Santee, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Combined limit
- 4 dogs and cats over 4 months
- Applies in
- All 8 residential zones (HL-R-30)
- Permit type
- None needed up to 4, by-right use
- Over the limit
- Conditional use permit required
- First fine
- $100 per violation per day
- Repeat fine
- Up to $1,000 per day, 4th+
Summary
In the City of Santee, dogs and cats over four months old are a permitted accessory use in every residential zone, from HL through R-30, but Table 13.10.030A caps the combined total at four cats and dogs per household. Puppies and kittens under four months don't count toward the cap, and additional pets beyond four require Development Services review under the city's other-animal standards.
Table 13.10.030A Use Regulations for Residential Districts ... HL R-1 R-1A R-2 R-7 R-14 R-22 R-30 ... ... D. Accessory Uses in Conjunction With a Permitted Principal Use on the Same Site 1. Animal keeping, accessory to a permitted use (Section 13.10.030(F)(2)) a. Dogs and cats over four months old (not exceeding four cats and/or dogs combined) P P P P P P P P
Full Breakdown
Santee Municipal Code Table 13.10.030A treats animal keeping as an accessory use tied to a permitted principal use on the same residential lot. Row D.1.a of the table lists 'Dogs and cats over four months old (not exceeding four cats and/or dogs combined)' as a permitted (P) use in all eight residential districts: HL, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-7, R-14, R-22 and R-30. That means a Santee household can keep up to four dogs and cats combined, in any mix, without a conditional use permit, as long as the animals are older than four months.
Younger puppies and kittens fall outside the count. The same accessory-use table addresses 'other pets' separately: row D.1.c sends any animal beyond dogs and cats to Table 13.10.030B, which sets density-based caps for rodents, exotic animals and other species by lot size, and row D.1.b classifies exotic or wild animals as a conditional use requiring a permit rather than a by-right permitted use. Table 13.10.030B's own household-pet line lists dogs, cats, parakeets, tropical fish and hamsters as allowed in all residential districts with no numeric cap beyond the four-animal accessory-use limit already set in Table 13.10.030A.
A resident who wants a fifth dog or cat, or who wants to keep an exotic species, has to apply through the City's Development Services Department for the applicable conditional use or minor conditional use permit before adding the animal, because the four-animal figure is a hard ceiling on the by-right accessory use, not a starting point for negotiation.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than four dogs and cats without the required conditional use permit is a zoning violation enforced under Santee Municipal Code Section 13.04.120, which subjects Title 13 violations to the citywide enforcement scheme in Title 1. Code Compliance staff in Development Services can issue an administrative citation under Section 1.08.020(C): $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within 12 months, $500 for a third, and $1,000 per day for a fourth or later violation, plus the City's investigation and abatement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs and cats can I keep in Santee?
Do puppies and kittens count toward the four-animal limit?
What happens if I keep a fifth dog or cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santee
California rules heatmap·Compare Santee to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle pet limits.