Stockton, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

The two sections are worded almost identically: no more than three dogs, and separately no more than three cats, may be kept on any one premises once the animals pass four months old, with the cat count specifically excluding community cats under § 6.04.400. Section 6.04.410 then carves out the exemptions: licensed dog kennels, boarding facilities, pet shops or breeders, veterinary hospitals, the Stockton Animal Services Center, and fosters whose applications Animal Services has approved are not subject to either cap. A second exemption in § 6.04.410(B) protects any property where keeping more animals is permitted by another provision of the Municipal Code or Development Code and all necessary land use permits have been issued, or where no permit is required because the use is a lawful nonconforming use. The cap applies per premises, not per person, so a household of any size is still limited to three dogs and three cats absent one of these exemptions.