Animal Ordinances in Gilroy, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Gilroy, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Gilroy bans chickens and livestock outside agricultural zones under Section 4.20, but its small animals ordinance carves out a residential exception: up to six chickens or similar small animals per property, with roosters over four months old always prohibited.
Gilroy Backyard Chicken & Livestock Limits
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 4.20, 4.23.2, 4.23.16
§ 4.20. Swine, bees, chickens, roosters, peafowl, ostriches and other “Ratitae,” and livestock prohibited except in agricultural zones. (a) It is unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or permit to be maintained bees, swine, llamas, roosters, chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pea fowl, water fowl, ostriches and other “Ratitae,” or live-stock on any premises within the city that have not been zoned...
Dog Leash Laws
Under Section 4.26 of the Gilroy City Code, dogs must stay confined to the owner's property, and any dog on a public street must be on a leash strong enough to restrain at least four times the dog's weight, with narrow exceptions for assistance and working dogs.
Gilroy Dog Restraint & Leash Requirement
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 4.26
§ 4.26. Dogs; restraint required; exceptions. (a) An owner or person with custody over or the right to the control of any dog or dogs shall keep such dog or dogs confined to said person’s own premises within such enclosures as may be reasonably appropriate to restrain the dog from running at large. No dog shall be allowed to walk the public streets without being restrained by means of a leash c...
Breed Restrictions
Gilroy singles out pit bull breeds for mandatory spaying and neutering under Article VII of the City Code, adopted under state authority (SB 861), unless the owner holds a breeding permit, the dog is a certified show dog, or another listed exception applies.
Gilroy Mandatory Pit Bull Spay/Neuter Law
Significant RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 4.66, 4.68, 4.69
§ 4.68. Mandatory spaying and neutering of pit bulls – Exceptions. No person may own, keep, or harbor any dog within the city that the person in possession knew, or should have known, was a pit bull that has not been spayed or neutered unless: (1) The pit bull is under eight (8) weeks of age. ... ... § 4.69. Penalties. Violation of section 4.68 may result in the following penalties: (1) A first...
Beekeeping
In the City of Gilroy, keeping bees is unlawful on any property that is not zoned for agricultural use. Section 4.20 lists bees alongside swine and livestock as flatly prohibited citywide except on agriculturally zoned land.
Gilroy Bans Bees Outside Agricultural Zones
Heavy RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 4.20
§ 4.20. Swine, bees, chickens, roosters, peafowl, ostriches and other “Ratitae,” and livestock prohibited except in agricultural zones. (a) It is unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or permit to be maintained bees, swine, llamas, roosters, chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pea fowl, water fowl, ostriches and other “Ratitae,” or live-stock on any premises within the city that have not been zoned...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Gilroy, keeping an elephant, bear, lion, tiger, wolf, wolf hybrid, monkey, venomous reptile or any other wild, exotic, dangerous or carnivorous animal requires an animal control permit from the administrator under Gilroy City Code § 4.45. The administrator can deny or revoke the permit if the animal endangers safety, creates a public nuisance, or would suffer neglect or cruelty, and may impose zoo-level caging conditions.
Gilroy Wild and Exotic Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 4.45
No person shall have, keep or maintain, or have in his possession or control, any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, wolf, wolf hybrid, monkey or any poisonous or venomous reptile of any kind, or any wild or exotic, dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile without first applying to and receiving from the administrator an animal control permit. ... No permit s...
Pet Limits
In the City of Gilroy, no household may keep more than five dogs, five cats, or any combination totaling five of both species over four months old without an animal control permit from the administrator. Only one unspayed female dog or cat is allowed per household. Exceeding the limit without a permit is enforced under Gilroy City Code Chapter 4, with permits available for private kennels, pet shops or shelters.
Gilroy Pet Limit: 5 Dogs or Cats
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 4.33
No person shall keep or maintain more than five (5) dogs over four (4) months of age, or more than five (5) cats over four (4) months of age, or any combination totaling five (5) dogs and cats, including no more than one (1) unspayed female dog or one (1) unspayed female cat, on any premise except a premise maintained by a veterinarian licensed by the state for the practice of veterinary medici...
Cat Rules
In the City of Gilroy, every cat over four months old must be vaccinated against rabies, and cats may not run at large on public streets, parks or private property without the owner's consent. At-large cats draw a fine under Gilroy City Code § 4.9, though the city waives it if the owner proves the cat is already sterilized or has it spayed or neutered within fifteen days of citation. Cat licensing was repealed citywide in 2015.
Gilroy Cat Vaccination and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 4.32, 4.36
Every owner of a cat over four (4) months of age shall cause such cat to be vaccinated with an antirabies vaccine approved by the State Department of Public Health. Revaccination shall be made at such intervals of time as may be prescribed by the State Department of Public Health. ... No owner or person with the control or custody of any ... cat shall allow the animal at large upon any public s...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
In the City of Gilroy, every pit bull must be spayed or neutered unless the owner qualifies for a narrow exception, such as a breeding permit, a veterinarian-certified health risk, or show-dog registration, under Gilroy City Code § 4.68. A first violation lets animal control impound the dog and fine the owner under § 4.9; a second violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Gilroy Mandatory Pit Bull Spay/Neuter
Heavy RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 4.68, 4.69
No person may own, keep, or harbor any dog within the city that the person in possession knew, or should have known, was a pit bull that has not been spayed or neutered unless: ... The pit bull is under eight (8) weeks of age. ... A first violation may result in the department impounding the pit bull and disposing of the pit bull in accordance with sections 4.30 and 4.50. A first violation shal...
Microchipping
Gilroy does not require microchips for every pet, but the City Code forces one on a dog after a second at-large nuisance finding, and again automatically once a dog is classified as a level 1, 2 or 3 dangerous dog, both within 20 days at the owner's expense.
Gilroy Mandatory Microchipping for Repeat Nuisance Dogs
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 4.11, 4.30
§ 4.11. Public nuisances. ... (4) Cause or permit a dog or a wild or exotic animal to run or wander at large on any public property or privately owned or occupied premises without the consent of the owner or occupant. ... ... b. The owner/guardian or person with a right to control a dog that has been determined to be a nuisance a second time must have a microchip inserted into the dog by a lice...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Gilroy, anyone who operates a pet grooming parlor, defined in Gilroy City Code § 4.1 as any commercial place where animals are trimmed, bathed or groomed, must first obtain an animal control permit under § 4.37. The administrator, the police chief or an assigned animal control officer, sets application and annual permit fees by council resolution and can inspect the facility at any reasonable time to confirm compliance with chapter standards.
Gilroy Pet Grooming Parlor Permit
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 4.1, 4.37
“Grooming parlor” means any commercial place where animals are trimmed, bathed or groomed. ... No person shall conduct, operate or keep any pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, pet grooming parlor, animal menagerie, animal shelter or horse establishment, nor shall any person keep a wild or exotic animal, without first obtaining an animal control permit in strict accordance with the stan...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
The City of Gilroy's residential use table at City Code § 30.11.10(c) principally permits a 'Veterinary Hospital' by right only in the A1 Agriculture and RR Rural Residential districts. The use isn't listed in the R1, R2, R3, R4 or RH residential districts, and Neighborhood District (ND) parcels instead follow their adopted specific plan.
Veterinary Hospitals Zoning Rules in Gilroy
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 30.11.10(c)
A1 RR R1 R2 R3 R4 RH ND ... Veterinary Hospital X X * ... Notes: ... X = Principally permitted (see Article L for related planning application requirements).
Bird Protection
In the City of Gilroy, injuring, molesting, chasing, killing, capturing or shooting at any animal, bird, fish or reptile in a city park is a misdemeanor under Gilroy City Code Section 18.2. The ban covers nests, eggs and burrows too, with a narrow exception letting known poisonous reptiles such as rattlesnakes be killed on sight.
Gilroy Park Wildlife Protection Rule
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 18.2
No person shall: ... (a) Injure, mark, deface, remove or tamper with any structure, sign, pavement, equipment or other facility or improvement in a park. (b) Injure, molest, chase, kill, capture, propel missiles at or offer a noxious substance to any animal, bird, fish or reptile, nor injure, remove or tamper with its eggs, nest or burrow, in a park, except that known poisonous reptiles such as...
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