Santa Barbara County Code Chapter 7 does not establish a numeric cap on the number of dogs or cats a resident may keep in unincorporated areas. Instead, the county relies on licensing, rabies vaccination, nuisance, and zoning provisions. Every dog over four months old must be licensed and currently vaccinated against rabies.
Santa Barbara County does not impose a hard 'three-dog' or 'four-cat' style limit in Chapter 7. All dogs four months of age and older in the county's jurisdiction must be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian and licensed annually (or for a 2- or 3-year term aligned with the rabies certificate), with discounted rates for spayed/neutered animals. Excessive numbers of animals can still be regulated through Chapter 7's nuisance provisions (barking, odors, sanitation), under California Food & Agricultural Code Ch. 9 of Div. 14 (potentially dangerous/vicious dogs), and through Chapter 35 (Zoning) which limits livestock, kennels, and commercial animal operations by zone. A kennel permit is required to operate a commercial boarding or breeding facility.
Failure to license a dog over 4 months old is an infraction; unlicensed dogs picked up by Animal Services may not be released until licensed and vaccinated. Operating an unpermitted kennel can result in a zoning violation and abatement action. Sanitation, odor, or noise complaints involving multiple animals can be cited as a public nuisance under Chapter 7.
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