Merced, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Multifamily dwelling limit
- 1 dog and 1 cat
- Largest lot tier (6,000+ sq ft)
- Up to 5 dogs and 5 cats
- Smallest lot tier (under 3,000 sq ft)
- 1 dog and 1 cat
- Over-limit option
- Kennel or cattery permit required
- First-offense fine
- Up to $150
Summary
Merced caps how many cats and dogs a single-family home can keep based on lot size, from five of each on parcels of 6,000 square feet or more down to one dog and one cat on lots under 3,000 square feet, while multifamily units are capped at one dog and one cat under Municipal Code Sec. 6.04.065.
A.Except as provided in subsection B of this section, the number of cats and dogs raised and kept in any single-family dwelling shall be limited to the maximum number allowed based on parcel size as set forth in the table of this section: 6,000 sq/ft. or greater - Any combination of dogs and cats not to exceed 5 each unless with a valid kennel or cattery permit. Less than 6,000 sq/ft. but more than 5,000 sq/ft. - not to exceed 4 each. Less than 5,000 sq/ft. but more than 4,000 sq/ft. - not to exceed 3 each. Less than 4,000 sq/ft. but more than 3,000 sq/ft. - not to exceed 2 each. Less than 3,000 sq/ft. - A maximum of 1 dog and 1 cat. B.The number of cats and dogs raised and kept in any multifamily dwelling shall be limited to a maximum of one (1) cat and one (1) dog.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 - 1-26).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 065(A) sets a sliding scale by parcel size for single-family dwellings: a lot of 6,000 square feet or greater allows any combination of dogs and cats not to exceed five of each, unless the owner holds a valid kennel or cattery permit; a lot between 5,000 and 6,000 square feet allows up to four of each; between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet, up to three of each; between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet, up to two of each; and any lot under 3,000 square feet is limited to a maximum of one dog and one cat.
Subsection B separately limits every multifamily dwelling, regardless of lot size, to one cat and one dog. An owner who wants to exceed the five-per-species ceiling on a large lot must obtain a kennel permit for more than five dogs over four months old or a cattery permit for more than five cats over six months old, both issued by the animal control manager under Sec. 270, which requires zoning compliance, an application, a fee, and an investigation before more animals can be lawfully kept.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the lot-size limits in Sec. 6.04.065 without the applicable kennel or cattery permit is enforced as a Title 6 infraction: up to $150 for a first violation, up to $300 for a second within a year, and up to $550 for a third or later violation of the same provision (Sec. 6.04.320(B)). A second violation committed within 30 calendar days of the first becomes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both (Sec. 6.04.320(A), (C)), and the animal control manager may also seek revocation of any related license or permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally keep at my Merced home?
Can apartment residents in Merced keep more than one dog?
What if I want to keep more than five dogs on my Merced property?
Does Merced's pet limit count dogs and cats separately or together?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced
California rules heatmap·Compare Merced to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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