Animal Ordinances in Camarillo, CA

Camarillo maintains 132 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Camarillo falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Dog Leash Laws

Camarillo dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet, held continuously by a person capable of controlling the animal, whenever off the owner's property, except in a designated dog park, under Sec. 7.20.010. A dog cannot enter private property without the owner's or occupant's permission either.

Key details: Leash length limit: 6 feet maximum. Leash control: Held continuously by capable adult. Exemption: City-designated dog parks only. Private property rule: No entry without owner's permission. Enforcement: Impoundment by animal control division.

Allowing a dog off-leash in public, or letting any animal run at large, is a misdemeanor or infraction under Sec. 7.20.020 and the code's general penalty provisions, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both. Impounded dogs are held at the owner's risk and expense under Sec. 7.20.030 and 7.08.060, and redemption requires payment of all impound and boarding fees set by council resolution before the animal is released.

Pet Limits

A Camarillo house in the R-1 zone may keep no more than four dogs and four cats over four months old under Sec. 19.14.020(E)(1). Attached homes in denser RPD zones and mobile home parks are capped lower, at two dogs and two cats, and keeping five or more for commercial purposes requires a kennel license.

Key details: R-1 zone limit: 4 dogs + 4 cats (over 4 months). RPD attached-unit limit: 2 dogs + 2 cats. Mobile home park limit: 2 dogs + 2 cats. Kennel threshold (zoning): 4+ dogs/cats = "kennel". Kennel license threshold: 5+ animals, commercial purpose.

Keeping more dogs or cats than a zone allows is a zoning code violation subject to Sec. 1.12.020's general penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense. Operating an unlicensed commercial kennel of five or more animals under Sec. 7.12.010 can also draw revocation proceedings and mandatory closure of the operation.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a permitted agricultural use only in Camarillo's A-E Agricultural Exclusive zone, where hives are treated the same as any other structure for housing animals: they must sit at least one hundred fifty feet from the front property line and one hundred feet from interior lot lines.

Key details: Where allowed: A-E Agricultural Exclusive zone only. Front setback for hives: 150 feet (Sec. 19.10.080(C)). Interior lot-line setback: 100 feet (Sec. 19.10.080(C)). Excluded from apiary use: Honey houses, extraction houses.

Placing hives closer than the required 150-foot front or 100-foot interior setback, or operating extraction/honey-house processing without the separate permit that use requires, is a zoning violation the Community Development Department can enforce through correction notices, stop-work orders and misdemeanor or infraction citation under Title 19's general zoning enforcement provisions.

Breed Restrictions

Camarillo does not have breed-specific dog bans. California state law (HSC Section 122331) preempts local breed bans but allows breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter ordinances. Camarillo follows Ventura County's animal regulations and focuses on individual dog behavior through its dangerous animal provisions.

Key details: Breed Bans: None - prohibited by state law. State Law: HSC 122331 preempts breed bans. Dangerous Dogs: Behavior-based enforcement. HOA Restrictions: Common in CC&Rs (privately enforceable). Animal Services: (805) 388-4341.

There are no breed ban violations since Camarillo has none. Dangerous dog violations are handled through Ventura County Animal Services at (805) 388-4341. HOA breed restriction violations are enforced through the association.

Chickens & Livestock

In Camarillo's R-1 single-family zone, a household may keep up to five poultry and four adult rabbits, but roosters, geese and ducks are banned outright. Larger lots in the R-E zone get much more room, with tiered farm-animal counts running from chickens to horses based on lot size.

Key details: R-1 zone poultry limit: 5 poultry, 4 rabbits per lot. R-1 banned birds: Roosters, geese, ducks (Sec. 19.14.020(F)). R-E small animals: 24 per 10,000 sq ft (Sec. 19.12.170(B)). R-E setback from neighbor windows: 100 feet.

Keeping roosters, geese or ducks in the R-1 zone, exceeding the five-poultry/four-rabbit cap, or housing farm animals within the required setback of a neighbor's window or door in the R-E zone violates Title 19 and is enforceable through the Community Development Department's zoning correction process, including misdemeanor or infraction citation for uncorrected violations.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Camarillo confines veterinary clinics to commercial and industrial zones under a planned development permit, and an indoor-only clinic is treated differently from one that keeps outdoor kennels. The Service Commercial (SC) zone allows a fully enclosed veterinary clinic by right through that permit, but any facility with outdoor kennels needs a conditional use permit and City Council-level review.

Key details: Indoor clinic (SC zone): Planned development permit, Sec. 19.27.020. Outdoor kennels (SC zone): Conditional use permit, Sec. 19.27.040. COT/CPD zones: Must be a completely enclosed building. Parking ratio: 1 space per 300 sq ft (Table 19.44.100).

Operating a veterinary clinic without the required planned development permit, or adding outdoor kennels without first obtaining a conditional use permit under Chapter 19.62, is a zoning violation enforceable by the Community Development Department as a code violation subject to civil citation and correction orders under the city's general zoning enforcement provisions; the city can also revoke or condition an existing permit found to be violated.

Cat Rules

Camarillo caps household cats at four per lot in the R-1 zone and folds cats into its general animal-at-large ban, but the city's licensing chapter is written for dogs only, so cats are not required to carry a city license the way dogs are.

Key details: Household cat limit (R-1, R-E): 4 cats over 4 months old. At-large enforcement: Misdemeanor/infraction, Sec. 7.20.020. Kennel threshold: 4+ cats kept/boarded/trained. Dog-specific licensing: Does not extend to cats.

Keeping more than four cats over four months old on an R-1 or R-E lot without a kennel license, or allowing a cat to run at large on another person's property or a public street, is a misdemeanor or infraction under Sections 7.20.020 and Title 19's household-pet limits, subject to impoundment under Section 7.20.030 and citation by animal control.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Camarillo gives residents more flexibility on cat rules.

Pet Groomer Rules

Camarillo bans stationary and mobile pet groomers from letting wash water reach the storm drain system, requires a planned development permit to open a grooming shop in a commercial zone, and sets parking at one space per 300 square feet under the city's off-street parking table for animal-care uses.

Key details: Discharge ban: Wash water into storm drains banned, Sec. 9.32.050(H). Zoning status: Permitted only with a planned development permit. Parking standard: 1 space per 300 sq ft, animal-care use. Enforcement: Notice of violation or cease-and-desist by director. Misdemeanor fine: Up to $1,000 or 6 months in jail.

A groomer that lets wash water reach a storm drain violates Sec. 9.32.050(H); the director can issue a notice of violation or cease-and-desist order under Sec. 9.32.160, bill the operator for cleanup costs, and count each day of continued discharge as a separate violation, appealable to a hearing officer within 15 days (Sec. 9.32.170). Code violations are misdemeanors under Sec. 1.12.020: up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail (Sec. 1.12.060), or an infraction with escalating $100/$200/$500 fines for repeats within a year (Sec. 1.12.070).

Exotic Pets

Exotic animals are regulated by CA Fish & Game Code and CDFW. Ferrets and hedgehogs are illegal to own statewide (CA Code of Regulations §671). CMC Title 7 may restrict additional animals. Ventura County Animal Services enforces.

Key details: Ferrets: Illegal statewide (CA Code Regs §671). Hedgehogs: Illegal statewide. Most Reptiles: Legal without permit. Enforcement: Ventura County Animal Services / CDFW.

Prohibited species: misdemeanor, $500-$10,000, confiscation. Venomous reptiles without permit: up to $1,000. Escaped exotic causing damage: owner liable. Endangered species: federal penalties.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Camarillo actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

The Bottom Line

Camarillo'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 Camarillo is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Camarillo can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.