San Bernardino, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog limit
- 3 dogs over 4 months (§ 6.08.020)
- Cat limit
- 5 cats over 4 months (§ 6.10.020)
- Cat permit ceiling
- 20 cats max with fancier permit
- Age exclusion
- Animals under 4 months not counted
- Zoning override
- Title 19 may allow more
Summary
San Bernardino caps ownership at three dogs and five cats age four months or older per lot or premises, unless zoning under Title 19 allows more. Exceeding the cap without qualifying is unlawful and enforced by Animal Control.
§ 6.08.020 NUMBER OF DOGS PERMITTED. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, harbor or keep on or at any lot, premises or place more than three dogs which are four or more months of age, except as may be permitted by the provisions of Title 19. ... § 6.10.020 NUMBER OF CATS PERMITTED. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, harbor or keep on or at any lot, premises or place more than five cats which are four or more months of age, except as may be permitted by the provisions of Title 19 or as may be permitted by this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
020 makes it unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, harbor or keep more than three dogs four months of age or older at any one lot, premises or place, except as may be permitted under Title 19, the city's Development Code. 020, sets the parallel limit at five cats four months or older per lot or premises, again subject to Title 19 zoning allowances or the chapter's own fancier-permit exception. Both limits count only animals past the four-month mark, so litters of puppies or kittens under that age are not counted toward the cap.
10, added as part of the 2006 animal-code overhaul under Ordinance MC-1214. 08. Both chapters are enforced by the city's Division of Animal Control, which may inspect a property upon a complaint of suspected over-limit keeping.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three dogs or five cats over four months old without Title 19 zoning relief or, for cats, an approved fancier permit is a violation of Title 6, enforceable as an infraction under § 6.13.010 and subject to administrative citation procedures under § 6.13.020.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally own in San Bernardino?
How many cats am I allowed without a permit?
Do kittens and puppies count toward the pet limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle pet limits.