Animal Ordinances in El Cajon, CA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for El Cajon, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
El Cajon allows chickens, but not roosters, at any single-family or RM-6000 lot, requiring a fully enclosed run with at least 10 square feet per bird and a covered coop with 4 square feet per bird; rabbits, geese, and ducks are capped at six adult animals per dwelling in the O-S, RS-40, and RS-20 zones.
El Cajon Backyard Chicken & Fowl Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon Municipal Code § 17.205.065
Chickens are only permitted accessory to a permitted, detached, single-family residential land use... Roosters are prohibited. Chickens must be kept in a fully enclosed chicken run located in an unpaved area of the rear yard, which provides an outdoor area of at least ten square feet per chicken. A covered coop is required... which shall provide at least four square feet per bird... Runs and co...
Dog Leash Laws
El Cajon bans dogs from running at large anywhere in the city. Municipal Code Section 6.12.020 makes it unlawful for an owner to allow a dog off the owner's property unless it's restrained by a leash under ten feet, held by someone capable of controlling it, as defined in Section 6.12.010.
El Cajon Dog At-Large & Leash Law
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon Municipal Code §§ 6.12.010, 6.12.020
"At large" means whenever a dog is elsewhere than on the premises of the owner or other person having the custody or control of such dog and is not restrained by a leash less than ten feet in length, under the control of a person capable of controlling such dog. ... § 6.12.020. Running at large-Prohibited generally. No dog shall run at large in the city. No person owning or having the control o...
Breed Restrictions
El Cajon has no breed-specific restrictions, consistent with CA Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683. Individual dogs may be designated potentially dangerous or vicious based on behavior only.
El Cajon Dog Breed Restrictions
Light RestrictionsCA Food & Agricultural Code §31683
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 ...
Beekeeping
El Cajon allows residential beekeeping for up to four hives per property, each capped at 15 cubic feet, but hives must stay out of front and exterior yards, be invisible from the public right-of-way, clear the underlying zone's setbacks, and the keeper must register with the county agricultural department first.
El Cajon Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon Municipal Code § 17.205.035
The keeping of bees shall be permitted, subject to the following regulations: A. Beehives shall be well maintained at all times. B. Only docile bee species may be permitted. C. Registration with the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures is required prior to beekeeping activities. D. Beehives shall not be visible from the public right-of-way. E. Beehives shall not b...
Exotic Pets
California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations (14 CCR 671) prohibit most exotic mammals including ferrets, hedgehogs, monkeys, and sugar gliders statewide. El Cajon enforces these state restrictions and additionally regulates animals through ECMC Title 6 and the zoning code Chapter 17.205.
El Cajon Exotic Pet Regulations
Some RestrictionsCA Code of Regulations Title 14, §671 (Restricted Species)
Restricted Species Permits Restricted Species Permits are required for every person who imports, exports, transports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in Section 671(c), Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) (PDF) . Animal Care (Detrimental Species) $652.25 Issued to any resident who has demonstrated the experience and ability to house animals designated as a detrimenta...
Cat Rules
El Cajon has no separate cat-licensing law, but it regulates cats through its rabies-quarantine and shelter-adoption rules. Section 6.08.020 requires any biting or rabies-suspect cat to be isolated for ten days under health officer approval, and Section 6.20.140 bars the city shelter from adopting out a cat or dog until it is spayed or neutered or a deposit is paid.
El Cajon Cat Quarantine & Adoption Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon Municipal Code § 6.08.020
A. Any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies shall report the facts immediately to the health officer or officer's representative. The health officer shall likewise be notified when any person is bitten by an animal of a species subject to rabies, whether or not the animal is suspected of having rabies. B. Any rabid animal, clinicall...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
El Cajon's animal shelter will not let anyone adopt a cat or dog that has not already been altered, unless the adopter posts a spay or neuter deposit under Municipal Code Section 6.20.140. Animals adopted under six months old must be fixed within six months of adoption, while older animals get only sixty days, or the deposit is forfeited to the city.
El Cajon Shelter Spay/Neuter Deposit Rule
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.20.140
In accordance with the provisions of the California Food and Agriculture Code Section 30503 and 31751, no cat or dog may be adopted unless the animal has actually been spayed or neutered or a spay or neuter deposit has been paid to the shelter. Animals under six months of age must be spayed or neutered within six months of adoption. Animals over six months of age must be spayed or neutered with...
Microchipping
El Cajon does not require pet owners to microchip animals citywide, but the animal control department can make it a condition of getting an impounded pet back. Under Municipal Code Section 6.20.070(C), a dog or cat picked up running at large without identification can be chipped by the shelter before release, on top of the standard redemption fee, unless the owner objects and the department agrees to waive it.
El Cajon Impound Microchip Fee Rule
Light RestrictionsEl Cajon, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.20.070(C)
Upon redemption of any lawfully impounded animal found at large and without identification, the department may require the owner to pay for the implantation of microchip identification in addition to other redemption fees. The department retains discretion to waive this requirement if the owner objects to the microchip implantation.
Pet Store Rules
El Cajon does not ban pet shops from selling dogs or cats; it regulates them through a public health permit. Municipal Code Section 6.04.110 requires any pet shop covered by the state Retail Food Production and Marketing Establishment Law to hold a valid public health permit, applied for under Chapter 8.36, with a council-set fee, on top of any other required license.
El Cajon Pet Shop Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon Municipal Code § 6.04.110
§ 6.04.110. Pet shops-Permit required-Fee. A pet shop governed by the California State Retail Food Production and Marketing Establishment Law must have a valid public health permit. Such permit shall be applied for and issued as prescribed in Chapter 8.36 of this code. The fee for each permit issued pursuant to this section shall be set pursuant to city council resolution. Said permit shall be ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
El Cajon zoning allows veterinary and small animal hospitals as an indoor, permitted-by-right use in every commercial zone: O-P, C-N, C-G, C-R and C-M. Table 17.145.150 lists the use with a straight 'P,' meaning no conditional use permit or discretionary hearing is required, only compliance with the zone's general commercial development standards.
El Cajon Veterinary Hospital Zoning Rules
Few RestrictionsEl Cajon Municipal Code § 17.145.150, Table 17.145.150 (Commercial Land Use Table)
"P" means "permitted use" ... Table 17.145.150 Commercial Land Use Table O-P C-N C-G C-R C-M Notes ... Veterinary and small animal hospital, indoors only P P P P P 1
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement El Cajon city rules.
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