Santa Clara, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum sale age
- 8 weeks for dogs and cats
- Return window
- 5 days to exam, 1 day after to return
- Immunization required
- Before sale, per § 6.45.020
- Sale location limit
- Permitted pet business or private residence
- Minor buyer rule
- Parent/guardian written permission under 18
- Prize/inducement giveaways
- Prohibited under § 6.45.010(d)-(e)
Summary
Santa Clara does not ban retail pet sales outright, but it heavily conditions them: dogs and cats can't be sold under eight weeks old, sellers must give buyers written health and licensing disclosures, and sales are restricted to permitted pet shops, kennels and animal shelters or private residences.
(a) No person or establishment other than a licensed or County-operated animal shelter shall sell, exchange or barter any cat or dog less than eight weeks of age. Proof of age of the dog or cat may be required by the Administrator. Proof of age may include but not be limited to a certification by a licensed veterinarian attesting to the animal's age.
Full Breakdown
010 sets multiple conditions on selling cats or dogs. No person or establishment other than a licensed or County-operated animal shelter may sell, exchange or barter a cat or dog under eight weeks of age, and the Administrator may demand proof of age, including a veterinarian's certification (a). Anyone who provides or offers a dog or cat to the public, paid or free, must give the prospective owner free information on pet care, ownership, County animal-control laws and spay/neuter programs (b), and anyone offering a dog for sale, barter, exchange or adoption must disclose Santa Clara's licensing requirements (c).
The chapter bars giving away a dog or cat as a contest prize (d) or as an inducement to enter a business arrangement, except by a licensed veterinarian offering pets for sale or adoption (e), and bars selling to anyone under 18 without a parent's or guardian's written permission (f). 020 requires cats and dogs over eight weeks to be immunized before sale (against distemper and parvovirus for dogs; panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and chlamydia for cats) with a signed statement of vaccination and health history given to the buyer.
030). 040 confines where animals may be displayed or sold to a permitted pet shop, commercial or private kennel, grooming parlor, menagerie, animal shelter or horse establishment, or a private residence, exempting recognized rescue organizations and sanctioned cat or dog shows.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Title 6 animal provisions are enforced under the general penalty scheme of § 1.05.070: prosecuted as misdemeanors punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both, unless the City Attorney elects to charge an infraction, which carries escalating fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and up to $500 for further offenses. A seller who refuses to refund a buyer after a valid return under § 6.45.030 can be sued by the purchaser in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pet store in Santa Clara sell puppies and kittens?
Where are cat and dog sales allowed in Santa Clara?
Can I return a dog or cat I bought if it turns out to be sick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pet Store Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle pet store rules.