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 Zoning Code Section 18.42.020 allows only domesticated dogs, cats, and adult fowl (including doves and pigeons) to be kept, with a hard cap of three total animals per lot. Roosters and other noise-making fowl are barred by the nuisance chapter, and enclosures must meet setbacks.
Gardena Chickens and Backyard Fowl Rules
Heavy RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Gardena adopts Los Angeles County Code Title 10 by reference through Municipal Code Chapter 6.02, so the County leash law applies citywide. Dogs may not run at large, and off the owner's property must be on a substantial leash no longer than six feet controlled by a competent person.
Gardena Dog Leash and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Gardena has no breed-specific ban. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 preempts cities from declaring any dog dangerous or vicious based solely on breed, so pit bulls and similar breeds are legal. Gardena regulates dogs by behavior under LA County Title 10 as adopted.
Gardena Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Gardena Zoning Code Section 18.42.020 permits only dogs, cats, and adult fowl on residential lots, so keeping bees is not among the listed uses and would require a conditional use permit. Any apiary allowed must also register annually with the LA County Agricultural Commissioner.
Gardena Beekeeping and Apiary Rules
Heavy RestrictionsExotic Pets
Gardena Zoning Code Section 18.42.020 allows only dogs, cats, and adult fowl, so exotic or wild animals are not permitted without a conditional use permit. LA County Code Title 10, adopted by Gardena, also requires a license to keep any wild animal and bars species restricted under state law.
Gardena Exotic and Wild Pet Rules
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Through adopting LA County Code Title 10, Gardena prohibits feeding nondomesticated predators such as coyotes, raccoons, foxes, and opossums, and certain wild rodents. LA County Code Section 10.84.010 makes providing food for these animals a misdemeanor, with narrow exceptions.
Gardena Wildlife and Predator Feeding Ban
Some RestrictionsLivestock
Gardena Zoning Code Section 18.42.020 permits only dogs, cats, and adult fowl to be kept, so horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and other livestock are effectively prohibited in this dense urban city. Any such animal would require a conditional use permit under Chapter 18.46.
Gardena Livestock and Large Animal Rules
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Gardena has no ordinance using the word hoarding, but its three-animal-per-lot cap in Section 18.42.020, the adopted LA County Title 10 care standards, and California Penal Code 597 animal cruelty law together address overcrowding and neglect of animals in the city.
Gardena Animal Hoarding and Overcrowding Rules
Some RestrictionsPet Limits
Gardena Zoning Code Section 18.42.020 caps the total number of dogs, cats, and adult fowl at three per lot in any combination. Exceeding three requires a conditional use permit. Adopted LA County Title 10 sets separate animal-facility license thresholds of three dogs and five cats.
Gardena Pet Limits Per Household
Heavy RestrictionsCat Rules
Cat licensing is strictly voluntary in Gardena under Municipal Code Chapter 6.02; there is no requirement to license a cat. Cats count toward the three-animal-per-lot cap in Section 18.42.020, and owners must not let cats become a nuisance under adopted LA County Title 10.
Gardena Cat Rules and Licensing
Few RestrictionsLooking 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 →