How Bishop Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Bishop maintains 100 local ordinances across all categories, and 10 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bishop falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Dog Leash Laws

Bishop requires dogs off the owner's premises to be under restraint by a leash no longer than six feet. Dogs may not run at large, trespass, or make habitual loud noise. State law adds rabies-vaccination and licensing duties.

Key details: Leash required: Off owner's premises. Max leash length: Six feet. License age: Dogs over four months. Cats exempt: From leash rule. Code section: BMC 6.04.180.

Violation of the animal-control chapter is an infraction (BMC 6.04.200); fines match those adopted by the county board of supervisors, and loose dogs may be impounded.

Cat Rules

Cats are the one animal Bishop exempts from its leash and at-large restraint rule, so cats may roam. But a cat kept in an unsanitary condition, or one whose cries disturb neighbors, is still a nuisance the city can abate. There is no cat license requirement.

Key details: Cat leash: Not required. At-large rule: Cats excepted (6.04.180). Cat license: None required. Nuisance noise: Still prohibited (6.08.050). Sanitation: Required (6.08.020).

A cat kept in unsanitary conditions or creating disturbing noise is a nuisance the city council may order abated within ten days, with abatement costs charged to the owner (BMC 6.08.130-.140).

Chickens & Livestock

Bishop allows up to four hens (no roosters) OR four rabbits, or four combined, per single-family lot for noncommercial use. They must be kept in coops or hutches, at least 20 feet from a neighbor's line, and hidden from the street.

Key details: Max chickens: Four hens, no roosters. Max rabbits: Four per lot. Combined cap: Four total. Setback: 20 feet from neighbor line. Code section: BMC 6.08.101.

Keeping poultry or animals in an unsanitary condition or beyond these limits is a nuisance the city council may abate; the owner is notified to abate within ten days and bears the cost as a lien (BMC 6.08.130-.140).

Breed Restrictions

Bishop has no breed-specific ban. California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 prohibits any dog program from being breed-specific, so no breed is outlawed. Bishop instead regulates individual dogs declared vicious or dangerous, regardless of breed.

Key details: Breed ban: None in Bishop. State rule: No breed-specific programs. State cite: CA Food & Ag Code 31683. Vicious-dog rule: BMC 6.04.130. Basis: Behavior, not breed.

A dog declared vicious must be securely confined and its premises posted; failure is enforced as an infraction under the animal-control chapter (BMC 6.04.200), with impoundment possible.

Beekeeping

Bishop prohibits beekeeping outright. Municipal Code 6.08.110 makes it unlawful to keep or harbor any bees in the city and declares any beehive used or occupied by bees a nuisance. There is no residential hive allowance inside city limits.

Key details: Beekeeping allowed: No, prohibited. Hive status: Declared a nuisance. Permit path: None inside city. Code section: BMC 6.08.110. Enforcement: Nuisance abatement.

A prohibited hive is a nuisance the city council may abate under BMC 6.08.130-.140: the owner is notified to abate within ten days, and abatement costs become a lien on the property if the city must act.

Livestock

Bishop treats horses, cattle, sheep, goats and similar animals as "animals" that must be kept in a substantial enclosure and may not run at large. A poultry or animal yard must be at least 100 feet from any residence, public way, church, or school. Swine are banned.

Key details: Enclosure: Substantial, prevents at-large. Animal-yard setback: 100 feet from residence. Also from: Public way, church, school. Swine: Prohibited. Code section: BMC 6.08.100.

Livestock kept in a foul, offensive, or unsanitary condition (6.08.020) or a yard violating the 100-foot rule is a nuisance the city council may abate within ten days, with costs charged to the owner (BMC 6.08.130-.140).

Pet Limits

Bishop sets no simple household cap on dogs or cats, but keeping five or more dogs for breeding and sale is a kennel needing a county-approved kennel license. Chickens and rabbits are capped at four combined per single-family lot. All animals must be kept sanitary and licensed as required.

Key details: Dog/cat cap: No flat household limit. Kennel threshold: 5+ dogs for breeding/sale. Kennel license: County health approval. Chickens/rabbits: Four combined per lot. Code section: BMC 6.04.040 / 6.08.101.

Operating an unlicensed kennel or keeping unlicensed dogs is an infraction under BMC 6.04.200, and overcrowded or unsanitary conditions may be abated as a nuisance under 6.08.020 and 6.08.130.

Exotic Pets

Bishop bans letting any dangerous or vicious animal run at large and requires a police permit for any exhibition or parade of wild, dangerous, or vicious animals. Swine are banned. California also requires a state permit to keep restricted wild animals.

Key details: Dangerous animals at large: Prohibited. Wild-animal exhibition: Police permit required. Swine/pigs: Banned (BMC 6.08.120). State exotic permit: CDFW, CCR Title 14 671. Code section: BMC 6.08.070.

Dangerous animals running at large may be killed to protect persons or property (BMC 6.08.080), and violations are prosecuted as nuisances or infractions; state wildlife violations carry separate penalties.

Animal Hoarding

Bishop has no ordinance using the word "hoarding," but it bars keeping animals in unsanitary or overcrowded conditions and bans cruelty, including underfeeding, overloading, or abandoning any animal. Overcrowded, filthy keeping is a nuisance the city can abate.

Key details: Hoarding ordinance: None by that name. Unsanitary keeping: Prohibited (6.08.020). Overcrowding: Defined as nuisance. Cruelty ban: BMC 6.08.060. State crime: CA Penal Code 597.

Cruelty and unsanitary keeping are prosecuted under BMC 6.08.060 and abated under 6.08.130-.140 (ten-day notice, costs charged to owner); severe cruelty is a state crime under Penal Code 597.

Wildlife Feeding

Bishop's code has no ordinance that specifically bans feeding deer, coyotes, or bears, so the direct rule comes from California: Fish and Game Code 251.1 prohibits harassing wildlife, and Title 14 CCR 251.3 bars intentional feeding of big-game mammals like deer and bear. Keeping animals must not create a nuisance.

Key details: City feeding ban: No specific ordinance. Big-game feeding: Barred by state law. State cite: CCR Title 14 251.3. Nuisance backstop: BMC 6.08.020. Feed storage: Predator-proof containers.

The city can abate a wildlife-attracting nuisance under BMC 6.08.130-.140; intentional big-game feeding is separately enforced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife under CCR Title 14 251.3.

The Bottom Line

Bishop's animal ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bishop is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Bishop's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.