Dublin, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

The City of Dublin caps household pets on residential lots: 'Residential lots may have no more than two dogs and two cats without an Animal Fancier's Permit, issued by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.' Dublin's zoning and animal control provisions state that no person shall keep more than two dogs, or more than two cats, or keep any livestock, as accessory to a dwelling unit in any 'R' (Residential) zoning district except under a valid Animal Fanciers Permit issued by the Director and referenced in Chapter 5.36. In zoning terms, 'Animal Keeping - Residential' is the keeping of more than two dogs or two cats, or any livestock, accessory to a residence, and it must be pursuant to a valid Animal Fanciers Permit. The permit application is made on the form required by the Director with the City Council-set fee, the permit term is set at the Director's discretion up to three years, and applications and information are handled by the East County Animal Shelter (925-803-7040). The two-dog/two-cat threshold counts toward the point at which a permit becomes mandatory; the City does not separately publish a hard ceiling above the permit, leaving the number of additional animals to the discretion and conditions of the permit. Households wanting a third or fourth pet, or any livestock, should apply before exceeding the limit, since keeping animals over the threshold without a permit is treated as a prohibited residential use.