Animal Ordinances in San Bernardino, CA

If you live in San Bernardino or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. San Bernardino has 10 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Bird Protection

Inside any San Bernardino public park or playground, it is unlawful to frighten, chase, snare, catch, injure or destroy wild birds, or to disturb their eggs or young. The rule sits in the city's park regulations, not a standalone wildlife code.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 12.80.130(O). Scope: Public parks and playgrounds only. Prohibited acts: Frighten, chase, snare, injure, destroy wild birds. Also protected: Eggs and young of wild birds. Penalty: Misdemeanor under § 12.80.140.

Violating any provision of Chapter 12.80, including the bird-protection clause in § 12.80.130(O), is a misdemeanor under § 12.80.140, punishable per the general penalty schedule in § 1.12.010. Each incident in a city park, such as chasing a bird or disturbing a nest, can be cited separately by park staff or police.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

San Bernardino bars owning an unaltered dog over four months old unless it qualifies for a narrow exemption. New residents and new owners get 60 days to comply, and impounded unaltered dogs face a $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 6.01.160. Age threshold: Dogs over 4 months old. Compliance window: 60 days for new owners/residents. Impound deposit: $100, refundable within 30 days. Exemptions: Show purebreds, vet-certified risk, police dogs.

Owning an unaltered dog past the 60-day grace period without a valid exemption exposes the owner to license denial or revocation under § 6.01.180, impoundment costs, and a $100 spay/neuter deposit under § 6.01.170 that is forfeited if the dog is not altered within 30 days of release.

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

Chickens & Livestock

Chickens and other domestic fowl must stay at least 50 feet from any occupied building, with a hard cap of 24 birds per lot. Roosters and peacocks need 200 feet of clearance and are limited to one per lot, and fowl can't roam loose.

Key details: Fowl setback: 50 feet from occupied buildings. Max fowl per lot: 24 birds. Rooster/peacock setback: 200 feet; 1 per lot. Large livestock: Banned under 1 acre (§ 6.03.020). Hogs: Prohibited citywide (§ 6.03.030).

Keeping fowl closer than the required setback, exceeding the 24-bird or one-rooster limit, or letting birds roam onto public or neighboring property is unlawful under Chapter 6.05; keeping prohibited livestock like hogs or oversized herds under Chapter 6.03 is likewise a citable Title 6 violation enforced by Animal Control.

Cat Rules

Beyond the base five-cat limit, San Bernardino lets owners keep more cats only under a tiered fancier permit tied to lot size, capped at 20 cats on any property, and bars anyone with recent cruelty or fighting convictions from holding one.

Key details: Governing sections: SBMC §§ 6.10.010, 6.10.030. Base cat limit: 5 cats without a permit. Smallest tier: 10 cats on lots up to 10,000 sq ft. Absolute ceiling: 20 cats, any lot size. Disqualifier: 2+ Title 6 convictions in 18 months.

Keeping more than five cats without a valid fancier permit, exceeding the size-tiered cap on a permit, or refusing a scheduled animal control inspection violates Chapter 6.10 and can result in permit denial or revocation and enforcement as an infraction under § 6.13.010.

Exotic Pets

No one may keep a dangerous or poisonous animal anywhere in San Bernardino, and any wild, exotic or non-domestic animal already banned by state or federal law is likewise prohibited citywide under Chapter 6.07.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 6.07.020. Dangerous/poisonous animals: Banned outright, no exceptions listed. Wild/exotic animals: Banned if prohibited by state or federal law. Chapter status: Sole operative section; rest Reserved since 2006. Adopting ordinance: MC-1214, passed 2-22-2006.

Keeping a dangerous, poisonous, or state/federally prohibited wild or exotic animal violates § 6.07.020 and is enforced as an infraction under § 6.13.010, with administrative citation authority for animal control officers under § 6.13.020; the city may also seize the animal as part of enforcement.

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

Pet Groomer Rules

San Bernardino applies its baseline animal-care standards, adequate feed, water, cleaned shelter, exercise, care and veterinary treatment, directly to grooming businesses. Municipal Code § 6.01.060 names groomers alongside kennels, pet shops and boarding facilities as covered establishments.

Key details: Enforcing agency: Animal Control Division. Groomer defined at: Municipal Code § 6.01.020. Care duties extended by: § 6.01.060(B). Covers: Feed, water, shelter, exercise, vet care. Facility standard: Proper ventilation, § 6.01.080.

Failure to meet the care and ventilation standards can lead to an order to correct within a reasonable time under § 6.01.110, and § 6.01.120 makes noncompliance with any condition in Title 6 just cause for the Animal Control Division to deny or revoke a groomer's establishment license or permit, whether original or renewal. General penalty § 1.12.010 makes an unspecified violation a misdemeanor: up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense under § 1.12.020.

Dog Leash Laws

Dogs and other animals must stay on a leash, secured by another suitable restraint, or confined by fence at all times outside authorized off-leash areas, so they can't run at large, bite or harass anyone. Tie-outs, kennels and cable runs must meet specific sizing rules.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 6.08.140. Restraint options: Leash, suitable restraint, or fence. Tie-out minimum: 8 feet, max 3 hrs/day as sole restraint. Kennel minimum: 100 sq ft for 1 dog + 25 sq ft each additional. Off-leash limit: 2 dogs per handler in posted areas.

Violating the leash/restraint requirement is an infraction under § 6.08.140(D), punishable per Chapter 1.12, and a dog found running at large can be impounded under § 6.08.130 with the owner liable for impoundment costs and outstanding fines before reclaiming it. Repeated violations may be abated as a public nuisance through civil process.

Pet Limits

San Bernardino caps ownership at three dogs and five cats age four months or older per lot or premises, unless zoning under Title 19 allows more. Exceeding the cap without qualifying is unlawful and enforced by Animal Control.

Key details: Dog limit: 3 dogs over 4 months (§ 6.08.020). Cat limit: 5 cats over 4 months (§ 6.10.020). Cat permit ceiling: 20 cats max with fancier permit. Age exclusion: Animals under 4 months not counted. Zoning override: Title 19 may allow more.

Keeping more than three dogs or five cats over four months old without Title 19 zoning relief or, for cats, an approved fancier permit is a violation of Title 6, enforceable as an infraction under § 6.13.010 and subject to administrative citation procedures under § 6.13.020.

Breed Restrictions

California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 preempts breed-specific dog bans. San Bernardino can require spay and neuter for certain breeds but cannot outright ban them.

Key details: State Law: CA F&A Code 31683 preempts bans. Local Option: Spay and neuter or breeder permits allowed. Dangerous Dogs: Handled by County Animal Control. Private Contracts: HOA and insurer rules still apply.

County Animal Control citations for unlicensed dogs or failure to comply with dangerous-dog orders.

Compared to other cities, San Bernardino takes a harder line on breed restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Beekeeping

San Bernardino caps beekeeping at two stands or swarms of bees per location citywide; maintaining an apiary or more than two swarms at any one place is unlawful under Municipal Code § 8.03.020. The Mayor and City Council have declared larger-scale beekeeping a public nuisance dangerous to residents under § 8.03.010.

Key details: Bee colony limit: 2 stands or swarms max. Apiary maintenance: Unlawful citywide. Nuisance declaration: Formally declared a nuisance. Zone distinction: None; applies citywide. Governing ordinance: Ord. 421, passed 1909.

Any person, firm or corporation violating Chapter 8.03, including keeping more than two stands or swarms of bees, is guilty of an infraction under § 8.03.030, punishable in accordance with § 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for further violations, with a fourth becoming a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine.

Compared to other cities, San Bernardino takes a harder line on beekeeping. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

San Bernardino is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in San Bernardino, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects San Bernardino'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.