Animal Ordinances in Chino Hills, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Chino Hills, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Chino Hills Municipal Code § 6.12.060 sets the accessory animal-raising limits for hens and other small fowl kept alongside a single-family home. Lots under 7,200 square feet may keep two birds; the allowance rises with lot size to one bird per 2,000 square feet on parcels of 20,000 square feet or more, capped at nine of any one species. Roosters and other male fowl need a full acre.
Chino Hills Backyard Chicken and Fowl Limits
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.12.060
6.12.060 - Permitted accessory animal raising. Animal Type / Minimum Lot Area / Maximum Density or Number: (b) A combination of chickens or similar fowl (hens only), rabbits or other similar small animals - Less than 7,200 sq. ft.: 2/lot or unit; 7,200 sq. ft.: 3/lot; 10,000 sq. ft.: 4/lot; 20,000 sq. ft. or more: 1/2,000 sq. ft. Maximum 9 of each species per lot. (c) Male Fowl - 1 acre: Maximu...
Dog Leash Laws
Any dog on a Chino Hills street, alley, public place, or unenclosed lot must be on a cord, chain, or leash no longer than six feet and held continuously by a competent person, under Municipal Code Section 6.08.130. Dogs confined in a vehicle or in a posted off-leash area are the only exceptions, and loose dogs are impounded.
Chino Hills Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.08.130
No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog shall cause or permit such dog to be in or upon any public street, alley or other public place or in or upon any unenclosed lot or premises, unless such dog is securely confined by a strong cord, chain or leash, not exceeding six feet, securely and continuously held by a competen...
Breed Restrictions
Chino Hills has no breed-specific dog ordinance. CHMC § 6.16.055 instead adopts the state's potentially-dangerous-and-vicious-dog scheme, Food and Agricultural Code §§ 31601 et seq., so a dog is classified by its own documented conduct rather than its breed, with the Enforcing Officer able to seize and impound a dog found to pose an immediate threat pending a hearing.
Chino Hills Dangerous and Vicious Dog Law
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.16.055
A.Except as otherwise specified in this Title, Chapter 9 of Division 14 of the Food and Agricultural Code (commencing with Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 31601) is hereby adopted as the law and procedures to be followed in the City of Chino Hills for potentially dangerous and vicious dogs.B."Potentially dangerous dog" shall have the meaning set forth in Food and Agricultural Code § 31602.C."Vicious ...
Beekeeping
Chino Hills effectively bars beekeeping on ordinary residential lots. CHMC § 6.16.010(D) prohibits intentionally maintaining bees on any property smaller than ten acres, and even on larger parcels the hives must sit at least 500 feet from any residence, a distance almost no residential yard can meet.
Chino Hills Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Heavy RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.16.010(D)
D.Bees. It is also prohibited to intentionally maintain bees on any property within the City which is less than ten (10) acres. Such bees shall be maintained at least five hundred (500) feet from any residence.
Exotic Pets
Chino Hills bans keeping any wild animal on private property. CHMC § 6.16.010(A) prohibits any species commonly referred to as wild, as defined by California Fish and Game Code § 2116, anywhere within city limits, with no residential-acreage exception of the kind that applies to bees or large livestock.
Chino Hills Wild Animal Ownership Ban
Heavy RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.16.010(A), (G)-(H)
A.Wild Animals. No species of animals commonly referred to as wild as defined in Fish and Game Code Section 2116 may be kept or maintained on any property within the City. ... G.Reclamation Procedures. The owner or custodian of the prohibited animal must relocate the prohibited animal outside of the City and provide the enforcing officer a relocating address outside the City limits or provide t...
Wildlife Feeding
Chino Hills bars anyone from feeding, hunting, molesting, or harassing wild animals or birds in City-Owned Open Space, and from taking eggs, nests, or young, under Municipal Code § 12.32.130. The same prohibition, in nearly identical wording, applies separately to city parks under § 12.40.220.
Chino Hills Wildlife Feeding and Harassment Ban
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 12.32.130
In the City-Owned Open Space no person shall hunt, feed, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw devices at any animal or bird, nor shall any person remove or have in their possession any wild animals, or the eggs, or nest or young of any animal or bird. This section shall not apply to City or law enforcement, fire district or animal control personnel in performance of ...
Pet Limits
A Chino Hills house on a standard residential lot cannot keep more than five dogs and cats combined, and no more than three of them can be dogs, under Municipal Code Section 6.08.020. Apartments and condos face a tighter cap of three total animals with no more than two dogs, and larger parcels follow a separate chapter.
Chino Hills Household Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.08.020
It is unlawful for the occupants of any dwelling unit in a residential zone, district, area, or planned unit development, excepting an apartment or condominium, to keep in the City more than five total animals (i.e., dogs and cats), of which no more than three such animals shall be dogs. Any dwelling unit on property larger than seven thousand two hundred (7,200) square feet shall be allowed th...
Cat Rules
Chino Hills does not license or leash cats: Chapter 6.08's licensing duty in Section 6.08.040 and leash rule in Section 6.08.130 both name only dogs. Cats are still subject to impoundment under Section 6.08.150, and reclaiming one requires a redemption fee plus food and care costs set by City Council resolution.
Chino Hills Cat Impoundment and Licensing
Light RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.08.150
A.Release to Owners—Fees. The owner, caretaker, or custodian of a cat impounded may reclaim such cat upon the payment of a redemption fee and food and care cost in an amount as established by resolution of the City Council. These fees are to be paid to the Enforcing Officer.B.Adoption—Disposal. Where the owner, caretaker, or custodian of the cat is known, he or she will be notified by mail that...
Microchipping
Every dog over four months old in Chino Hills must carry an implanted identifying microchip under Municipal Code Section 6.08.160, and compliance is a prerequisite to getting the dog license required by Section 6.08.040. Two narrow, vet-certified health and performance exemptions exist, and unchipped impounded dogs must be chipped before release.
Chino Hills Mandatory Dog Microchipping
Heavy RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.08.160
A.All dogs over the age of four months must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to the Animal Control Enforcement Agency, and shall notify the Animal Control Enforcement Agency of any change of ownership of the dog, or any change of address or telephone number. Compliance with this section is required to obtain a dog lic...
Coyote Management
Chino Hills bans feeding coyotes anywhere in the city. CHMC § 6.16.080 makes it unlawful to wilfully feed or otherwise provide for one or more coyotes, with narrow exceptions only for a coyote held under a valid California Department of Fish and Game permit or a trapped, unweaned, or injured coyote awaiting agency pickup.
Chino Hills Coyote Feeding Prohibition
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.16.080
6.16.080 - Coyotes. It is unlawful for any person to wilfully feed or in any manner provide for one or more coyotes except: A.For a coyote that is kept with a valid certificate/permit issued by the State of California, Department of Fish and Game;B.For a trapped, unweaned, or injured coyote during the time the agency in charge is notified and the coyote has been picked up.
Pet Store Rules
Chino Hills bans pet stores from selling dogs or cats outright. Chapter 6.03 of the Municipal Code, adopted in 2014, prohibits any pet store from displaying, selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering, auctioning, or otherwise transferring a dog or cat, leaving adoption through a shelter or rescue as the only retail-adjacent path.
Chino Hills Retail Pet Store Dog and Cat Ban
Heavy RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 6.03.020
No pet store shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of dogs or cats in the City of Chino Hills on or after the effective date of this chapter.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Chino Hills bars veterinary practices from operating as a home occupation. Development Code section 16.56.035 lists veterinary uses, including boarding, among the businesses the City finds incompatible with residential neighborhoods, so a resident cannot run a veterinary clinic or animal boarding operation out of a house even under the City's otherwise permissive home occupation permit program; a veterinary hospital must instead locate in a zoning district that allows it.
Chino Hills Veterinary Home Occupation Ban
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 16.56.035(A)(13)
A.The following businesses are not incidental to, or compatible with, residential activities, and are therefore prohibited from operating as a home occupation use:1.Adult-oriented businesses as defined by the Municipal Code;2.Ambulance service; ... 13.Veterinary uses (including boarding), unless otherwise permitted by the Municipal Code; and14.Welding or metalsmithing services on-site.B.Any bus...
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