Santa Monica, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum dogs per dwelling
- 4 (over 4 months of age)
- Maximum cats per dwelling
- 5 (over 4 months of age)
- Service dog exception
- Not counted toward the 4-dog limit
- Eviction protection
- Pet limit violation alone is not a nuisance per se for eviction purposes
Summary
No dwelling may house more than four dogs over four months of age or more than five cats over four months of age.
§ 4.04.145. Limit on number of cats and dogs. A. No person shall keep or maintain in any dwelling more than four dogs over four months of age. A dog that is a service dog shall not be counted toward the number of dogs authorized to be owned, kept, or maintained. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person shall be found in violation of this Section for keeping or maintaining in a dwelling more than four dogs over four months of age that were licensed as of the effective of this Section, unless such person keeps or maintains any additional dog over four months of age after the effective date of this Section and the total number of dogs over four months of age in the dwelling exceeds four. B. No person shall keep or maintain in any dwelling more than five cats over four months of age. C. A residential tenant's violation of this Section shall not establish a nuisance per se for the purposes of any action to terminate the tenancy based on the tenant's alleged nuisance.
Full Breakdown
Service dogs do not count toward the four-dog limit. Residents who already had more than the allowed number of licensed dogs or cats before the ordinance took effect may keep those animals but cannot add more. The pet limit violation by a tenant does not automatically constitute a nuisance for purposes of eviction proceedings, providing some tenant protection.
Violations & Fines
Violation is a misdemeanor (up to $500 or 6 months jail) or infraction (up to $250). However, a residential tenant's violation does not automatically establish a nuisance per se for purposes of an eviction action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have five dogs if one is a service dog?
What if I had six cats before this ordinance passed?
Can my landlord evict me just because I have six cats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Monica
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Monica to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle pet limits.