Kern County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Per-Household Cap
- None set by county ordinance
- Commercial Facility Threshold
- More than 1 litter/year, or boarding/training/selling for compensation
- Commercial Permit Section
- Kern County Code § 7.08.040
- Dog License Required At
- 4 months of age (§ 7.08.020)
Summary
Unincorporated Kern County sets no fixed cap on pets per household. The practical line is commercial activity: more than one litter a year, or boarding, training or selling animals for compensation, requires a Commercial Animal Facility permit under County Code § 7.08.040. Dogs must be licensed at four months.
Kern County does not impose a fixed cap on the number of household dogs or cats. A Commercial Animal Facility permit is required at higher thresholds, defined by Kern County Animal Services as: '(1) Any premises where a person is in the business of buying or selling, boarding, breeding more than one (1) litter per year, letting for hire, or training for a fee dogs or cats. Animal shelters as defined in Section 7.08.015 are exempt from these requirements. (2) Grooming shops where animals are boarded. (3) Rescue facilities that house a minimum of eleven (11) dogs and/or cats onsite.' The permit is administered by Kern County Animal Services with annual housing fees ranging from $150 (1-10 animals) to $450+$10 per additional animal (over 100 animals), plus a $60/hour inspection fee per officer after the initial inspection. Jurisdiction covers unincorporated Kern County (including Frazier Park, Lamont, Mojave, Oildale, and Rosamond) plus the contracted cities of Arvin and Tehachapi.
Full Breakdown
Kern County's Title 7 animal code takes a different approach from cities that cap pets at a set number: there is no per-household limit in the unincorporated areas. What the county watches instead is when pet keeping turns commercial. Breed more than one litter in a year, or board, train, or sell animals for compensation, and § 7.08.040 requires a Commercial Animal Facility permit from Animal Services. Separately, § 7.08.020 requires every dog to be licensed at four months of age. Cats escape county licensing, though state rabies-vaccination rules still apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I keep in unincorporated Kern County?
Do I need to license my cats?
What counts as 'breeding' for the permit threshold?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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