Redwood City, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

2 makes it unlawful, and declares it a nuisance, for anyone other than a duly licensed veterinarian to keep more than four dogs and/or cats (in any combination) over three months old on a single lot within Redwood City. On lots smaller than one acre, the four-animal cap still applies but no more than two of those four may be dogs; a lot could hold two dogs and two cats, or up to four cats, but never three or four dogs. On lots of one acre or larger, the two-dog sub-limit disappears and up to four dogs and/or cats combined are allowed.

The three-month age cutoff means litters of puppies or kittens under that age are not counted toward the limit while they remain with the litter. 2 govern instead. Because keeping more animals than the cap allows is declared a nuisance rather than merely an infraction, the City can pursue nuisance abatement in addition to prosecuting the violation, and neighbors who are affected by an overcrowded household have a basis to complain to Animal Control or Code Enforcement rather than only to the Police Department.