Animal Ordinances in Fresno, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Fresno, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Fresno lets residential parcels larger than 36,000 square feet keep horses, cows, goats, sheep, and other large animals. The Development Code caps large animals at two per acre, poultry at 12 per gross acre, bars pigs outright, and requires 40-foot setbacks from property lines and 50 feet from neighboring homes for any animal enclosure.
Fresno Livestock Rules on Large Residential Lots
Some RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 15-2707(C)(1), (C)(4)
The keeping of horses, cows, goats, sheep or other equine, bovine, ovine or ruminant animals is permitted, as are those identified in Subsection B above. ... Large Animals. Up to two animals per acre; however their immature off-spring less than one year of age is also permitted. Pigs are not permitted. ... Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, Game Birds, or Fowl. Total number shall not exceed 12 bi...
Dog Leash Laws
Fresno Municipal Code Section 10-308 bars any animal except a cat from being at large anywhere in the city, and Section 10-301(b) defines that as roaming a public street, alley or unenclosed lot without a leash strong enough to keep it under control. Owners face an infraction citation the first time a loose dog is caught, with steeper consequences for repeat cases.
Fresno Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code §§ 10-308(a), 10-301(b)
No person owning, or having possession, charge, custody or control of, any animal, except a cat, shall cause, permit, or allow, such animal to be at large. ... The term "at large" shall mean an animal in or upon any public street, public alley or other public place or in or upon an unenclosed lot or premises, unless the animal is securely confined to the lot or premises by a suitably strong lea...
Breed Restrictions
Fresno does not impose breed-specific dog bans. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 preempts breed-specific dog regulation statewide, providing that 'no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed,' except spay/neuter ordinances authorized by Health and Safety Code Section 122331.
No breed-specific dog bans; state law preempts breed rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 (Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 668, Sec. 1)
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
Fresno's Development Code bars bee keeping entirely in residential districts, regardless of lot size: both the Household Pets rules for lots up to 36,000 square feet and the Large Animal rules for bigger residential lots say 'Not permitted.' Hives are allowed only in Buffer Districts, capped at one hive per two acres.
Fresno Bans Bee Keeping in Residential Districts
Heavy RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 15-2707(B)(2)(b), (C)(3), (D)(3)
Bee Keeping. Not permitted. ... Bee Keeping. Not permitted. ... Bee Keeping. Limited to Apis Mellifera and a maximum ratio of one hive per two acres. A fresh water source must be provided within 20 feet of all hives and a sustaining food source must be provided on the property. Each hive must be located at least 50 feet from property lines. Beehives shall be properly maintained according to api...
Wildlife Feeding
California Fish and Game Code §251.3 prohibits feeding big game, furbearing mammals, and non-game mammals statewide. FMC §9-2810 also prohibits feeding of feral cats, pigeons, rodents, and wildlife where it creates a public nuisance. Bird feeders for songbirds are allowed unless they attract rats or create sanitation issues.
Wildlife Feeding Rules in Fresno
Light RestrictionsCalifornia 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
Under Fresno Municipal Code section 15-2707, residential properties smaller than 36,000 square feet may keep no more than 4 animals (any combination of dogs and cats over 4 months old); properties larger than 36,000 square feet may keep no more than 6.
Max 4 dogs/cats (6 on lots over 36,000 sq ft)
Light RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code 15-2707; 10-303; 10-305; 10-328, as quoted in City of Fresno Office of the City Attorney memorandum 'Barking Dogs and Household Pet Regulations' (Dec. 7, 2022)
All dogs over the age of 4 months must be licensed and vaccinated. FMC 10-303, 305. Violations are an infraction. All dogs over the age of 5 months must be spayed or neutered, unless the owner has a breeding license. (FMC 10-328). There are additional regulations concerning keeping and transfer of dogs that are bred. For all residential properties less than 36,000 square feet, no more than 4 an...
Cat Rules
Unlike dogs, cats in Fresno are explicitly carved out of the City's 'at large' enforcement scheme. Municipal Code Section 10-308(a) makes it unlawful for an owner to let 'any animal, except a cat' roam loose, meaning the poundmaster does not cite, impound, or pursue habitual-at-large hearings against free-roaming cats the way it does for dogs.
Fresno Exempts Cats From At-Large Enforcement
Light RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 10-308(a), (d)
(a) No person owning, or having possession, charge, custody or control of, any animal, except a cat, shall cause, permit, or allow, such animal to be at large. ... (d) The Council finds that permitting an animal, other than a cat, to be at large or maintaining one's property in a condition that permits an animal, other than a cat, to become at large is a public nuisance because of the potential...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Fresno doesn't require spaying or neutering on day one, but its 'Pet Responsibility Act' (Municipal Code Section 10-329) makes it mandatory for repeat offenders: an owner whose dog is caught at large a third time faces an order to spay or neuter every dog they own within 60 days, on top of escalating fines.
Fresno's Pet Responsibility Act Forces Spay/Neuter
Significant RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 10-329(d)
(d) Enforcement. This Section shall be enforced as follows: (1) Upon a first violation of Section 10-308(a), the owner shall be issued a written warning prior to the issuance of a citation or initiation of further enforcement action. (2) Upon a second violation of Section 10-308(a) an owner shall be issued an administrative citation with a penalty in the amount of $100.00; (3) Upon a third or s...
Microchipping
Fresno's Pet Responsibility Act, Section 10-329, escalates penalties every time the same dog is caught at large: a warning first, a $100 citation second, a $200 citation third, and on that third citation the poundmaster can also order the owner to spay or neuter the dog, implant a microchip, or both.
Fresno Pet Responsibility Act Microchip Order
Significant RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 10-329(d)(1)-(4) (Pet Responsibility Act)
(d) Enforcement. This Section shall be enforced as follows: (1) Upon a first violation of Section 10-308(a), the owner shall be issued a written warning prior to the issuance of a citation or initiation of further enforcement action. (2) Upon a second violation of Section 10-308(a) an owner shall be issued an administrative citation with a penalty in the amount of $100.00; (3) Upon a third or s...
Pet Store Rules
California AB 485 requires Fresno pet stores selling dogs, cats, or rabbits to source only from public shelters or rescue organizations. Retail sale of breeder-supplied puppies, kittens, or rabbits is banned statewide, with local enforcement supporting state inspections and sourcing audits.
Pet Store Sourcing Rules
Heavy 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 ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Fresno's Development Code classifies dog-bathing salons, pet-grooming shops, and pet stores as "Grooming and Pet Stores" and permits the use by right in four of six commercial districts, CMS, CC, CR, and CG, under Table 15-1202. The CH and CRC districts allow none at all, and every location must supply one parking space per 500 square feet of floor area.
Fresno Zoning Rules for Pet Groomers
Some RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 15-6704 (Commercial Use Classifications)
Grooming and Pet Stores. Retail sales of animals and/or services, including grooming, for animals on a commercial basis. Grooming or selling of dogs, cats, and similar small animals. Typical uses include dog bathing and clipping salons, pet grooming shops, and pet stores and shops. This classification excludes dog walking and similar pet care services not carried out at a fixed location, and ex...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Fresno confines by-right veterinary clinics to just two of its six commercial districts, CC and CR, under Development Code Table 15-1202; the CMS, CG, CH, and CRC columns permit none at all. In Employment districts a clinic needs a Conditional Use Permit in the Office (O) zone but is permitted outright in BP, RBP, IL, and IH, with parking set at one space per 350 square feet.
Fresno Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 15-6704 (Commercial Use Classifications)
Veterinary Services. Veterinary services for household pets. This classification allows 24-hour accommodation of animals receiving medical services, but does not include kennels (see Kennels) nor veterinary care for farm animals (see Agricultural Support Services).
Looking for Fresno County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fresno city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Fresno County →