SDMC §44.0501 bans retail sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in San Diego, predating California AB-485. Pet stores may offer these animals only if sourced from public shelters or registered nonprofit rescues, with paperwork verifying source.
San Diego adopted its retail pet sale ordinance in 2013, codified at SDMC §44.0501 et seq, prohibiting any pet store, retail business, or sidewalk vendor in the city from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits unless the animals come from a public shelter or registered 501(c)(3) animal rescue partner. Stores must keep records showing each animal's source and the rescue's tax-exempt status, available for Animal Services inspection. California AB-485, codified at Health and Safety Code §122354.5, extended a similar rule statewide effective 2019, but the San Diego ordinance still applies and is enforced locally. Direct sales by hobby breeders to consumers remain allowed.
Selling commercially bred dogs, cats, or rabbits is an infraction or misdemeanor under SDMC §44.0501, with fines that escalate per animal per day and possible revocation of the store's animal-permit and business-tax certificate.
San Diego, CA
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See how San Diego's pet store rules rules stack up against other locations.
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