Animal Ordinances in Chico, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Chico or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Chico has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Chickens & Livestock

Chico allows horses, cattle, goats, and other livestock on residential-zoned lots, but ties the number allowed to minimum site area and to setbacks under § 19.76.040.

Key details: Site area, horses/cattle/hogs: 8,000 sq ft each. Site area, sheep/goats: 2,000 sq ft each. Side-line setback: 25 feet. Street/home setback: 50 feet.

Zoning violation; the Director can require setback or site-area corrections, and offensive-animal conditions are separately enforceable as nuisances.

Pet Store Rules

Chico requires a permit for any pet shop or kennel, tied to compliance with California's Pet Store Animal Care Act and local standard-of-care rules, not a local retail sale ban.

Key details: Permit issued by: Animal Services. Tied to: Health & Safety Code §122350. Annual fee due: January 2. Also requires: zoning-compliant location.

Operating a pet shop or kennel without a valid Chico permit is unlawful under § 7.24.040; the permit can also be revoked for nuisance conditions or falsified applications.

Wildlife Feeding

Chico bans feeding wild or domestic animals anywhere in Bidwell Park, with narrow exceptions for feeding fowl at Horseshoe Lake and the Deer Pen and for owners feeding their own controlled pet.

Key details: Ban: No feeding wild/domestic animals in park. Exception: Fowl at Horseshoe Lake & Deer Pen. Exception: Owners may feed their own pet. Penalty class: Misdemeanor or infraction.

Feeding wildlife outside the Horseshoe Lake/Deer Pen fowl area is a misdemeanor or infraction under § 12.18.465, enforceable by criminal citation or administrative citation from the city.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Chico actively enforces its wildlife feeding requirements.

Beekeeping

Chico allows honey bee hives only in RS and R1 residential zones, capped at one hive per 10,000 square feet of lot area and registered with Butte County.

Key details: Hive density: 1 per 10,000 sq ft. Registration: Butte Co. Ag Commissioner. Setback from structures: 100 feet. Zones allowed: RS and R1 only.

Chico's animal-keeping code separately bars any animal kept in a manner causing damage, hazard, dust, noise, or odor; code enforcement can require hive relocation or removal for nuisance violations.

Pet Limits

Chico caps household dogs at three per residence address; keeping a fourth dog turns the property into a 'kennel' requiring a separate city permit.

Key details: Max dogs per address: 3, over 3 months old. Cat limit: no numeric cap. 4+ dogs triggers: kennel permit. Counted by: street address.

Exceeding the three-dog limit is enforceable as a zoning violation; operating an unpermitted kennel at four-plus dogs is unlawful under § 7.24.040.

Exotic Pets

Chico prohibits keeping any exotic, non-domesticated animal within city limits unless a zoning provision specifically allows it, and none does for wild or exotic pets.

Key details: Rule: Ban unless zone allows it. Governing definition: Exotic Animals, § 19.04.020. Permitted animals list: Table 5-10, no exotics listed. Default penalty: Infraction, up to $1,000. Enforcement: Animal Control Supervisor, Title 7.

Keeping a prohibited animal is a code violation; absent a specified misdemeanor penalty, city-code violations default to an infraction punishable by a fine up to $1,000 per occurrence.

Compared to other cities, Chico takes a harder line on exotic pets. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Chico's zoning code defines veterinary clinics and animal hospitals as a distinct land use and treats indoor versus outdoor kennel facilities differently across its commercial zoning districts.

Key details: Use category: Veterinary Clinics/Animal Hospitals, §19.04.020. Governing table: Table 4-6, § 19.44.020. Key distinction: Indoor vs. outdoor kennel facilities. Related use: Cross-referenced to Kennels/Animal Boarding. Permit range: By-right to discretionary Use Permit.

Operating a veterinary clinic or animal hospital, especially one with outdoor kennels, in a district where Table 4-6 requires a Use Permit but none was obtained is a zoning code violation.

Dog Leash Laws

Chico bans letting a dog run at large, on or off leash, in public or on someone else's property, unless it's in a city-designated off-leash exercise area.

Key details: Max leash length: 6 feet. Applies to: licensed or unlicensed dogs. Off-leash exception: designated Bidwell Park area. Enforcement: impoundment at city shelter.

Infraction; fine set by City Council resolution under Chapter 1.15, plus impoundment at the city animal shelter; can trigger abatement proceedings.

The Bottom Line

Chico 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 Chico, 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 Chico's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.