Animal Ordinances in Alameda, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Alameda, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Alameda caps most properties at six chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl, and any enclosure housing them must sit at least twenty feet from a neighbor's occupied dwelling. Households that kept more than six birds before 1983 could stay under a grandfathered cap of twenty if they registered with the animal shelter.
Alameda Backyard Chicken Keeping Limit
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-4.1 (Keeping Chickens and Other Domestic Fowl)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by him/her or it in the City, any more than six (6) chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl. Any such fowl shall be kept in an enclosure, no part of which is within twenty (20') feet of any dwelling house occupied by human beings, excepting any and all dwelling houses ow...
Dog Leash Laws
Alameda law makes it unlawful for a dog to be on any public street, alley or public place unless it is on a rope, chain or leash strong enough to control it and under the supervision of a responsible person, or confined on the owner's private property. City-designated dog parks and dog runs are exempt.
Alameda Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-3.8 (Leashing)
It shall be unlawful for any person having an interest in, owning, harboring or having in charge, care or control, custody or possession of any dog to cause or permit such dog to be in, on, or upon any public street, alley, or other public place, unless such dog is kept securely fastened by a rope, chain or leash of sufficient length and strength to maintain control of the animal and under the ...
Breed Restrictions
Alameda regulates dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed: California law bars breed-specific ordinances. A dog that bites or attacks unprovoked can be declared potentially dangerous or dangerous through a Police Department hearing, triggering leash, enclosure and licensing conditions.
Alameda Dangerous Animal Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-10.1, 7-10.2 (Dangerous or Potentially Dangerous Animals), Ord. No. 2747 N.S.
Potentially dangerous animal shall mean any animal that, (1) when unprovoked on two or more separate occasions within the prior thirty-six (36) month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury when the person and the animal are off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal; or (2) when unprovoked bites a person causing less th...
Exotic Pets
Alameda bars anyone from keeping a wild or exotic animal, reptile, fish or insect on property they own, occupy or control. The ban sweeps in venomous animals and state or federally protected species, with only a narrow grandfather clause for existing, permitted owners.
Alameda Ban on Wild and Exotic Pets
Heavy RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-9.6 (Prohibition of Exotic Pets), Ord. No. 2747 N.S.
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by him/her or it in the City, any wild or exotic animal, reptile, fish or insect. Animals coming within the scope of this subsection shall include any "endangered species," "threatened species," or "candidate species" as defined in Chapter 1.5 of Division 3 of the California Fish and Game Code or the F...
Wildlife Feeding
Alameda Point's zoning district bans feral cat feeding stations and colonies outright, along with feeding any native or non-native wildlife species that preys on the California least tern. Municipal Code Section 30-4.24.g.8 also blocks fireworks displays and aircraft operation between April 1 and August 15 to protect the endangered seabird's nesting season.
Alameda Point Feral Cat Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-4.24.g.8 (Alameda Point District, Use Regulations)
8.Fireworks, Aircraft, and Feeding Stations. To protect the California least tern endangered species, fireworks displays and the operation of aircraft shall not be permitted between April 1 and August 15. Feral cat feeding stations and colonies, and the feeding of any native and non-native wildlife species that are potentially predators of least terns are prohibited.
Pet Limits
Alameda caps most households at three dogs over four months old on a single property, with no equivalent numeric cap for cats in the code. Veterinary hospitals, kennels, breeders and pet shops operating under a valid use permit are exempt, and households that already exceeded three dogs before the rule were grandfathered in.
Alameda Household Dog Limit
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-3.7 (Limiting Number of Dogs)
Except for veterinarian hospitals, kennels, animal breeders, pet shops or other commercial uses operating under a valid use permit, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to maintain on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by him/her or it in the City, more than three (3) dogs over the age of four (4) months. This subsection shall not apply to persons which currently mai...
Cat Rules
Every cat over four months old in Alameda must carry a paid license and a current rabies vaccination, with the license tag fastened to its collar whenever the cat is in public. Alameda has no leash or at-large law aimed at cats: Section 7-3.8's leashing rule names only dogs.
Alameda Cat Licensing and Vaccination Rules
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-3.1 (License Fees) and Sec. 7-3.4 (Rabies Vaccination Required)
Every person who owns, harbors or has in his/her possession or control any dog or cat over four (4) months of age in the City shall pay a license fee. The license fee shall be set by City Council Resolution...It shall be unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or having the care, custody or possession of any dog or cat over four (4) months of age to keep or maintain such dog or cat in any pl...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Alameda does not require every dog or cat owner to sterilize their pet, but anyone adopting an unspayed or unneutered dog or cat from the animal shelter must post a cash deposit, and animals over six months old must be fixed within sixty days of adoption or the deposit is forfeited.
Alameda Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Deposit
Light RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7-2.1(d) (Fees to be Charged by Supervising Animal Control Officer, Spay/Neuter Deposit)
d.Spay/Neuter Deposit.1.A cash deposit shall be required of any person adopting any unspayed/unneutered dog or cat from the animal shelter. Any animal over six (6) months of age at the time of adoption shall be spayed or neutered within sixty (60) days of adoption, or the cash deposit shall be deemed unclaimed. Any deposit not claimed under this subdivision, shall be used only for the following...
Pet Groomer Rules
Alameda's C-1 Neighborhood Business District treats pet shops and animal grooming facilities as a use requiring Planning Board approval, not a by-right business. Municipal Code Section 30-4.8.c.7 conditions approval on findings that air conditioning and soundproofing will confine noise and odor to protect adjoining properties, and it bans outside pens or runs entirely.
Alameda Pet Shop and Grooming Use Permit
Significant RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-4.8.c.7 (C-1, Neighborhood Business District, Uses Requiring Use Permits)
7.Pet shops and animal grooming facilities. Such uses may be allowed only upon a finding that sufficient air conditioning and soundproofing will be provided to effectively confine odors and noise so as not to interfere with the public health, safety and welfare of adjoining properties. No outside pens or runs shall be permitted.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Alameda's C-2 Central Business District requires a Planning Board use permit before any veterinary clinic or hospital can open. Municipal Code Section 30-4.9.c.4 conditions approval on findings that air conditioning and soundproofing will confine noise and odor, and bars outside pens or runs entirely, a stricter standard than the city applies in its manufacturing districts.
Alameda Veterinary Clinic Zoning Permit
Significant RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-4.9.c.4 (C-2, Central Business District, Uses Requiring Use Permits)
4.Veterinary clinics and/or veterinary hospitals. Such uses may be allowed only upon a finding by the Planning Board that sufficient air conditioning and soundproofing will be provided to effectively confine odors and noise so as not to interfere with the public health, safety and welfare. No outside pens or runs shall be permitted.
Bird Protection
Alameda requires bird-safe glazing on new buildings over 35 feet tall with glass-heavy facades. The Bird-Safe Building Ordinance makes at least 90% of qualifying glazing collision-resistant, reviewed by the Planning Director as part of the building permit.
Alameda Bird-Safe Building Standards
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-5.16(b) (Bird-Safe Buildings, Ord. No. 3072 N.S. as amended)
b.Bird-Safe Buildings. This section shall be known as the Bird-Safe Building Ordinance.1.Purpose. The purpose of this section is to reduce bird mortality from windows or other specific building features known to increase the risk of bird collisions.2.Applicability. The bird-safe building standards apply to the following types of projects when such projects require a building permit.(a)New Const...
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