National City, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Chapter 8.38 of the National City Municipal Code, Retail Sales of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits, was adopted by the city council under Ordinance No. 2019-2463 with a history date of 4-21-2020. Section 8.38.010 states its purpose: to promote animal safety and welfare and public health, and to encourage best practices in acquiring dogs, cats and rabbits offered for retail sale or adoption in National City.

The ban is in § 8.38.030. A pet shop or retail pet store or its operator cannot sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction or otherwise dispose of a cat, dog or rabbit, with four carve-outs. The ban does not apply to a publicly operated animal shelter or animal control enforcement agency, animal rescue organization or nonprofit humane society. A store can host cats, dogs or rabbits owned by a shelter or rescue for adoption, but only if the store receives no fee from the adoption and has no monetary or ownership interest in the animal. It also does not reach an adoption event held by a shelter or rescue where the store receives no payment for the sale or for use of the store or its resources. Finally, dogs, cats and rabbits can be sold directly from the premises where they are born and reared or through a breeder, excluding pet shops or retail pet stores.

Definitions in § 8.38.020 decide who qualifies. An animal rescue organization must be a nonprofit with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the term does not include a breeder or broker for payment. A breeder holds a class A license under the Animal Welfare Act and a broker holds a class B license from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Records and inspection: under § 8.38.040 each store must keep records documenting the source of each dog, cat or rabbit for at least one year after acquisition and produce them immediately to any police officer, code enforcement officer, animal control officer, humane law enforcement officer or other investigating official. Officials can enter during regular business hours for reasonable inspections, and no person can refuse or interfere.

Separately, § 8.32.050 makes it unlawful to sell or transfer puppies or kittens on public property or private property open to the public, including in front of stores, commercial parking areas, swap meets and auctions.