San Jose, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Animal facility permit, 12-month term
- Building
- Wholly enclosed, structurally sound building
- Utilities
- Heating, cooling, ventilation systems required
- Water
- Hot/cold running water tied to sewer
- Enforcer
- Animal Care and Services administrator
Summary
San Jose requires anyone operating a pet shop to hold an animal facility permit and meet dedicated facility standards: a fully enclosed building, working heating, cooling and ventilation, sunlight protection for the animals, and hot and cold running water tied to the sanitary sewer.
every person who owns, conducts, manages, or operates any pet shop must comply with each of the following conditions:1.Housing facilities for animals and fish must be within a wholly enclosed structurally sound building, as defined in Section 7.10.065.2.Every pet shop must have a heating and cooling system and a ventilation system, that has been properly installed and meets all permit requirements, to regulate the temperature therein within a range suitable for the size and species of each animal and fish, to prevent drafts and to remove odors; and an electrical system that has been properly installed and meets all permit requirements to support the required ventilation, heating, and cooling systems.3.All animal and fish housing facilities including, but not limited to, animal rooms, cages, runs, and stalls, must provide a means to keep animals out of direct sunlight.4.All pet shops must include a properly installed and permitted hot and cold running water system which is connected to sanitary sewer facilities. (Ord. 28079.)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Anyone who owns, manages, or operates a pet shop in San Jose must first obtain an animal facility permit from the city's Animal Care and Services administrator; the code defines "animal facility" to include pet shops alongside kennels and shelters. Pet shops must also sit inside a wholly enclosed, structurally sound building with a properly installed heating, cooling, and ventilation system, keep animals out of direct sunlight, and provide hot and cold running water connected to the sanitary sewer. Permits run twelve months and are subject to inspection. Separately, California Health & Safety Code § 122354.5 already bars every pet store statewide from selling a dog, cat, or rabbit that didn't come from a public shelter or rescue group; San Jose's code layers facility and permit rules on top of that state sourcing ban rather than duplicating it.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pet shop without an animal facility permit, or violating the facility conditions, is unlawful under Municipal Code § 7.60.010(B) and § 7.60.130(F); the administrator may deny or revoke the permit and require the animals removed from the premises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pet store in San Jose sell dogs and cats?
Does San Jose require a permit to open a pet shop?
What building standards must a San Jose pet shop meet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Store Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle pet store rules.