/R-2/R-3/R-4 limit
- 4 adult pets, max 2 dogs/cats
- RHS zone formula
- 1 pet per 3,000 sq ft of lot area
- RHS dog cap
- 2 under 1 acre, 4 on 1+ acre lots
- A/A-1 zones
- No specified numeric limit
- Litters under 4 months
- 1 per dwelling in most residential zones
- Governing table
- Table 19.20.020, item 33
Summary
Cupertino's R-1, RC1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 residential zones cap adult household pets at four per dwelling under Table 19.20.020, with no more than two adult dogs or cats among them. The Residential Hillside (RHS) zone instead scales the limit to lot size, and litters under four months old get a separate, more generous allowance.
33. Adult (over 4 months of age) household pets per dwelling unit, limited as follows: a. No specified number ... b. Maximum of four, provided no more than two adult dogs or cats may be kept on the site
Full Breakdown
' In the standard R-1 single-family zone, plus RC1, R-2, R-3 and R-4, the limit is a maximum of four adult pets per dwelling unit, provided no more than two adult dogs or cats may be kept on the site; the remaining allowance can be filled with other small animals up to the four-pet cap. Agricultural (A) and Agricultural-Residential (A-1) zoned lots have no specified numeric limit for household pets under item 33(a). The Residential Hillside (RHS) zone uses a different formula: one adult household pet per three thousand square feet of lot area, except that dogs are capped at two on lots under one acre and four on lots one acre or larger.
Item 34 separately allows litters of dogs or cats up to four months old: a maximum of one litter per dwelling in R-1, RC1, R-2, R-3 and R-4, while A, A-1 and RHS lots have no specified numeric limit on litters. Item 36 covers overflow: keeping any animal not otherwise permitted under items 33, 34 or 35 requires an administrative conditional use permit in the RHS zone.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more pets than Table 19.20.020 allows, such as more than two adult dogs or cats on an R-1 lot, is a zoning violation the Community Development Department or a Code Enforcement Officer under Chapter 2.30 can act on. Section 1.12.010 makes a code violation an infraction, punishable by up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for each later offense within a year, or a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail if the City Attorney elects to prosecute it that way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I have at my Cupertino house?
Are pet limits different in the hillside area?
Do agricultural-zoned properties have a pet limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
California rules heatmap·Compare Cupertino to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle pet limits.