San Clemente, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Section 6.24.010(2) sets the household pet cap. A resident who is not an animal-rescue permit holder and keeps four or more dogs or cats, over four months of age, in any combination, must first obtain a private kennel permit; the code cites its own Section 6.20.010 for that permit, though the chapter that actually establishes private kennel permits is Chapter 6.44, Private Kennels, Animal Refuges, Animal Rescue Operations, and Specialty Animals, whose Section 6.44.010 requires the permit and Section 6.44.030 sets its fee. For animals other than dogs and cats, such as rabbits, birds or reptiles kept as pets, Section 6.24.010(2) caps the total at six on any residential property in any combination, unless another part of Title 6 expressly permits more.

An animal rescue operation holding a valid rescue permit issued under the authority's private kennel program is exempt from needing a separate kennel permit for the dogs and cats in its care. The 100-foot proximity rule in the same section applies on top of these numeric caps: even a household within the four-dog/six-animal limits must still keep animals or fowl 100 feet from a neighboring occupied residence unless the Zoning Code allows otherwise.