Animal Ordinances in Gardena, CA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Gardena, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Gardena allows keeping of adult fowl, including doves and pigeons, alongside dogs and cats, but the birds must be caged in the rear yard well away from neighbors and other buildings. Community Development enforces the setback and public-nuisance standards under the zoning code.
Gardena Backyard Fowl Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.42.020(B), (E), (F)
B. Types. It is unlawful to keep any animal within the city other than domesticated dogs, cats and adult fowl, including doves and pigeons. ... ... E. Enclosures. All adult fowl permitted shall be kept in an enclosure in the rear yard, and at least five feet from the rear and side property lines, and at least twenty-five feet from any school, church, public building, hospital, group care facili...
Dog Leash Laws
Gardena adopts LA County's leash law: an owner who lets a dog run uncontrolled or at large on public property, someone else's property, or shared private areas commits an infraction, upgraded to a misdemeanor if the dog injures a person, another animal, or livestock.
Gardena Dog At-Large / Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 6.02.010, adopting L.A. County Code § 10.37.180
10.37.180 Infraction/misdemeanor penalty for dog bites. An owner or custodian of a dog who allows a dog to be uncontrolled or at large on public property, on the private property of another person, or on common areas of private property is guilty of an infraction, or a misdemeanor if the dog injures a person or a domestic animal or livestock.
Breed Restrictions
Gardena has no breed-specific dog ban; instead it adopts the LA County process for potentially dangerous or vicious dog determinations. A dog owner who violates hearing-imposed conditions under Section 10.37.150 faces a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail.
Gardena Dangerous Dog Hearing Process
Significant RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 6.02.010, adopting L.A. County Code § 10.37.150
10.37.150 Compliance with Conditions and Consequences of Violation of Conditions. A. The hearing officer or judicial officer who heard the petition to determine if a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious may schedule follow-up hearing dates to ensure compliance with all conditions imposed. B. Consequences that may result from the failure of an owner or custodian of a dog released after a hear...
Exotic Pets
Gardena adopts the LA County animal code, which bars keeping a wild animal or running an animal facility without a county license and makes unlicensed possession a misdemeanor. Only birds, common pet rodents, fish, small non-venomous reptiles, and rabbits are exempt from the license requirement.
Gardena Wild Animal License Rule
Significant RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 6.02.010, adopting L.A. County Code § 10.28.060
Subject to the additions, amendments and deletions set forth in this chapter, the rules, regulations, provisions and conditions set forth in Title 10, "Animals," of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended through Ordinance 2016-0040 passed on October 6, 2016, are hereby established as the rules, regulations and provisions of and for the city relating to animal control. ... 10.28.060 License-Req...
Wildlife Feeding
Gardena Municipal Code Section 6.02.010 adopts Los Angeles County Code Section 10.84.010, making it unlawful within the City of Gardena to feed nondomesticated rodents such as ground squirrels or mammalian predators including coyotes, raccoons, foxes and opossums, with narrow exceptions for a licensed animal owner or someone feeding a trapped or injured animal awaiting agency pickup.
Gardena Ban on Feeding Coyotes and Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 6.02.010 (adopting L.A. County Code § 10.84.010)
D. For purposes of application of Title 10, all references to "county," "county of Los Angeles," or "county unincorporated area" shall mean the "city of Gardena." ... 10.84.010 Providing Food for Certain Rodents or Predator Animals Prohibited. A. It is unlawful to feed a nondomesticated rodent or nondomesticated mammalian predator as defined in this section, unless: 1. The person is the owner o...
Pet Limits
Gardena caps household pets at three weaned dogs, three weaned cats, or three adult fowl, or any combination of three, per lot in every zone. Anything above that, or a species not listed, needs a conditional use permit approved through Community Development.
Gardena Household Pet Limit: Three Animals
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.42.020(C)
C. Number Permitted. A maximum of three weaned dogs, or three weaned cats, or three adult fowl, or any three combination thereof shall be permitted on any one lot or parcel in any zone. D. Conditional Use Permits Required. The keeping of any animal not mentioned in subsection B of this section and/or animals in excess of the limits set forth in subsection C of this section may be permitted subj...
Cat Rules
Gardena Municipal Code Section 6.02.040 overrides the Los Angeles County Code's general licensing scheme to declare that no cat kept within the City of Gardena is required to hold a license, making cat registration strictly voluntary while dog licensing and other Title 10 animal control rules still apply in full.
Gardena Cat Licensing Is Voluntary
Few RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 6.02.040
§ 6.02.040. Cats – No license required. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 10 of the Los Angeles County Code, there is no requirement to license a cat in the City of Gardena. The licensing of cats is strictly voluntary.
Microchipping
Gardena Municipal Code Section 6.02.010 adopts Los Angeles County's Title 10 animal control rules citywide, and under the breeding-license standard in Section 10.40.200(D)(1) every dog kept at a licensed animal facility in the City of Gardena must be microchipped or tattooed by four months of age or before sale, whichever comes first, with permanent microchip and tattoo records kept on site.
Gardena Dog Microchip and Tattoo Rule
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 6.02.010 (adopting L.A. County Code § 10.40.200(D)(1))
Subject to the additions, amendments and deletions set forth in this chapter, the rules, regulations, provisions and conditions set forth in Title 10, "Animals," of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended through Ordinance 2016-0040 passed on October 6, 2016, are hereby established as the rules, regulations and provisions of and for the city relating to animal control. ... For purposes of appli...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Gardena, veterinary clinics and hospitals are a permitted by-right use in the C-3 General Commercial zone under Gardena Municipal Code Section 18.32.020(B)(17), grouped alongside pet shops, medical and dental offices, and similar retail-service businesses. No conditional use permit is required, though the use must be conducted within an enclosed building and cannot be objectionable due to noise, odor, dust, smoke or vibration.
Gardena Vet Clinics Permitted By Right in C-3
Few RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.32.020(B)(17)
B. Stores, businesses, or commercial activities not involving any kind of manufacture, processing, or treatment of products other than that which is clearly incidental and essential to a retail business conducted on the premises and that such operations are not objectionable due to noise, odor, dust, smoke, vibration, or other similar causes. Permitted uses shall include: 1 ... ... 7. Veterinar...
Bird Protection
Gardena Municipal Code Chapter 6.20 restricts where pigeons may be kept within the City of Gardena: only pedigreed homing, high-flying or air-performing pigeons are allowed in Zones R-1 through R-4, and any pigeon house or dove cote must sit at least twenty-five feet from a dwelling and be cleaned at least three times a week.
Gardena Pigeon-Keeping Zone Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code §§ 6.20.010, 6.20.020
No person shall keep any kind of pigeon within the city, other than pedigreed homing, high-flying, or air-performing pigeons, in Zones R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4, as established by the zoning laws of the city. ... No person shall erect or maintain any pigeon house or dove cote or other structure or place where pigeons or doves are kept or keep any pigeons or doves within twenty-five feet of any dwel...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gardena city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Los Angeles County →