Hawthorne, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Hawthorne sets de facto household pet limits through its kennel and cat-facility definitions in Title 6 of the Hawthorne Municipal Code. A 'kennel' is defined to include any lot, building, structure, enclosure, or premises where four or more dogs are kept for any purpose. A parallel definition covers a facility with four or more cats over the age of four months kept or maintained for any purpose. Reaching the four-or-more threshold for dogs or cats moves a household into the kennel/cat-facility category, which requires registration or permitting rather than ordinary pet keeping. The city's animal-registration provisions add that dogs duly registered (licensed) under the chapter, or expressly excepted, are not counted in computing the number of dogs in a registered kennel, provided an affidavit accompanies the kennel registration stating the number of registered or excepted dogs and each dog's registration number or description; a kennel registration must also state the maximum number of dogs that may be kept under it. Beyond these definitions, Chapter 6.24 limits non-household animals (anything other than dog, cat, canary, parrot, or similar) to special-permit holders and imposes the 35-foot setback. Households at or near the four-dog or four-cat line should contact Hawthorne Animal Control or Licensing and Code Enforcement to confirm whether a kennel/cat-facility registration is required for their situation.