Santa Cruz zoning code (SCMC 24.12.620) allows a maximum of six domestic animals on any residential lot, of which no more than three may be dogs and no more than one may be an unspayed female dog. SCMC 8.14.130 separately bars keeping more than one unspayed female dog per residence.
SCMC 24.12.620 (Domestic animals) provides that in any R-District, or with residential use in any district, 'there may be kept on any lot a total of not more than six domestic animals as defined in this title, not more than three of which may be dogs, and not more than one of which may be an unspayed female dog.' These animals (except cats) must be confined within a suitable enclosure or under the owner's control, kept clean and odor-free, and no enclosure may sit closer than 25 feet to a dwelling other than the owner's. SCMC 8.14.130 reinforces this by making it unlawful for anyone other than a licensed veterinarian or kennel operator to keep more than one unspayed female dog at one residence. Dogs must be licensed within 30 days of reaching four months of age (SCMC 8.14.010), and a kennel/breeding operation requires a separate kennel license under SCMC 8.14.700. Family farm animals on larger lots are governed separately by SCMC 24.12.630.
Exceeding the limits is a zoning violation enforced by Code Compliance as an infraction (SCMC 4.04.010), with administrative citations available under SCMC Chapter 4.14; the city's Code Compliance division notes 'too many dogs' as a common animal-related violation.
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