Grass Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Nevada County sets pet limits through its Animal Keeping and Raising standards (Sec. 12.03.040, Table 12.03.040.C). In the R1, R2, R3 residential districts and in commercial and industrial districts, the combined number of dogs and/or cats may not exceed 3. Any combination of dogs and cats is permitted up to that total, and the limits apply to dogs and cats over 6 months of age. A separate small-parcel rule applies regardless of zoning: on parcels of 0.5 acre or less, the maximum is not more than 6 animals total, not to exceed 3 dogs. In the agricultural and rural districts (AG, AE, FR, REC, IDR, PD, TPZ, P&OS) and the RA district there is no numeric limit on dogs and cats. Households exceeding these limits, or operating a kennel, need a kennel license: commercial and private kennels as defined in the Nevada County General Code Chapter IV, Article 1, Section 1.37 require a kennel license from the Department of Animal Control, and commercial kennels in rural, commercial, and industrial districts require a use permit. The County's published Animal Control fees list private kennel licenses (1-10 animals) at $72 and commercial kennel licenses (1-10 animals) at $109, among other tiers.