Pleasanton, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Chapter 6.48 (Kennels and Pet Shops) defines "kennel" in Section 6.48.010 as "a premises where four or more dogs are maintained, boarded, cared for, or kept, whether for purpose of sale or otherwise," excluding a licensed veterinarian's treatment facility. Section 6.48.020 makes it "unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or association to erect, establish or maintain any kennel or pet shop...without first obtaining a permit from the health officer," who weighs construction and sanitation, how animals will be housed, the applicant's character, and applicable zoning before granting a permit; approval requires paying the tax collector an annual $20.00 license fee, due each January 1st and expiring December 31st.

In practice, this makes four the threshold at which a Pleasanton household must obtain a kennel permit for its dogs; three or fewer need no such permit. Title 18's zoning code echoes the same four-animal line more broadly: Section 18.08.275 defines "kennel" for zoning purposes as any premises "where any combination of dogs or cats totaling four or more animals four months of age or older are kept," except when accessory to a permitted agricultural use, and the R-1 district additionally requires any building or enclosure housing animals or fowl, other than household pets, to sit at least 100 feet from residential, office, commercial, industrial-park or public zoning districts.

A kennel permit can be suspended or revoked under Section 6.48.030 for failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter or sanitary conditions, or for violating a health officer rule, with revocation appealable in writing to the city council within 10 days under Section 6.48.040.