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Animal Ordinances in Folsom, CA (2026)

12 verified animal ordinances for Folsom, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Chickens & Livestock

Folsom allows up to six chickens (no roosters) plus two ducks, pigeons, or rabbits per residential lot outside agricultural zones under Municipal Code Section 7.04.080(C), and larger livestock like horses, cows, and goats on lots as small as 6,000 square feet with scaling for additional animals; turkeys and geese are barred outside agricultural districts entirely.

Folsom Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA Municipal Code § 7.04.080(B), (C)

B. Not more than one horse, mule, burro, cow, bull, goat, sheep, hog, or donkey shall be kept or permitted upon any premises of an area of less than six thousand square feet and not more than two horses, mules, burros, cows, bulls, goats, sheep, hogs, or donkeys shall be kept or permitted on any premises of an area less than ten thousand square feet and an additional four thousand square fee...

Dog Leash Laws

A Folsom dog must stay on its owner's property or under leash control everywhere else in the city under Municipal Code Section 7.04.040, and "at large" specifically means off a leash, lead, or tether longer than eight feet under Section 7.02.020; violating the leash law is a straight infraction and lets animal services impound the dog on sight.

Folsom Dog Leash and At-Large Law

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA Municipal Code § 7.04.040

Except in a designated dog park, no person shall allow or permit his or her dog to 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 corporate limits of the city. An animal services officer may...

Breed Restrictions

California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts all breed-specific legislation statewide. Folsom cannot ban pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, or any breed. Dangerous-dog designations must be based on individual behavior, not breed.

Animals: Breed Restrictions

Some Restrictions

California 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

Beekeeping is allowed in Folsom's residential zones subject to setback and hive limit rules. Apiaries must register annually with the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner under CA Food & Ag Code §29040. Typical setback: 20 feet from property lines; water source and flyway barrier required.

Animals: Beekeeping

Some Restrictions

California Food & Agricultural Code §29040

29040. Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year in whic...

Exotic Pets

California has one of the nation's strictest exotic pet laws. CA Code of Regulations Title 14 §671 bans private ownership of ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, monkeys, large cats, most reptiles over certain sizes, and most wild species. Folsom enforces through Sacramento County Animal Care and CDFW.

Animals: Exotic Pets

Significant Restrictions

California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Restricted Species Permits (14 CCR Sec. 671)

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). Entitlements: Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment - New: $155.53; Renewal and Amendment: $80.60 - Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of an existing permit...

Wildlife Feeding

Feeding wildlife, especially deer, coyotes, raccoons, and bears, is prohibited in Folsom. CDFW also prohibits intentional feeding of big game statewide. Folsom's foothill and lakefront neighborhoods face particular wildlife pressure; bird feeders must be maintained to avoid rodent attraction.

Animals: Wildlife Feeding

Heavy Restrictions

California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limited resources...

Pet Limits

Folsom caps households at three dogs and three cats over four months old per dwelling unit under Municipal Code Section 7.04.030, with an exception for licensed pet stores, breeders, kennels, catteries, shelters, and veterinary clinics that still must meet every other local, state, and federal requirement.

Folsom Household Pet Limit Law

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA Municipal Code § 7.04.030

No person shall own or harbor more than three dogs nor more than three cats, over the age of four months, at or in any one dwelling unit, as defined by the city's zoning code, or at or in any other single industrial or commercial establishment within the city. This limitation shall not apply to duly licensed and lawfully operating business or commercial operations engaged in the sale or care of...

Cat Rules

Every cat over four months old in Folsom must wear a city license tag under Municipal Code Section 7.06.010, obtained within thirty days of acquisition and tied to a current rabies vaccination. Folsom has no cat-specific at-large or feral-colony ordinance; Chapter 7.04's running-at-large ban covers dogs only.

Folsom Cat Licensing Requirements

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA Municipal Code § 7.06.010

A. Every person owning or harboring a dog or cat within the city shall obtain a license tag pursuant to the provisions of this title. Licenses shall be obtained upon the dog or cat reaching four months of age or within thirty days of the person acquiring the dog or cat, whichever is later. B. License tags shall be attached to the collar of the dog or cat by the owner and shall be worn by...

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Folsom does not mandate that every owned pet be spayed or neutered, but Municipal Code Section 7.10.090 bars the city or any rescue group from releasing a dog or cat for adoption without the animal being spayed or neutered first, and Section 7.10.030 fines the owner of an unaltered dog or cat that gets impounded.

Folsom Spay/Neuter Adoption and Impound Rule

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA Municipal Code § 7.10.090

Except as otherwise provided herein or other applicable law, any animal that is impounded pursuant to this title may, after the time for redemption and prior to the euthanasia of that animal, be released to an animal rescue or animal adoption organization if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled euthanasia of that animal. In addition to any required spay or neuter fee, the animal...

Microchipping

Folsom does not require pet owners to microchip their animals; the only microchip rule in the municipal code is a shelter duty. Section 7.10.040(D) requires the animal shelter to scan every impounded animal for a microchip and make reasonably diligent efforts to contact the identified owner before the animal can be adopted out or euthanized.

Folsom Animal Shelter Microchip Scan Rule

Few Restrictions

Folsom, CA Municipal Code § 7.10.040(D)

D. During the holding period required by this section, and prior to the adoption or euthanasia of any impounded animal, the animal shelter shall scan the animal for a microchip which may identify the owner of that animal, and the animal shelter shall make reasonably diligent efforts to contact the owner and notify him or her that his or her animal is impounded.

Pet Groomer Rules

Folsom allows pet grooming businesses like poodle grooming shops by right in its three commercial zones, C-1, C-2 and C-3, but bars them outright from the BP business professional zone under the city's commercial use table.

Folsom Pet Grooming Business Zoning

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 17.22.030(E) (Commercial Use Table, item 111)

B. Permitted Uses Within the Buildable Area of Commercial Lots. A "✓" indicates that the described use is permitted in the zone represented by the described symbol appearing at the top of the column. An "N" indicates that the described use is not permitted in the zone represented by the symbol appearing at the top of the column. ... 111 Grooming service, such as poodle grooming ✓ ✓ ✓ N

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Folsom caps veterinary hospitals and animal clinics at 2,500 square feet with no outdoor storage in its commercial zones, and bars outdoor uses and nonmedical boarding entirely in the business-professional zone. Larger clinics or those needing outdoor space must get a conditional use permit.

Folsom Veterinary Hospital Zoning Rules

Some Restrictions

Folsom, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 17.22.030(E) (Commercial Use Table, item 249); Sec. 17.22.040(8) (Special condition requirements)

Veterinarian—animal hospital/clinic (no outdoor uses or nonmedical boarding permitted in BP zone) ... Permitted use in the zone only when there is no outdoor storage and the gross area of the use does not exceed two thousand five hundred square feet. If the gross area of the use is larger than two thousand five hundred square feet, the use is subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit.

Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Folsom city rules.

Animal Ordinances in Sacramento County