Oakland, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- OMC § 6.04.400
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 13858, Sept. 15, 2025
- Dog limit
- 3 dogs over 4 months old per premises
- Puppies under 4 months
- Not counted toward the cap
- Exempt
- Kennels, vet hospitals, OAS, approved fosters
- Penalty class
- Infraction or misdemeanor
Summary
Oakland Municipal Code § 6.04.400 limits any one premises to three dogs over four months old unless the owner shows the property has adequate space and the dogs don't create a nuisance. Licensed kennels, boarding facilities, vet hospitals, Oakland Animal Services, and approved foster homes are exempt from the cap.
Except as provided in Subsection (B) below, it is unlawful for any person to keep on any one (1) premises more than three (3) dogs more than four (4) months old, unless the owner can demonstrate that the premises provides adequate space and the keeping of such dogs does not constitute a nuisance or pose a threat to the health or safety of the dogs. The limit provided herein shall not apply to licensed dog kennels, licensed boarding facilities, veterinary hospitals, Oakland Animal Services, the East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (EBSPCA), fosters approved by Oakland Animal Services...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Planning Code: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
400(A), adopted by Ordinance No. 13858 on September 15, 2025 (carrying forward Ord. " The cap counts only dogs older than four months, so litters of puppies aren't counted against it. Subsection (B) exempts licensed dog kennels, licensed boarding facilities, veterinary hospitals, Oakland Animal Services, the East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (EBSPCA), Oakland Animal Services-approved foster homes, and any property with the necessary Planning Code land-use permits. 310(D), separately makes keeping more than three livestock on one premises a public nuisance absent a conditional use permit. 370.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three dogs over four months old on one premises without demonstrating adequate space and no nuisance violates § 6.04.400(A). It is enforceable as an infraction or misdemeanor under § 6.04.420 by Oakland Police, Animal Control Officers, or the Alameda County Health Officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally own in Oakland?
Do puppies count toward Oakland's three-dog limit?
Are foster homes exempt from Oakland's dog limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oakland
California rules heatmap·Compare Oakland to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle pet limits.