Simi Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Primary Code
- Simi Valley Municipal Code § 9-44.060 (Animal Keeping)
- Pet Limit
- 4 total (dogs, cats, and/or Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs combined)
- Applies In
- OS, RE, RVL, RL, RM, RMod, RH, RVH, MH zones
- Kennel Threshold
- 5+ dogs or cats over 4 months kept for commercial purposes (VCC § 2592)
- Dog License
- Required at 4 months / 30+ days kept (VCC § 4411)
- Enforcement
- Simi Valley Code Enforcement; Ventura County Animal Services
Summary
Under Simi Valley Development Code § 9-44.060 (Animal Keeping), a maximum of four (4) domestic dogs, cats, and/or Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs (in any combination) may be kept on a single residential lot in the OS, RE, RVL, RL, RM, RMod, RH, RVH and MH zones. Keeping five or more dogs or cats for commercial purposes constitutes a 'kennel' under the adopted Ventura County Code and requires a county-issued kennel license.
2592 - Kennel defined. A 'kennel' within the meaning of this Article means any place or premises where at any given time five (5) or more dogs or cats over the age of four (4) months are kept for commercial purposes. For the purposes of this Section, 'commercial purposes' include boarding, grooming, breeding, training, sale, adoption and related purposes for which some valuable consideration is paid.
Full Breakdown
060 ('Animal Keeping') sets the pet limit for residential properties. The four-animal cap is a combined ceiling on dogs, cats, and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs and applies within all residential zoning districts (Open Space, Rural Exclusive, Rural Very Low, Rural Low, Residential Medium, Residential Moderate, Residential High, Residential Very High, and Mobile Home). For commercial dog/cat operations, Simi Valley adopts Ventura County Code § 2592 (Kennel defined), which classifies any 'place or premises where at any given time five (5) or more dogs or cats over the age of four (4) months are kept for commercial purposes' as a kennel and requires a kennel license under § 2591.
The kennel license is in addition to any zoning approval. Section 4411 (Dog license required) further requires anyone keeping a dog over four months for 30 days or more to obtain a current dog license from Ventura County Animal Services.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the four-animal limit is a zoning violation enforceable by Simi Valley Code Enforcement and may result in a Notice of Violation, administrative citation, and required reduction in the number of animals. Operating a commercial kennel without a county kennel license is a misdemeanor/infraction under VCC § 2600-1, and an Animal Control Officer may issue an administrative civil penalty under Article 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs and cats can I have in Simi Valley?
Does Simi Valley regulate Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs?
Do I need to license my dog in Simi Valley?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Simi Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Simi Valley to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle pet limits.