Monterey County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

We did not find a Monterey County Code section imposing a simple maximum number of pet dogs or cats per household in the County's animal services materials. The County's main quantitative trigger is its kennel definition. Under MCC 8.04.010, a 'kennel' means premises where dogs or cats are kept for boarding, sale, hire, training for a fee, breeding, or maintaining two or more litters per calendar year. Practically, the County states that if you live in unincorporated Monterey County and breed any cat or dog more than once per calendar year, or maintain more than two litters per calendar year, you are considered a kennel and must obtain a Breeder/Kennel permit. The kennel definition excludes licensed veterinary hospitals, the SPCA for Monterey County, public pounds, and the County Animal Shelter. Commercial kennel operations also require a Use Permit under zoning (MCC 21.14.050). Separately, every dog over 4 months must be individually licensed, so larger numbers of dogs mean more licenses and greater scrutiny. Because the practical limit can also be affected by nuisance rules (MCC 8.36) and by zoning, residents keeping many animals should confirm their situation with Monterey County Animal Services, and should not assume a specific household cap exists where the code does not state one.