How Chino Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Chino maintains 94 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Chino falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Breed Restrictions

California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts breed-specific dangerous-dog ordinances — no city, including Chino, may declare a breed dangerous or vicious by breed alone. The only carve-out is Health & Safety Code §122331, which lets local governments require mandatory spay/neuter and breeding regulation by breed. Through its San Bernardino County animal-control contract, that exception applies in Chino: San Bernardino County Code §32.1501 requires pit bulls and pit-bull-mix dogs over 4 months to be spayed or neutered.

Key details: State preemption: Cal. Food & Ag. Code §31683 — no breed-specific dog regulation. Only allowed breed rule: Cal. Health & Safety Code §122331 — breed-specific spay/neuter & breeding only. Active local rule: San Bernardino County Code §32.1501 — pit bulls/mixes over 4 months must be altered. Chino-specific ban: None — no breed-specific ordinance in Chino Municipal Code Title 6. Dangerous-dog path: Individual-dog hearings under Cal. Food & Ag. Code §31601 et seq..

Any Chino ordinance declaring a breed dangerous would be unenforceable under Cal. Food & Ag. Code §31683. Owners of unaltered pit bulls or pit-bull-mix dogs over 4 months in Chino face citation and impound under San Bernardino County Code §32.1501 (mandatory spay/neuter), enforced by the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire. Dangerous-dog determinations follow the individual-dog process under Cal. Food & Ag. Code §31601 et seq.

Dog Leash Laws

Chino contracts animal services to San Bernardino County Animal Care (Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire). Dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash or otherwise restrained under San Bernardino County Code §32.0108, and Chino Municipal Code §6.08.020 requires every dog over 4 months kept in the City to be licensed and rabies-vaccinated. California Food & Agricultural Code §30954 separately prohibits letting a female dog in heat run at large.

Key details: Local leash rule: San Bernardino County Code §32.0108 (Chino contracts animal control to the County). License & rabies: Chino Municipal Code §6.08.020 — required for dogs over 4 months. State backstop: Cal. Food & Ag. Code §30954 — female dog in heat may not run at large. Shelter: Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (San Bernardino County contract facility in Chino). License fee range: $5–$100/yr (effective July 1, 2025).

Loose-dog citation under San Bernardino County Code §32.0108 plus impound and reclaim fees through the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire. Unlicensed/unvaccinated dogs are separately citable under Chino Municipal Code §6.08.020. California Food & Agricultural Code §30954 supplies an independent state-law violation when an in-heat female dog runs at large.

Chickens & Livestock

Chino's identity is rooted in the Chino Agricultural Preserve (historically the largest dairy concentration in the U.S.), so livestock and poultry keeping is broadly permitted in agricultural and equestrian-zoned parcels under Title 20 Zoning, while standard residential zones limit fowl/livestock to small accessory numbers with setbacks. The Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC) — which began servicing Chino on July 1, 2025 — handles enforcement.

Key details: Zoning controls: Chino Mun. Code Title 20 — Agricultural (A) and Equestrian overlay zones inside the Preserve. Animal services: Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC) — began Chino service July 1, 2025. State right-to-farm: Cal. Civ. Code §3482.5 protects pre-existing ag operations. Sanitation backstop: Title 8 Health & Safety nuisance abatement applies to odor/manure.

Keeping livestock or poultry outside of a permitted zone, exceeding density caps, locating coops or corrals inside required setbacks from neighboring residences, allowing manure or odor to create a public nuisance, or rooster-noise complaints can trigger Title 20 zoning enforcement and Title 8 nuisance abatement. ARC (Animal Resource Center) handles welfare/cruelty complaints; serious cases route to Cal. Penal Code §597.

Chino is more permissive than most cities when it comes to chickens & livestock. That said, there are still limits.

Exotic Pets

California has one of the most restrictive exotic-pet regimes in the country: Cal. Fish & Game Code §2118 and 14 CCR §671 bar private possession of nearly all non-domesticated mammals (primates, bats, most carnivores other than dogs/cats), most non-domesticated birds, and many reptiles without a Restricted Species Permit from CDFW. Chino does not override this state floor; the Chino municipal code (Title 6 Animals) layers local dangerous-animal and licensing rules on top of state law.

Key details: State prohibition: Cal. Fish & Game Code §2118 + 14 CCR §671 — restricted species list. Permitting agency: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Penalty: Misdemeanor, fine up to $10,000, animal forfeiture (Cal. Fish & Game Code §2125). Local layer: Chino Mun. Code Title 6 — dangerous-animal and licensing rules.

Possessing a CCR §671 restricted species without a CDFW permit is a misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §2125, with fines up to $10,000 and seizure of the animal. CDFW wardens can act anywhere in Chino. Locally, ARC and Chino Code Enforcement may declare an animal dangerous and abate it under Title 6.

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

Beekeeping

California requires every beekeeper in the state to annually register apiary locations with the county agricultural commissioner by January 1 under Cal. Food & Agricultural Code §29040 — this applies to Chino regardless of any local rule. Chino permits hobby beekeeping primarily in Agricultural and Equestrian zones under Title 20, with hive setbacks from property lines and flyway-barrier requirements typical of Inland Empire cities. Africanized honey bee (AHB) presence is established throughout San Bernardino County, so hives must be managed accordingly.

Key details: State registration: Cal. Food & Ag Code §29040 — annual apiary registration with county agricultural commissioner by Jan 1. Where to register in Chino: San Bernardino County Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures. Local zoning: Chino Mun. Code Title 20 — apiaries as accessory ag use, primarily Ag/Equestrian zones. AHB region: San Bernardino County is in California's established Africanized honey bee range.

Keeping unregistered colonies violates Cal. Food & Ag Code §29040 and may incur a civil penalty under §29151. Locating hives inside required local setbacks, failing to provide a water source, or creating a stinging-incident nuisance can be abated under Chino Title 8 Health & Safety as a public nuisance, on top of any Title 20 zoning citation.

Wildlife Feeding

Chino's WUI boundary touches the Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor and Chino Hills State Park, where coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, and mountain lions routinely move through neighborhoods. California 14 CCR §251.3 prohibits intentional feeding of big-game mammals (deer, elk, bear, etc.) statewide. Locally, Chino Title 8 (Health & Safety) addresses food sources that attract wildlife as a public nuisance, and intentional coyote feeding is generally treated as a nuisance/code violation.

Key details: State big-game feeding ban: 14 CCR §251.3 — intentional feeding of deer, bear, mountain sheep, etc. prohibited. Local nuisance backstop: Chino Mun. Code Title 8 — attractive nuisance / vector control. Wildlife corridor: Puente-Chino Hills corridor and Chino Hills State Park border Chino — coyote/bobcat/deer activity routine. Mountain lions: Specially Protected Mammal — Cal. Fish & Game Code §4800.

Intentional big-game feeding is an infraction or misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §12000 et seq. Locally, code enforcement may issue a Title 8 nuisance notice for outdoor feeding stations attracting coyotes, raccoons, or skunks, with administrative citations and abatement orders.

Animal Hoarding

California addresses animal hoarding primarily through Cal. Penal Code §597 (animal cruelty/neglect — felony or misdemeanor, up to $20,000 fine) and §597.9 (5-year ownership ban after misdemeanor cruelty conviction, 10-year ban after felony). Chino's Title 6 Animals layers a per-household animal-number limit and dangerous/nuisance animal provisions on top; the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC) handles seizure and sheltering.

Key details: State cruelty/neglect statute: Cal. Penal Code §597 — wobbler, up to $20,000 fine. Post-conviction ownership ban: Cal. Penal Code §597.9 — 5 yr misdemeanor / 10 yr felony. Local cap and licensing: Chino Mun. Code Title 6 — per-household dog/cat limits, licensing, rabies vaccination. Seizure agency: Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC) — serving Chino since July 1, 2025.

Misdemeanor §597 conviction can produce up to 1 year jail and up to $20,000 fine; felony can produce up to 3 years state prison. §597.9 ownership bans (5 yr misdemeanor / 10 yr felony) are mandatory and self-executing — courts must impose them. Locally, exceeding Chino's per-household animal cap triggers a Title 6 code citation and abatement.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Chino actively enforces its animal hoarding requirements.

The Bottom Line

Chino is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Chino, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Chino's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.