Glendale, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog kennel threshold
- More than 2 dogs needs permit
- Cat kennel threshold
- More than 3 cats needs permit
- Absolute cap
- 4 dogs or 6 cats max
- Permit issuer
- Community Development Department
- No-permit penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 months
- Appeal window
- 15 days to hearing officer
Summary
Glendale Municipal Code Section 6.08.130 treats any home with more than two dogs or more than three cats as a "kennel" that needs a city permit, and Section 6.08.160 caps every kennel permit at four dogs or six domestic cats over four months old.
"Cat kennel" means and includes any place where more than three domestic cats over four months of age are kept, housed, fed, harbored, lodged or maintained. ... "Dog kennel" means and includes any place where more than two dogs over four months of age are kept, housed, fed, harbored, lodged or maintained. ... No person shall keep in any noncommercial kennel more than the number of dogs or domestic cats permitted by the kennel permit. No kennel permit shall be issued for more than four dogs or six domestic cats, over the age of four months.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Glendale does not cap pet ownership directly; instead it regulates through its kennel-permit system. Section 6.08.130 defines a "dog kennel" as "any place where more than two dogs over four months of age are kept, housed, fed, harbored, lodged or maintained" and a "cat kennel" as any place housing "more than three domestic cats over four months of age." Once a household crosses either threshold, Section 6.08.140 requires "a permit in writing from the Community Development Department or its authorized agent" before the animals may be kept, whether the keeping is commercial or purely personal ("noncommercial").
Section 6.08.150 spells out the application: the owner must list the proposed location, the number of dogs and cats to be kept, pay a filing fee set under Section 6.04.180, and then pay the permit fee annually in advance. Even with a permit, Section 6.08.160 puts a hard ceiling on the numbers: "No kennel permit shall be issued for more than four dogs or six domestic cats, over the age of four months." Every dog kept under a noncommercial kennel permit must also be individually licensed under Sections 6.08.080 through 6.08.120 before the permit issues or renews, and failing to license those dogs is grounds for revoking the kennel permit.
The city can revoke or suspend a kennel permit under Section 6.08.152 if the premises violate any code provision or become a nuisance, but only after a hearing with seven days' written notice; an aggrieved permit holder can appeal to the animal administrative hearing officer within 15 days under Section 6.08.153.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than two dogs or three cats without first obtaining a kennel permit is a misdemeanor: Section 6.04.010(B) singles out a violation of Section 6.08.140 for misdemeanor treatment under Section 1.20.010(A), punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, rather than the lighter infraction fines that apply to most Title 6 violations. Refusing to allow the Community Development Department to inspect the premises is separately grounds for revoking the permit under Section 6.08.150(E).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally keep at my home in Glendale?
Is there a cat limit in Glendale?
What happens if I keep too many pets without a permit?
Can Glendale revoke my kennel permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle pet limits.