Whittier, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog limit without license
- 3 per residence
- Service dogs
- Not counted while serving a disabled owner
- Dog license required
- All dogs over 4 months, annually
- Adopted by reference
- L.A. County Code Title 10, Animals
- Dwelling entry limit
- No entry without consent or court order
Summary
Whittier runs its animal control program on the Los Angeles County Code, adopted by reference in Chapter 6.04, with local amendments spelled out section by section. One of those amendments, Section 6.04.050(D), rewrites County Code Section 10.20.038 to cap unlicensed dog-keeping at three dogs per residence before an animal facility license is required.
Dogs. Up to three dogs may be kept at any residence without an animal facility license, provided the dogs' owner or custodian licenses each individual dog. For purposes of this section, a service dog licensed under Section 10.20.090 is not counted toward the number of dogs kept or maintained, while such dog is serving a person who is disabled within the meaning of Government Code Sections 12926(i) or 12926(k).
Full Breakdown
040 deems every reference to the county or its unincorporated areas in that title to include the city. 090 does not count toward that limit while it is serving a person disabled within the meaning of Government Code Sections 12926(i) or 12926(k). 010 if an unlicensed animal is found in the field. 190 makes it unlawful to harbor or keep an unlicensed dog at all. 180, which lets the director enter property where a dog is kept to demand the rabies certificate and current license tag, but bars entry into a private dwelling without consent or a court order except to rescue an animal.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three dogs at a residence without first obtaining an animal facility license, or keeping any dog over four months old without its own annual county-issued license, violates Sections 10.20.030 and 10.20.038 as locally amended by Whittier Municipal Code Section 6.04.050. An owner or custodian found with an unlicensed animal in the field is charged a field enforcement fee under Section 10.90.010, and keeping an unlicensed dog at all is independently prohibited under Section 10.20.190.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I keep in Whittier without a kennel-type license?
Do service dogs count toward Whittier's three-dog limit?
Can animal control enter my yard to check my dog's license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whittier
California rules heatmap·Compare Whittier 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 Los Angeles County handle pet limits.