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

If you live in San Francisco 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 Francisco has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Breed Restrictions

San Francisco requires every pit bull in the city to be spayed or neutered, defining the breed by AKC/UKC standards and physical traits.

Key details: Covered breeds: Pit bull types by AKC/UKC standard. Core mandate: Spay or neuter required. Exceptions: Puppies, medical, show dogs, breeders. First offense: Infraction, up to $500. Second offense: Misdemeanor, up to 6 months.

First violation: infraction, up to $500 fine, plus mandatory spay/neuter to reclaim the impounded dog. Second violation: misdemeanor, up to six months in County Jail and/or a $1,000 fine, per Health Code Sec. 43.2.

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

Pet Store Rules

San Francisco pet shops may only offer dogs and cats sourced from an animal care facility or rescue organization, not commercial breeders.

Key details: Governing law: Police Code Sec. 1C.2. Allowed sources: Shelters and rescue organizations only. Minimum age: 8 weeks old. First offense fine: Up to $100. Enforcement: Animal Care and Control Dept..

Infraction: up to $100 first offense, $200 second offense within a year, up to $500 for each additional violation; each animal or recordkeeping/sign lapse is a separate offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Francisco actively enforces its pet store rules requirements.

Pet Limits

San Francisco residential properties may keep at most three dogs aged six months or older without a dog kennel permit, and at most four dogs, cats, and similar small animals combined.

Key details: Dog cap: 3 dogs without kennel permit. Combined small-animal cap: 4 total (dogs, cats, etc.). Applies to: Residential districts. Max penalty: $100 fine / 30 days jail.

Exceeding either cap violates Section 37(a). A violation is a misdemeanor under Section 38, punishable by a fine of up to $100 or up to 30 days in County Jail.

Bird Protection

San Francisco bans trapping, capturing, killing, or destroying any wild bird citywide under Police Code Section 485, with a narrow public-health exception for nuisance pigeons handled by the Health Director.

Key details: Governing code: Police Code § 485. Prohibited acts: Trap, capture, kill, destroy. Exception: Public Health Director, nuisance birds. Companion rule: § 485.1 bans sterilizing wild birds.

Trapping, capturing, killing, or destroying a wild bird without the Health Director's nuisance exception violates Police Code Section 485 and is enforceable as a Police Code offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Francisco actively enforces its bird protection requirements.

Exotic Pets

San Francisco prohibits keeping wild and exotic animals as pets under SF Health Code Article 1, aligning with California Fish and Game Code Section 2118 restricted species list. Permits are rarely granted outside of education and research.

Key details: Ferrets in CA: Banned statewide. State law: Fish & Game Code 2118. Local enforcer: SF Animal Care Control. Permit type: Education or research only.

Keeping prohibited species, breeding restricted animals without permits, or failing to surrender confiscated wildlife to ACC results in seizure and misdemeanor charges.

Chickens & Livestock

Keeping horses, cows, goats or other livestock in San Francisco requires a stable permit from the Department of Public Health, with only a narrow family-goat exception.

Key details: Permit required: DPH stable permit for livestock. Family exception: Up to 2 female goats, no permit. One cow: Allowed per lot with stable permit. Two+ cows: Requires 1 acre per 2 cows.

Keeping livestock or maintaining a stable without a DPH permit violates Sec. 27; enforcement runs through the Department of Public Health hearing process before permit denial or revocation.

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

Wildlife Feeding

It is unlawful to feed or offer food to any bird or wild animal on a San Francisco sidewalk, street, or highway under Police Code Section 486, with an added citywide ban on feeding Red Masked Parakeets in parks.

Key details: Governing code: Police Code § 486. Covers: Sidewalks, streets, highways. Special rule: No feeding Red Masked Parakeets in parks. Added by: Ord. 268-64; amended Ord. 133-07.

Feeding a wild bird or wild animal on a public sidewalk, street, or highway violates Police Code Section 486 and is enforceable as a Police Code infraction/misdemeanor by SFPD or Animal Care and Control.

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

Dog Leash Laws

San Francisco requires dogs to be restrained by a leash of no more than 8 feet whenever they are off their owner's property, city-wide and county-wide.

Key details: Max leash length: 8 feet. First offense fine: up to $10. Third+ offense fine: up to $50. Enforcing agency: SF Animal Care and Control.

Infraction under Health Code § 41.13: fine up to $10 for a first offense, $25 for a second, and $50 for a third or later offense within a 12-month period.

The Bottom Line

San Francisco is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in San Francisco, 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 Francisco'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.