Madera County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Madera County regulates larger numbers of animals through its zoning "kennel" definition and a kennel-permit process rather than a single flat pet limit in unincorporated areas. The County's zoning code defines a kennel at Section 18.04.288 (with a related commercial-kennel definition), and once a household reaches that defined threshold of dogs, the use is treated as a kennel that must satisfy zoning and permit requirements. Madera County Animal Services publishes "Dog Kennel Requirements for Permit Issuance" application materials, so residents who want to keep a larger number of dogs apply through Animal Services and meet the kennel standards. For ordinary pet ownership below the kennel threshold, owners must still license each dog over four months of age, keep dogs confined to the property and leashed off-property, and avoid nuisance conditions such as persistent barking. Because the exact number of dogs that triggers the kennel definition is set in Section 18.04.288 and the County does not advertise a single universal household cap on its main Animal Services pages, residents planning to keep multiple dogs should confirm the current kennel threshold and permit requirements directly with Madera County (Animal Services for the permit, Planning for zoning). Cats are treated differently—the County notes there are no leash laws for cats—so the kennel/limit framework is centered on dogs.