Santa Clara County Code Title C generally caps unincorporated single-family residences at about three dogs and three cats over four months without a kennel or cattery permit. SCC Animal Services issues higher-count permits subject to zoning under SCC Title 4.
SCC Title C limits unincorporated single-family residences to roughly three dogs and three cats over four months old without a kennel or cattery permit, with exact counts varying by zoning district. Going over those counts requires a permit from SCC Animal Services plus zoning compatibility under SCC Title 4 (zoning), with rural and agricultural zones permitting larger counts. Multi-family buildings often face stricter HOA or landlord limits. Cities including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Santa Clara set their own limits, frequently three dogs per residence. Pet limits do not displace rabies, sterilization, or microchip rules, which apply regardless of count.
Exceeding pet limits draws administrative citations from SCC Animal Services or city officers, with fines escalating for repeat violations. Persistent overcounts can trigger kennel-permit demands, zoning enforcement under Title 4, and in extreme cases animal seizure for welfare concerns.
See how Sunnyvale's pet limits rules stack up against other locations.
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