Animal Ordinances in Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield maintains 163 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bakersfield falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Bakersfield requires every dog over six months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner holds an annual unaltered animal certification under Municipal Code § 6.07.030. Certification requires vet exams, proper housing and a clean violation record.

Key details: Governing chapter: BMC Ch. 6.07 (Ord. 5148, 2023). Mandatory age: Dogs over 6 months. Exemption path: Annual unaltered animal certification. Litter limit (unaltered females): 1 litter/year without breeding permit. First-offense penalty: Correction notice, 30 days to fix.

A first violation of the mandatory spay/neuter rule brings a correction notice with thirty days to comply (§ 6.07.050(A)(1)). A second or later violation is punished under Chapter 1.40's general penalty scheme, which can reach a misdemeanor fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in county jail.

Compared to other cities, Bakersfield takes a harder line on mandatory spay/neuter. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Dog Leash Laws

It's unlawful for any dog, licensed or not, to stray, run, or otherwise be at large on any Bakersfield street, sidewalk, alley, park, or public place, or on another person's property without permission. Bakersfield Municipal Code § 6.04.220(A) is enforced by animal control, and anyone who finds a stray dog may hold it but must notify the shelter within four hours.

Key details: Core rule: No dog may be at large off owner's property. Governing section: BMC § 6.04.220(A). Finder's duty: Notify shelter within 4 hours of holding a stray. Penalty: Misdemeanor: up to $300 fine or 90 days jail. Enforcing agency: Bakersfield animal control / sheltering agency.

Allowing a dog to run at large violates BMC § 6.04.220 and is punishable under BMC § 6.04.270(A) as a misdemeanor: a fine of not more than $300, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, or both. The at-large offense is not one of the infraction-tier violations carved out under § 6.04.270(B) for noisy-animal complaints, so offenders face the full misdemeanor exposure rather than a scaled infraction fine.

Pet Limits

Bakersfield's municipal code does not cap cats, but any premises keeping more than three dogs at least twelve weeks old is legally a "kennel" under Chapter 6.06, and operating one without a police-issued annual license is unlawful. The fourth dog is the trigger: owners with three or fewer dogs need only the standard individual dog license.

Key details: Kennel threshold: More than 3 dogs, 12+ weeks old. License authority: Bakersfield Police Department, annual. Cat limit: No numeric cap in city code. Inspection: Animal control may inspect anytime. Appeal window: 15 days to request hearing.

Operating an unlicensed kennel, keeping more than three dogs without a police-issued license, violates BMC § 6.06.020 and is enforced under the citywide general penalty in Chapter 1.40: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense (§ 1.40.010). A violation of Chapter 6.06 is also independent grounds for the police chief to suspend or revoke the kennel license (§ 6.06.120).

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Bakersfield lets a small-animal veterinary clinic open as a by-right use in the C-1 neighborhood commercial zone under § 17.22.020(B)(31), but the ordinance draws a hard line at boarding, 'excluding kennel services', so any overnight kennel component takes the use out of this permitted list.

Key details: By-right use: small-animal vet clinic, no kennel. Excluded: kennel/boarding services. C-O zone: vet services need CUP (§ 17.20.040). Parking: 1 space per 500 sq ft. Zone: C-1 neighborhood commercial.

Operating a veterinary clinic with kennel or boarding services in the C-1 zone without first obtaining a conditional use permit is a zoning violation under § 1.40.010, punishable as an infraction ($50 to $250 for repeat offenses within a year) or an administrative citation ($100 to $1,000 under § 1.40.030), with each day of unpermitted operation counted as a separate offense.

Chickens & Livestock

Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, mules, and burros are allowed in Bakersfield only within the R-S (Residential Suburban) zone, capped at one adult animal per quarter acre of fenced enclosure dedicated to their housing (BMC § 17.10.040(C)(1)(b)). Any structure housing them must sit at least fifty feet from any dwelling and one hundred feet from the front lot line. R-1 through R-6 zones don't allow livestock.

Key details: Zone allowed: R-S (Residential Suburban) only. Density ratio: 1 adult animal per 1/4-acre enclosure. Dwelling setback: 50 feet from any dwelling. Front-lot setback: 100 feet from front lot line. Commercial use: Raising for sale/slaughter prohibited.

Keeping livestock outside the R-S zone, exceeding the one-animal-per-quarter-acre ratio, or violating the setback distances is a Title 17 zoning violation enforced by the code enforcement division under BMC § 17.72.010 as a public nuisance subject to abatement and injunction, and punishable under the citywide general penalty in Chapter 1.40: up to a $1,000 misdemeanor fine or six months in county jail, with each day a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Bakersfield's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Coyote Management

It's unlawful to purposely provide food, feed or bait to coyotes, deer, foxes, raccoons, skunks or other wild animals anywhere within a Bakersfield city park, under Municipal Code § 12.56.050(H).

Key details: Prohibited act: Feeding/baiting wild animals in parks. Named species: Coyotes, deer, foxes, raccoons, skunks, beavers. Scope: Within the limits of any city park. Enforcement: Park rangers, Chapter 1.40 citation. No cull program: No trapping/removal authority in code.

Feeding or baiting a coyote, deer, or other listed wild animal in a Bakersfield city park violates § 12.56.050(H) and is enforceable under the general penalty and citation provisions of Chapter 1.40; park rangers under § 12.56.045 have authority to enforce this and other park regulations, and a violator can also be expelled from city park facilities under § 12.56.055.

Breed Restrictions

Bakersfield does not have breed-specific legislation (BSL) targeting pit bulls, Rottweilers, or other specific dog breeds. California Food and Agricultural Code §31683 prohibits cities from adopting breed-specific ordinances that declare a dog dangerous based on breed alone, though cities may adopt breed-specific spay/neuter programs. Bakersfield regulates dangerous and vicious dogs based on individual behavior rather than breed.

Key details: Breed Ban: None: prohibited by state law. State Law: CA F&A §31683. Dangerous Dog Basis: Individual behavior, not breed. Enforcement: Kern County Animal Services. Private Restrictions: Landlords/insurers may differ.

Bakersfield does not ban breeds, so there are no breed-based violations. However, any dog regardless of breed that bites, attacks, or threatens may be declared dangerous or vicious through a Kern County Animal Services hearing. Owners of declared dangerous dogs must comply with specific containment, muzzling, insurance, and signage requirements. Failure to comply can result in impoundment, fines, and misdemeanor charges. A second serious incident can lead to court-ordered euthanasia.

Exotic Pets

Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 6 prohibits keeping wild or exotic animals as pets within city limits, deferring to California Fish and Game restricted species rules under Title 14 CCR Section 671.

Key details: Code chapter: Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 6. State list: Title 14 CCR Section 671. Enforcement: Bakersfield Animal Care. Hedgehogs: Banned statewide.

Possession of restricted exotic animals is a misdemeanor with fines up to 1,000 dollars per animal, mandatory surrender to authorities, and potential animal cruelty charges if conditions are inadequate.

The Bottom Line

Bakersfield is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Bakersfield, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Bakersfield's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.