Animal Ordinances in Berkeley, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Berkeley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Berkeley allows backyard chickens and rabbits, but the coop must sit at least 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling under Municipal Code Section 10.12.040. Sheep and male goats are banned outright, female goats are capped at two per lot outside industrial zones, and hog-keeping is barred within 1,000 feet of any occupied home, a radius that reaches nearly every residential parcel in the city.
Berkeley Backyard Fowl and Livestock Limits
Significant RestrictionsBerkeley, CA, Municipal Code § 10.12.040
It is unlawful for any person to keep on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by them in the City any rabbits, guinea pigs, or any chickens, ducks, pigeons, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl, unless such fowls or animals are kept in an enclosure, no part of which is within twenty-five feet of any dwelling house occupied by human beings; provided, however, that the dwelling house refer...
Dog Leash Laws
Berkeley requires dogs to be on a substantial leash no longer than six feet in public unless they are inside a City-designated dog park or off-leash area, and an obedience-trained dog under control within six feet of its handler still counts as leashed.
Berkeley Dog Leash and Off-Leash Rules
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 10.04.090
Except in an area specifically set aside and designated by the City Council as a "dog park", or "off-leash" area no owner/guardian or keeper of a dog shall allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be or run at large in or upon any public place or premises, or in or upon any private place or premises other than those of said owner/guardian or keeper except with the consent of...
Breed Restrictions
Berkeley cannot single out a dog breed as dangerous: California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 bars any local program from being breed specific. Instead, Berkeley Municipal Code Section 10.04.170 defines a vicious or dangerous dog by behavior, such as unprovoked attacks or fight training, and Section 10.04.171 requires the owner of a declared dangerous dog to carry $50,000 in liability insurance and keep it confined or muzzled off the property.
Berkeley Dangerous Dog Rules Are Breed-Neutral
Some RestrictionsCal. Food & Agricultural Code § 31683
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except as prov...
Exotic Pets
Berkeley makes it unlawful to keep any vicious or dangerous animal in the city under Municipal Code Section 10.12.230, and a violation exposes the animal to impoundment and humane destruction. The City has no separate exotic-pet license: the only way around the ban is a City Council resolution granting a temporary exhibition or experimental permit.
Berkeley Ban on Vicious or Dangerous Animals
Heavy RestrictionsBerkeley, CA, Municipal Code § 10.12.230
A. It is unlawful for any person to keep or allow to be kept in the City any vicious or dangerous animal. Any such vicious or dangerous animal shall be impounded and may be forthwith humanely destroyed; provided, however, that the City Council may, by resolution, grant a temporary permit for the keeping of vicious or dangerous animals for exhibition or experimental purposes under such condition...
Wildlife Feeding
Berkeley bans feeding wild animals anywhere on public property, including parks, streets, sidewalks and median strips, unless the City Manager issues written authorization. Violators are guilty of an infraction under BMC Chapter 6.50.
Berkeley Wildlife Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 6.50.030
No person shall feed wild animals at any time in City Parks or on Public Property, without specific written authorization from the City Manager.
Pet Limits
Berkeley caps most households at four dogs over six months old on one premises, unless the extra dogs are kept in Public Health Department-approved kennels set back at least 25 feet from any occupied dwelling other than the owner's own.
Berkeley Household Dog Limit
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 10.04.130
It is unlawful for any person to keep on any one premises owned or occupied by them, more than four dogs if said dogs are more than six months old, unless said dogs are properly housed in kennels approved by the Public Health Department. If more than four dogs over the age of six months are kept in a permanent enclosure or in a kennel as herein provided, no part of said enclosure or kennel may ...
Cat Rules
Berkeley declares feral cats a public nuisance, but anyone feeding or sheltering a colony avoids citation by registering with an animal agency, reporting sterilization records biweekly, and hitting 90% sterilized by three months and 100% by five months.
Berkeley Feral Cat Colony Rules
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 10.04.088(A)
Feral cats are hereby declared to be a public nuisance. Feeding or sheltering feral cats is a violation of this section, unless the person doing so establishes to the City that they (a) are working with an animal agency or group registered with the animal shelter, or licensed veterinarian, to spay or neuter the cats in the colony, (b) are making available to the Animal Services staff the docume...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Berkeley bars its Animal Shelter, humane societies and rescue groups from transferring any dog or cat over six months old to a new owner unless it has been spayed or neutered, with a narrow exception when a vet certifies the animal cannot safely be altered.
Berkeley Shelter Spay-Neuter Transfer Rule
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 10.04.084
No animal shelter, including the City's Animal Shelter, humane society, humane organization, or animal rescue group shall transfer to a new owner/guardian any dog or cat that is over six months of age that has not been spayed or neutered, unless a licensed veterinarian certifies that the animal (1) should not be spayed or neutered for health reasons, or (2) is permanently non-fertile.
Microchipping
Any dog or cat leaving Berkeley's Animal Shelter through adoption, redemption by its owner, or a rescue transfer must be microchipped first under Municipal Code Section 10.04.207, at the expense of whoever takes the animal, with narrow exceptions for feral cats, veterinarian-certified health risks, and rescue groups.
Berkeley Shelter Pet Microchipping Rule
Some RestrictionsBerkeley, CA, Municipal Code § 10.04.207
A. All impounded dogs and cats that are returned to their owners, adopted, or rescued from the animal shelter shall be microchipped before leaving the shelter and at the expense of the person taking possession of the animal, subject to the exceptions in this section. B. The fee for the microchip insertion shall be included in the cost of adoption or redemption. C. This section shall not apply t...
Pet Store Rules
Berkeley pet stores may sell dogs, cats, and rabbits only if sourced from public shelters or registered nonprofit rescues, mirroring California AB 485 and reinforcing the city humane sourcing policy.
Berkeley Pet Store Rescue-Only Sourcing Rule
Some RestrictionsCal. Health & Safety Code § 122354.5
(a) A pet store shall not adopt out, sell, or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. This section does not prevent a pet store from providing space to display animals for adoption in accordance with subdivision (b). (b) (1) A pet store shall not provide space for the display of dogs, cats, or rabbits available for adoption unless the animals are displayed by either a public animal control agency...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Berkeley requires a discretionary Use Permit approved at a public hearing before opening a veterinary clinic anywhere in the city. Table 23.204-1 of the zoning code lists Veterinary Clinic as UP(PH) in all eleven commercial districts, from C-C Corridor Commercial to C-AC Adeline Corridor Commercial, with no by-right or administrative-only path in any of them.
Berkeley Veterinary Clinic Zoning Permit
Significant RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code §§ 23.502.020(V)(10); 23.204.020(A), Table 23.204-1
10. Veterinary Clinic. A facility providing veterinarian and/or medical care or treatment for animals. This use includes pet hospitals but excludes kennels or other animal boarding facilities for non-medical care of animals of over 24 hours. ... Table 23.204-1: Allowed Uses in the Commercial Districts identifies allowed land uses and required permits in the Commercial Districts. ... Veterinary ...
Bird Protection
Berkeley requires new and significantly altered buildings to treat transparent or reflective glass between the ground and 75 feet with anti-collision measures to reduce bird deaths, using an American Bird Conservancy threat rating, patterned glazing, or exterior screens as compliance options.
Berkeley Bird-Safe Building Standards
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 23.304.150(A), (C)
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to reduce bird mortality from windows and other transparent or reflective buildings or building features known to increase the risk of bird collisions. ... C. Bird Safe Requirements. Any regulated transparent or reflective material must meet at least one of the following conditions: 1. Threat Factor Rating. A product with an American Bird Conservancy T...
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Berkeley city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Alameda County →