Moreno Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide cap
- 4 cats/dogs per household
- R-10/15/20 units ≤1,000 sf
- 2 animals total
- R-10/15/20 units >1,000 sf
- 2 dogs + 2 cats max
- Kennel CUP threshold
- 1-acre minimum parcel
- Household pets (non-dog/cat)
- no numeric maximum
Summary
Moreno Valley caps cats and dogs at four total per household on standard residential lots under Municipal Code Table 9.09.090-11, but Note 5 tightens that in the R-10, R-15 and R-20 districts and multifamily projects: units of 1,000 square feet or less get only two animals total, larger units get up to two dogs and two cats.
Cats or dogs None Maximum 4 All ... 5 Residential districts of R-10, R-15, R-20 and multiple-family projects such as two-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, bungalow courts, mobile home parks and apartment houses or similar structures shall be subject to the following criteria: a. Dwelling units of 1,000 square feet or less shall be limited to a total of two such animals. b. Dwelling units greater than 1,000 square feet shall be limited to a maximum of two dogs and two cats.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4887234; v10 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
090 of the Moreno Valley Municipal Code lists 'Cats or dogs' with no minimum lot size and a maximum of four animals, applicable in all zoning districts. Note 5 carves out a stricter rule for the higher-density residential districts, R-10, R-15 and R-20, and for multiple-family projects such as two-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, bungalow courts, mobile home parks and apartment houses: a dwelling unit of 1,000 square feet or less is limited to a total of two such animals, while a dwelling unit larger than 1,000 square feet is limited to a maximum of two dogs and two cats, meaning four animals split evenly between species rather than four of either kind.
Household pets other than cats and dogs, defined separately in the table, carry no numeric maximum anywhere in the city. Offspring from a permitted animal may be kept until weaning age, four months for cats and dogs, before counting against the household cap. 2, and must meet sound attenuation, drainage, sewer or septic service and setback standards set out in that subsection. A household exceeding the table's per-species or total limits without qualifying as a permitted kennel use is out of compliance with the zoning code, independent of any separate county or city animal-license requirements administered under Title 10.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the household cap of four animals citywide, or the tighter split of two animals (or two dogs and two cats) in R-10, R-15, R-20 and multifamily projects, is a zoning violation. Code enforcement responds to complaints with a correction notice ordering the owner to reduce the count before any citation issues; running an unpermitted kennel-scale operation without the required one-acre conditional use permit escalates to a use-permit violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I have in Moreno Valley?
Does the four-animal cap apply to all pets?
Can I run a dog breeding business at my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Moreno Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Moreno Valley to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle pet limits.