Napa County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County numeric pet cap
- None codified in Title 6
- Dog license requirement
- Every two years for dogs over 4 months (HSC 121690)
- Rabies vaccination
- Required for dogs over 3 months (HSC 121690)
- Status of cat cap
- Discussed at Dec 2025 BOS meeting; not adopted
- Kennel definition
- Regulated under Title 18 Zoning, not Title 6
Summary
Napa County Code Title 6 does not set a numerical limit on the number of dogs or cats a household in the unincorporated area may keep. Cat limits were discussed by the Board of Supervisors in December 2025 (referencing Sacramento County's 4-cat cap) but have not been adopted. Every dog over four months must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated under Cal. Health & Safety Code 121690.
Every owner of a dog, after the dog attains the age of four months, shall no less than once every two years secure a license for the dog as provided by ordinance of the responsible city, city and county, or county. License fees shall be fixed by the responsible city, city and county, or county at an amount necessary to cover all or any part of the costs incurred in carrying out this chapter. Every owner of a dog, after the dog attains the age of three months or older, shall, at intervals of time not more often than once a year, as may be prescribed by the department, procure its vaccination by a licensed veterinarian with a canine antirabies vaccine.
Full Breakdown
Unlike many California counties, Napa County's Title 6 (Animals) does not establish a maximum number of household dogs or cats. Pet keeping is instead constrained by (1) state licensing/rabies law (HSC 121690, requiring every dog over four months to be licensed at least once every two years and vaccinated against rabies), (2) general nuisance and animal-cruelty law, and (3) the new Chapter 6.18 cap on roosters (see chickens & livestock). Following a December 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting that approved tighter rooster rules, Supervisor Belia Ramos publicly noted that Sacramento County limits residents to four mature cats per lot and asked staff to evaluate similar tools, but Napa has not enacted a numerical cat limit. Multi-dog operations that meet the zoning code's definition of a 'kennel' are regulated through Title 18 (Zoning), not through a head-count cap in Title 6.
Violations & Fines
There is no penalty for exceeding a non-existent numerical limit, but failure to license/vaccinate dogs is enforceable under state HSC 121690 and any nuisance conditions (noise, odor, sanitation) can trigger Code Enforcement action. Unspayed/unneutered dogs impounded for at-large violations also incur escalating fines under FAC 30804.7 ($35/$50/$100).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I keep in unincorporated Napa County?
Is the rumored four-cat limit in effect?
Do I need a license for my dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Napa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Napa County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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