Animal Ordinances in Elk Grove, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Elk Grove, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Elk Grove allows up to six chickens by right on residential lots, or twelve with a 40-foot buffer from neighboring property, but bans roosters outright. Livestock is capped at two animals per half-acre and must sit 40 feet from any property line and 75 feet from a neighbor's house.
Elk Grove Backyard Chicken & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code Table 23.27-1 (Allowed Uses and Required Entitlements for Base Zoning Districts), Note 3 to Residential Zoning Districts (EGMC § 23.27.020)
a. Fowl, limited to chickens only, may only be kept on residential property when consistent with the following: i. Residents may have up to six (6) chickens in all RD zone districts, as long as the chickens are confined within a clean coop or cage. Such structures must be kept a minimum of five (5' 0") feet from interior side and rear property lines. ii. Notwithstanding the above, residents may...
Dog Leash Laws
Elk Grove bans letting a dog run loose in public under EGMC § 8.02.060: any dog off its owner's property is presumed at large unless tied or held on a leash of no more than six feet, and a dog impounded twice for running at large must be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense.
Elk Grove Dog Leash and At-Large Rule
Some RestrictionsEGMC § 8.02.060
No person owning any dog, or having the care, custody, control, or possession of any dog shall suffer, allow, or permit such dog to run, be, or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, school, or other public place or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such dog without the consent of the owner of such property, within the corpo...
Breed Restrictions
Elk Grove cannot ban or restrict dogs by breed. California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683 preempts all breed-specific legislation statewide. Dangerous dog designations must be based on behavior, not breed.
Elk Grove Breed Restrictions
Some RestrictionsCA 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...
Beekeeping
Elk Grove treats noncompliant beekeeping as a public nuisance rather than banning hives outright. Keepers must supply an on-site water source for the bees, follow zoning rules and any City-ordered mitigation from an agricultural dispute review, label rented bee boxes, and comply with state Food and Agricultural Code beekeeping rules.
Elk Grove Beekeeping and Beehive Rules
Some RestrictionsElk Grove Municipal Code § 16.18.1136
§ 16.18.1136. Care of bees and beehives. It shall be unlawful and constitute a public nuisance for any person who keeps beehives on his, her, or its property not to comply with the following regulations: A. Failure to comply with any zoning requirements set forth in the Zoning Code or recommendations made by qualified experts retained by the City Manager in conjunction with an investigation con...
Exotic Pets
Elk Grove bans keeping wild, exotic, dangerous, or nondomestic animals and reptiles within city limits under EGMC § 8.02.030, unless another part of the Municipal Code specifically authorizes it. A companion rule at EGMC § 8.02.040 caps any pet snake at eight feet long, regardless of species.
Elk Grove Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsEGMC §§ 8.02.030, 8.02.040
No person shall have, keep, or maintain any wild, exotic, dangerous, nondomestic animal or reptile within the City, except as authorized by the Elk Grove Municipal Code. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to own and keep within the City any snake that is more than eight (8' 0") feet in length.
Pet Limits
Elk Grove caps most households at four pets total under EGMC § 8.02.050: any combination of dogs, cats, pot-bellied pigs, and pygmy goats over four months old that adds up to more than four animals is unlawful unless another part of the code allows it.
Elk Grove Household Pet Limit
Some RestrictionsEGMC § 8.02.050
Except as otherwise allowed by this code, it is unlawful for any person to keep or harbor more than four (4) dogs, four (4) cats, four (4) pot-bellied pigs, four (4) pygmy goats, or any combination thereof exceeding a total of four (4), which are over the age of four (4) months on or in any lot, premises, dwelling, building, structure, boat, or living accommodation.
Cat Rules
Elk Grove requires every cat over four months old to carry a City license under EGMC § 8.03.010, with a microchip and current rabies certificate, but feral and community cats enrolled in a trap-neuter-return program are exempt from licensing altogether.
Elk Grove Cat Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsEGMC § 8.03.010(A), (C), (E)(3)
Every person owning, possessing, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat over four (4) months old shall obtain a license for each dog or cat and appropriate license fees shall be paid annually. ... Upon presentation of a certificate from a licensed veterinarian that the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered or that the dog or cat cannot be spayed or neutered for medical reasons,...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Elk Grove doesn't require every pet to be fixed, but EGMC § 8.05.040(B) makes spaying or neutering mandatory once a dog or cat is impounded: owners of an unaltered animal pay an unaltered impounded animal fee on redemption, refundable only if they prove the pet was later spayed or neutered within thirty business days.
Elk Grove Mandatory Pet Spay/Neuter Fee
Some RestrictionsEGMC § 8.05.040(B), (B)(1)
In addition to any other fees or fines imposed by this title or State law, the owner of a nonspayed or unneutered dog or cat shall be subject to an “unaltered impounded animal fee.” The unaltered impounded animal fee shall be set by resolution of the City Council. For the purpose of this section, “impounded” shall mean any animal that is impounded in violation of EGMC Section 8.05.020. Fees col...
Microchipping
Elk Grove requires every dog or cat presented for a City license to be microchipped. Under EGMC Section 8.03.080, the applicant must submit a veterinarian's certificate confirming both a current rabies vaccination and a microchip implant before the City issues the license. Owners can instead pay an annual exemption fee set by City Council resolution.
Elk Grove Pet License Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 8.03.080 (Microchip required for license)
A. As a condition for the issuance of a dog or cat license, all applicants for such license shall procure and deliver a certificate issued by a duly licensed veterinarian, certifying that each dog or cat to be licensed has been administered an anti-rabies vaccination and has had a microchip inserted prior to the issuance of said license for the current license period. B. The owner of a dog or c...
Pet Store Rules
Elk Grove does not ban retail pet stores from selling animals, but any store selling animals under California's Health and Safety Code Section 122350 definition must first hold a special business license from the Chief of Police. Selling live animals on streets or in parking lots is banned citywide, and underage puppies or kittens cannot be sold without a veterinarian's written approval.
Elk Grove Pet Store Animal Sale Rules
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 4.10.005(A)(28); § 8.02.200
No person shall, unless under and by authority of a valid unexpired and unrevoked special business license, conduct or operate within the City, whether singularly or in connection with another type of enterprise, the following: ... 28. Pet stores that engage in the selling of animals as defined in Section 122350 of the California Health and Safety Code... It shall be unlawful for any person to:...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet grooming businesses fall under Elk Grove's "animal sales and/or grooming" use classification, permitted by right in commercial zones and agricultural districts but requiring a conditional use permit in the AR-1 residential-agricultural zone. All activities must run entirely inside an enclosed building.
Elk Grove Pet Grooming Business Zoning
Some RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 23.26.050(A)(10) ("Animal sales and/or grooming" definition); Table 23.27-1, Note 4 to Commercial Zoning Districts (EGMC § 23.27.020)
"Animal sales and/or grooming" means retail sales of domestic and exotic animals, bathing and trimming services and boarding of said animals for a maximum period of seventy-two (72) hours conducted entirely within an enclosed building with no outdoor use. Also see "kennels, commercial," which provides for the boarding of animals for longer periods of time. ... Notes that pertain to the commerci...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary facilities need a conditional use permit in Elk Grove's agricultural and mixed-use zones, but can open by right in Local Commercial, General Commercial, and Shopping Center districts if the clinic is fully enclosed whenever it sits within 500 feet of a residential zone.
Elk Grove Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsElk Grove, CA, Municipal Code § 23.26.050(V)(3) ("Veterinary facility" definition); Table 23.27-1, Note 3 to Commercial Zoning Districts (EGMC § 23.27.020)
"Veterinary facility" means a facility that is primarily enclosed, containing only enough cage arrangements as necessary to provide services for domestic and exotic animals requiring acute medical or surgical care with accessory outdoor use that provides long-term medical care. Grooming and boarding of animals is allowed only if accessory to the facility use. ... Notes that pertain to the comme...
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