Animal Ordinances in Aliso Viejo, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Aliso Viejo, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, AVMC 6.04.380 bars keeping horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, game birds and other fowl for any purpose within the city. The only opening printed in the section is hens approved through a conditional use permit as part of a small-scale farm.
Aliso Viejo Backyard Chickens and Livestock Ban
Heavy RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code § 6.04.380
6.04.380 Livestock prohibited. No person shall keep or maintain horses, cows, goats, sheep, other equine, bovine, ovine or ruminant animals, pigs, predatory wild animals, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, game birds or other fowl, or animals which normally constitute agricultural uses for any purpose within the city. Notwithstanding the foregoing, hens may be approved pursuant to a conditional u...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, a dog on public property must be on a substantial chain or a leash not exceeding six feet and under the charge of a competent person, unless the property owner or operator gives written permission. On private property the dog must be fenced, walled, chained, leashed or under competent charge.
Aliso Viejo Dog Leash and Restraint Requirements
Some RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code § 6.04.010
6.04.010 Restraint of dogs. A. No person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of any dog shall cause or permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such dog to be upon any private property unless such dog is restrained thereon by a fence, wall, substantial chain, leash not exceeding six feet in length, other appropriate physical restraint, or i...
Breed Restrictions
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, the vicious dog definition turns on conduct and dog fighting, not breed. The director of animal services can tentatively declare a dog vicious after a fatal or seriously injurious attack, a dog fighting connection, or two bites or attacks within a year, and the owner has five working days to request a hearing.
Aliso Viejo Vicious Dog Declaration and Possession Rules
Significant RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 6.02.010, 6.04.240
“Vicious dog” means any dog that, as determined by the director: 1. Has attacked or bitten a person causing death or substantial physical injury; 2. Has killed or inflicted substantial physical injury to a domestic animal, without provocation, while off the owner’s or custodian’s property; 3. Is owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is a dog trained for dog f...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, keeping wild or exotic animals as pets runs through an additional or unusual animal license issued by the director of animal services under Article X of AVMC Chapter 6.04. The code defines exotic animals to include lions, tigers and kangaroos, and the director must find no menace to public health, safety or general welfare.
Aliso Viejo Exotic and Wild Animal Pet Rules
Significant RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 6.02.010, 6.04.595, 6.04.610
“Exotic animal” means any animal not identified in the definition of “animal” that is native to a foreign country or of foreign origin or character, is not native to the United States, or was introduced from abroad. This term specifically includes animals such as, but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, camels, antelope, anteaters, kangaroos, and water buffalo, and species of fo...
Wildlife Feeding
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, AVMC 8.26.020 makes it unlawful to feed, or cause to be fed, a nondomesticated animal in any commercial center that has an outdoor dining area. A separate park rule, AVMC 11.10.180, bars feeding wildlife in designated parks and recreational areas.
Aliso Viejo Feeding Wildlife Near Outdoor Dining Ban
Light RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 8.26.010, 8.26.020
“Nondomesticated animal” means animals that are not commonly considered tame and not generally accustomed to living among humans and being raised by humans as pets. “Outdoor dining area” means any contiguous portion of a restaurant, as that term is defined in AVMC 15.94.020, that contains seating for members of the public to consume food or drink in an area that is out of doors, covered or othe...
Pet Limits
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, owning or having custody of four or more licensed dogs or four or more licensed cats over the age of four months for a non-commercial purpose requires an additional animal license under AVMC 6.04.170. The director of animal services issues it for a specific site and animal count, and it must be renewed every year.
Aliso Viejo Pet Limits: Dogs and Cats Per Household
Some RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 6.04.170, 6.04.595, 6.04.630
6.04.170 Animal permit required. ... Every person owning or having custody of four or more licensed dogs or four or more licensed cats, over the age of four months, for any purpose other than a commercial purpose shall procure an additional animal license pursuant to Article X of this chapter. ... 6.04.595 Purpose. The additional or unusual animal license is established to permit the keeping or...
Cat Rules
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, a cat license is optional. An owner who submits a veterinarian-certified rabies vaccine record and pays the fee receives a license certificate and tag, valid for the period of the vaccine. Owners of four or more licensed cats need an additional animal license, and cat kennels must license each cat not kept in a run.
Aliso Viejo Cat License and Cat Ownership Rules
Light RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code § 6.04.160
6.04.160 Cat license. The owner of any cat may, upon submission of proof of approved rabies vaccine, certified to by a licensed veterinarian, and upon payment of the fee established by the city of Mission Viejo, be issued a license certificate and tag. No person shall remove a registration tag from a cat without the consent of the owner thereof. Licensing shall be valid for the period of the ap...
Pet Store Rules
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, no commercial animal establishment can display, sell, offer for sale, barter, auction or give away dogs or cats. Rescue shops that charge an adoption fee, public shelters, nonprofit humane societies and rescue groups are exempt, and a pet shop can host their adoption events.
Aliso Viejo Ban on Retail Sale of Dogs and Cats
Heavy RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code § 6.02.120
6.02.120 Prohibition on retail sale of dogs and cats. A. No commercial animal establishment shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of dogs or cats in the city on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. B. This section shall not apply to: 1. A commercial animal rescue shop that offers dogs or cats ...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, running a grooming parlor or mobile grooming facility without a commercial animal establishment license is unlawful under AVMC 6.04.460. The license lasts one year from issuance, carries a non-refundable fee payable with the application, and the director of animal services can deny or revoke it.
Aliso Viejo Pet Groomer and Mobile Grooming License
Some RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 6.02.010, 6.04.460, 6.04.480, 6.04.490
“Grooming parlor or mobile grooming facility” means any premises where animals are groomed, brushed, clipped or bathed or otherwise conditioned as pets and/or for show on a commercial basis. ... 6.04.460 Licenses required. ... It shall be unlawful for any person(s) to maintain additional or unusual animals, as specified in Article X of this chapter, or to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, Table 15.18.020 lists animal hospitals and veterinary clinics as AUP in the CT, CC, CN, BP-1 and BP-2 districts and NP in PO. AUP means an administrative use permit is required, and AVMC 6.04.570 separately exempts clinics from the animal title for state-licensed activities.
Aliso Viejo Veterinary Clinic Zoning and Use Permits
Some RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 6.04.570, 15.18.020
6.04.570 Veterinary hospitals and clinics. ... Veterinary hospitals and veterinary clinics shall be exempt from the provisions of this title with regard to those activities conducted pursuant to any license or permit issued by the state. ... 4. “AUP” – The use is permitted as a principal or accessory use if an administrative use permit is approved. ... 6. “NP” – The use is not permitted in the ...
Bird Protection
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, the municipal code has no stand-alone bird ordinance. Birds are protected through the park wildlife rule, which defines wildlife to include any bird, its egg and its offspring, and bars hunting, killing, wounding, feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife in a designated park or recreational area.
Aliso Viejo Park Rules: Birds and Wildlife Protection
Some RestrictionsAliso Viejo Municipal Code §§ 11.10.020, 11.10.180, 11.10.190
“Wildlife” means terrestrial or aquatic mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, arthropod or any other vertebrate or invertebrate member of the animal kingdom, including a part, product, egg or offspring thereof. ... No person shall hunt, kill, wound, feed, touch, tease, frighten, or intentionally disturb wildlife in any designated park or recreational area, except persons in the perfo...
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