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Chula Vista, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Retail dog/cat sales
Prohibited citywide
Permit required for
Kennels, catteries, pet shops, dairy farms
Permit expiration
December 31st every year
Kennel/cattery setback
20 ft from dwelling openings
Inspections
At least annual

Summary

Chula Vista bans pet shops from selling dogs or cats outright under CVMC 6.08.108, and every kennel, cattery, or pet shop must still hold an annual City permit certified against zoning under Chapter 6.08.

Pet shops are prohibited from selling dogs or cats in the City of Chula Vista. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3623, passed May 19, 2026).

Full Breakdown

108 flatly states that pet shops are prohibited from selling dogs or cats in the City of Chula Vista, closing off the retail puppy-and-kitten sales channel citywide with no exception written into the section itself. 040 requires a written application plus payment of an annual inspection fee, with permits expiring every December 31st regardless of issue date. 090 requires kennels and catteries to be sited in a well-isolated area, with animals kept at least 20 feet from any door, window, or opening of a private dwelling, or held in a soundproofed room if the facility sits in a congested area. 060 lets the City Manager's designee suspend or revoke a permit on findings that sanitation failures or animal-related hazards endanger public health and welfare.

Violations & Fines

Selling a dog or cat through a pet shop violates CVMC 6.08.108 directly and is enforceable regardless of any permit the shop otherwise holds. Operating a kennel, cattery, or pet shop without the required Chapter 6.08 permit, or continuing to operate after a permit has been suspended or revoked, is separately unlawful; a facility found unsanitary or operated contrary to the chapter is declared a public nuisance under CVMC 6.08.109, and the City may summarily close it, impound animals, and recover its abatement costs from the operator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Chula Vista pet shop legally sell puppies or kittens?
No. CVMC 6.08.108 states plainly that pet shops are prohibited from selling dogs or cats in the City of Chula Vista, with no exception written into the section.
Do pet shops still need a City permit if they can't sell dogs or cats?
Yes. CVMC 6.08.030 requires any pet shop, kennel, cattery, or dairy farm to hold a City permit before operating at all, separate from and in addition to the dog/cat sales ban in 6.08.108.
How often does the City inspect pet shops and kennels?
CVMC 6.08.111 subjects kennels, catteries, and pet shops to inspection by City staff at least annually, and the City Manager's designee can suspend or revoke a permit under CVMC 6.08.060 if sanitation or safety findings warrant it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chula Vista

All Chula Vista rules

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