Walnut Creek, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Walnut Creek's zoning code limits the total number of dogs and cats that may be kept on a residential property as household pets, with a typical cap of four animals over four months of age in any combination. Puppies and kittens under four months old generally do not count toward the limit. Exceeding the cap requires a kennel permit or similar discretionary use permit from the Community Development Department, which assesses neighborhood impacts including noise, odor, and sanitation. Commercial boarding, breeding, and training operations are not permitted as home occupations in residential zones — they require a kennel zoning designation, which is very limited in Walnut Creek. Multiple-cat households are the most common source of limit violations; feral colony caretakers typically must seek TNR (trap-neuter-return) coordination through Contra Costa County Animal Services rather than maintaining on-site colonies. Small caged pets (birds, reptiles, small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters) are generally not counted against the dog/cat limit but can still trigger nuisance complaints if odor or sound is audible beyond the property line. Service animals are not counted under ADA protections.