Rohnert Park, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household limit
- 3 dogs or 4 cats without a kennel license
- Hobby kennel threshold
- 4+ dogs or 5+ cats, up to 10
- Commercial kennel
- same thresholds, for-profit purposes
- Litter cap for hobby kennels
- 2 puppy litters and 2 kitten litters per year
- License application deadline
- within 30 days of starting the kennel
- Small pet cap
- 12 birds/rabbits/rodents/reptiles without a hobby kennel permit
Summary
A Rohnert Park property owner or resident cannot keep more than three dogs or four cats without a hobby or commercial kennel license under Municipal Code § 6.04.140. Cross more than ten of either species and you fall into the city's commercial or hobby kennel licensing scheme entirely.
No person shall keep or have upon any premises owned, occupied, or controlled by him or her within the city more than three dogs or four cats without a hobby or commercial kennel license.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
140 caps ownership at three dogs or four cats on any premises within the city without a hobby or commercial kennel license. 070: a 'hobby kennel' is any premises keeping four or more dogs, or five or more cats (not to exceed ten of either), or thirteen or more birds, rabbits, rodents and reptiles up to twenty total, for noncommercial purposes such as showing, breeding or field trials, while a 'commercial kennel' uses the identical numeric thresholds for boarding, breeding, buying, selling, renting or exhibiting animals for money.
A hobby kennel operator is capped separately at selling, displaying or giving away no more than two litters of puppies and two litters of kittens per calendar year. 06 requires anyone operating a commercial kennel, hobby kennel or pet shop to apply in writing within thirty days of establishing the operation, pay a license fee set by city council resolution, and, if the deadline is missed, pay a late-licensing penalty on top of the normal fee. 250 limits birds, rabbits, rodents and reptiles to twelve total per premises without a hobby kennel permit.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more animals than the § 6.04.140 cap without the required hobby or commercial kennel license defaults to an infraction under § 6.02.050. Operating an unlicensed kennel also exposes the owner to a late-licensing penalty on top of the normal fee once the city gives notice to apply under § 6.06.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally own in Rohnert Park?
What about cats?
Do birds and rabbits count toward the pet limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle pet limits.