Gardena, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Gardena Municipal Code § 18.42.020(C) sets the numeric ceiling: a maximum of three weaned dogs, or three weaned cats, or three adult fowl, or any three combination thereof shall be permitted on any one lot or parcel in any zone. The cap applies citywide regardless of zoning district, so a single-family lot in an R-1 zone and a lot in a commercial zone face the same three-animal limit. The word 'weaned' matters: unweaned litters of puppies or kittens are not counted toward the cap while nursing, but once weaned, each animal counts individually against the three-animal total.

The section also defines what counts as an animal at all: subsection (A) defines 'animal' as any living being which is not human or vegetable, and subsection (B) restricts lawful pets to domesticated dogs, cats, and adult fowl including doves and pigeons; every other species is unlawful to keep without a permit. Households wanting to exceed three animals, or to keep an animal not on that list (a goat, a pig, or a horse, for example), must obtain a conditional use permit under Chapter 18.46, which routes the request through Community Development's planning division for a discretionary review rather than an over-the-counter approval.

Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, which enforces animal-control matters in Gardena under the city's contract, works alongside Community Development in confirming compliance with the zoning cap during inspections triggered by complaints.