Garden Grove, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max dogs per property
- 4, age 4+ months
- Max roaming cats per property
- 4, age 4+ months
- 5+ cats allowed only if
- kept in an enclosed cattery
- 5+ dogs or cats otherwise
- require Director's animal permit
- Permit renewal
- annual, nontransferable
- Permit appeals
- under Sec. 2.60.020
Summary
Garden Grove caps ordinary households at four dogs and four roaming cats, each four months of age or older, per property under Municipal Code Section 6.04.020(A)(6)(a). Owners wanting five or more dogs or cats, or a cattery housing five-plus cats, must obtain an annual animal permit from the Director.
A maximum of four of the following or four of any combination of the following shall be permitted: i. A maximum of four dogs, four months of age or older, shall be permitted on any premises within the corporate City limits; ii. A maximum of four roaming cats, four months of age or older, shall be permitted on any premises within the corporate City limits; ... b. Five or more cats, kept at all times in enclosed catteries, shall be permitted on any premises within the corporate City limits and shall comply with all regulations in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4903654; v10 updated 2026-05-12).
Full Breakdown
020(A)(6)(a)(i) sets a maximum of four dogs, four months of age or older, permitted on any premises within the city, and (a)(ii) sets the same four-animal cap for roaming cats of the same minimum age. The chapter carves out an exception in (A)(6)(b): five or more cats are permitted if kept at all times in enclosed catteries that comply with all other regulations in the chapter. 100(F) requires an animal permit from the Director for five or more licensed dogs or five or more cats over four months old; the Director issues the permit for a fee set by City Council resolution once satisfied the animals can be kept without endangering the neighborhood's safety and comfort, and the permit is nontransferable and must be renewed annually. 020. 060.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the four-dog or four-cat limit without the Section 6.04.100(F) animal permit is a violation of Chapter 6.04. A first offense is an infraction under Section 6.04.060(A); a third violation within one year is a misdemeanor under Section 6.04.060(B). The Director can require animals be reduced to the legal limit or that the owner obtain the required permit, and each day of noncompliance is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally have in Garden Grove?
Can I keep five or more cats in Garden Grove?
What happens if I exceed the pet limit without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garden Grove
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