Mountain View, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Combined dog/cat limit
- 4 adults per street address
- Unspayed female limit
- 1 dog + 1 cat
- Litter limit
- 1 per calendar year
- Exempt operations
- Licensed vets, permitted kennels/shelters
- Governing section
- MVCC Sec. 5.51
Summary
Mountain View caps most households at four adult dogs and cats combined over four months old, and at only one unspayed female dog and one unspayed female cat, under City Code Sec. 5.51. A female is presumed unspayed unless the owner proves otherwise, and no more than one litter per year is allowed from animals on the property. Licensed vets, pet shops, and permitted kennels are exempt.
(a)No person shall keep or maintain more than a total of four (4) adult dogs and/or cats (any combination) over four (4) months of age, at any street address.(b)No person shall keep or maintain more than one (1) unspayed female dog or one (1) unspayed female cat, at any street address.(c)A female dog or cat shall be rebuttably presumed to be unspayed, unless the owner provides evidence of spaying. Written certification from a licensed veterinarian that an animal cannot be spayed for health reasons or is incapable of breeding shall be deemed a satisfactory substitution for a certificate showing an animal is spayed.(d)No person shall allow the parturition and rearing of more than one (1) litter (dogs or cats) in any one (1) calendar year from females owned by him/her or maintained on his/her premises.(e)The provisions of this section shall not apply to a bona fide veterinarian licensed by the State of California for the practice of veterinary medicine, or a pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, animal shelter or animal menagerie that holds a valid permit from the administrator.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 34 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 51(a) sets the household ceiling at four adult dogs and cats combined, in any mix, once they pass four months of age, counted per street address rather than per owner. Subsection (b) layers on a stricter cap for unaltered females: no more than one unspayed female dog and one unspayed female cat at that address. Subsection (c) makes every female dog or cat rebuttably presumed unspayed unless the owner produces proof, though a veterinarian's written statement that the animal cannot be spayed for health reasons or cannot breed satisfies the requirement in place of a spay certificate.
Subsection (d) limits any owner to one litter per calendar year from females they own or keep on their premises. Subsection (e) exempts licensed veterinarians and any pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, animal shelter, or animal menagerie holding a valid administrator permit. Anyone who wants to keep more animals than Sec. 51 allows, or wants to rescue and rehome more, must instead register as an animal rescuer under Sec. 75, which requires proof of nonprofit status, a demonstrated adoption track record, registration fee payment, and agreement to the Sec. 68 care and sanitation standards for kennels and shelters.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than four dogs and cats combined, more than one unspayed female of each species, or more than one litter a year without qualifying for an exemption or a Sec. 5.75 rescuer registration is a code violation under the citywide schedule in Sec. 1.7: up to $100 for a first infraction, $200 for a second within a year, $500 for a third, and a fourth within the year may be charged as a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs and cats can I have in Mountain View?
Can I keep an unspayed female dog and cat together?
What if I foster more animals than the limit allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mountain View
California rules heatmap·Compare Mountain View to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle pet limits.