Santa Rosa, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Santa Rosa City Code Title 20 (Zoning), Chapter 20-42 (Standards for Specific Land Uses), Section 20-42.040 (Animal Keeping) governs how many pets may be kept on a residential lot. On any lot in a residential zoning district, or in conjunction with any residential use in any other district, a total of five animals (domestic or exotic) may be kept on one lot, of which not more than three may be dogs and not more than one may be a pot-bellied pig. Hens may be kept in addition to the five-animal total, subject to the lot-size limits in Table 4-1 (3 hens on lots up to 5,000 sq ft; 6 hens on 5,001-10,000 sq ft; up to 12 hens on lots up to 1 acre; up to 30 hens above 1 acre). Roosters are prohibited citywide. Farm animals (horses, cows, hogs, sheep, goats) are allowed only in Rural Residential zones on parcels of at least 20,000 square feet and at the per-20,000-sq-ft allowances published in the Hen Keeping/Farm Animals FAQ. Beyond the five-animal limit, an animal keeping permit or use permit is required. Separately, Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 7-12 (Dogs) requires every owner of a dog over four months of age kept in the City to obtain an annual license and current rabies vaccination, administered by Sonoma County Animal Services.