Sacramento County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog limit without permit
- 4 dogs over 4 months
- Cat limit without permit
- 4 cats over 6 months
- Above limit
- Kennel/Cattery Permit required
- Issuing officer
- Chief of Animal Control
Summary
Unincorporated Sacramento County households can keep up to four dogs over four months old and four cats over six months old before Animal Care Services classifies the property as a licensed kennel or cattery.
A person shall be deemed to maintain or operate a kennel if the person, without an applicable General Business License in effect, keeps, harbors, or maintains more than four dogs over four months of age.
c. A person shall be deemed to maintain or operate a cattery if the person, without an applicable General Business License in effect, keep, harbors, or maintains more than four cats over six months of age.
d. The following shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
1. Catteries when the cats are physically restrained or confined to the place of keeping and when no founded complaints by the public or observations by Animal Control of a violation of any provisions of this title are made;
2. Enterprises maintained or operated solely and exclusively as animal facilities pursuant to a General Business License;
3. Persons keeping wild animals solely and exclusively as part of a bona fide rehabilitation or educational activity sanctioned by the State of California Department of Fish and Game; and 4. Non-profit enterprises recognized by the State of California as animal shelters or humane societies which shelter animals.
e. If a person operates more than one kennel or cattery or maintains wild animals at more than one address, a separate permit shall be required for each location where the person maintains a kennel or cattery or keeps a wild animal. (SCC 0815 § 2, 1990)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
In the unincorporated area of Sacramento County, County Code § 8.26.015 draws the line between an ordinary pet household and a licensed kennel or cattery. A resident without a General Business License may keep up to four dogs over four months old and up to four cats over six months old. Add a fifth animal and the Chief of Animal Control classifies the property as a kennel or cattery, triggering an annual Kennel/Cattery Permit application, an investigation, and public notice posted near the property before the permit can issue.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unpermitted kennel or cattery above the four-animal threshold is enforced by Animal Care Services; the Chief of Animal Control can deny, condition, or revoke the permit, and disputes go to a Chapter 8.36 administrative hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I keep in unincorporated Sacramento County without a permit?
Does a General Business License change the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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