San Francisco Health Code Article 1 prohibits the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits unless sourced from animal shelters or rescue organizations, making SF among the first US cities with such a ban.
Adopted in 2017 and reinforced by California AB 485 (2019), Health Code Section 42 bars SF pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits. Stores may only offer animals obtained from public shelters, humane societies, or registered rescues. The rule combats puppy mills and rabbit breeding mills. Stores must post the source of each animal and maintain records for ACC inspection. Private breeders and individual sales are not banned but must comply with health and licensing requirements. Exotic pet retail still falls under separate restricted-species rules.
Retail sales of non-rescue dogs, cats, or rabbits, missing source documentation, and unregistered rescue partnerships result in citations from Animal Care and Control and possible permit revocation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Francisco, CA
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