Santa Barbara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog Limit (no permit)
- 3 dogs per lot. LUDC §35.42.060.F.1
- Kennel Threshold
- 4+ dogs (Ch. 7 kennel definition)
- More Than 3 Dogs
- Requires kennel CUP/MCUP (§35.82.060)
- Cat Limit
- No specific county numeric cap
- Pet Enclosure Setback
- 25 ft from a dwelling on another lot
- Applies To
- Unincorporated Santa Barbara County
Summary
In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, Land Use & Development Code Section 35.42.060.F.1 limits households to no more than three dogs per lot as an accessory residential use. County Code Chapter 7 defines a kennel as a premises where four or more dogs four months or older are kept, which requires a kennel use permit.
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section §121690 and California Code of Regulations §§2606 and 2606.4 the local county health department is responsible for rabies control activities within the County; and pursuant to Food and Agriculture Code §30801 state law authorizes the County to license dogs.
Full Breakdown
Two County provisions set the practical limit on dogs in unincorporated areas. 1 (Household pets), states there shall be no more than three dogs permitted on a single lot, that household-pet keeping must be accessory to a residential use of a dwelling on the lot, that the animals are for the domestic use of the residents only and not kept for commercial purposes, and that enclosures must be located no closer than 25 feet to a dwelling on another lot. The animal-keeping tables confirm "Dogs" are limited to three across residential and agricultural zones.
060. This dovetails with County Code Chapter 7, whose definitions describe a kennel as any premises or area where four or more dogs four months of age or older are kept and cared for (excluding a licensed veterinary hospital or humane facility). Cat numbers are not capped by a specific County ordinance. Standard nuisance, restraint, and licensing rules in Chapter 7 still apply to all dogs regardless of number.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three dogs on a lot without an approved kennel Conditional Use Permit or Minor Conditional Use Permit is a zoning violation under the Land Use & Development Code, enforceable under Chapter 35.108 (Enforcement and Penalties), and operating an unpermitted kennel may be abated as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I have in unincorporated Santa Barbara County?
Is there a limit on the number of cats?
What counts as a kennel in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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