Animal Ordinances in Glendale, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Glendale, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Glendale caps most households at 12 rabbits, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons or pheasants combined within 300 feet of another home under § 6.04.050, while roosters are barred outright near dwellings and all kept fowl must live in a flyproof pen. Distance rules under § 6.04.030 push smaller numbers of fowl at least 50 feet from any home.
Glendale Backyard Chicken & Fowl Rules
Some RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.04.030; § 6.04.050
No person shall keep any animal, wild or domestic, other than cats, dogs, canaries or birds of the psittacinae family, or a combined total of no more than two of any combination of rabbits, chickens (other than roosters), ducks or pigeons within 50 feet of any residence or dwelling house or other building used for the habitation of human beings, or within 150 feet of any school, hospital, or si...
Dog Leash Laws
Glendale Municipal Code Section 6.04.190 declares any dog or other non-cat animal running loose on a public street, alley, park or unenclosed lot a public nuisance. A dog escapes "at large" status only if held on a leash no longer than six feet by someone capable of controlling it, confined on private property, or secured inside a vehicle.
Glendale Leash and At-Large Dog Law
Some RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.04.190
No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having the care, charge, control or possession of any animal other than domesticated or feral cats shall permit or allow it, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, to be, remain, go or run at large upon any public street, alleyway, park or unenclosed lot or land in the city. ... An animal shall not be considered...
Breed Restrictions
California law, not a Glendale ordinance, sets the boundary here: Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 lets Glendale run its own potentially-dangerous-dog program but bars any program from singling out a specific breed. Glendale's own code separately defines and penalizes conduct-based "vicious dogs" at Section 6.08.045.
Glendale Dangerous Dog Breed Law
Significant RestrictionsCal. Food & Agricultural Code § 31683; Glendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.08.045
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
Glendale bans maintaining a beehive, nest or swarm that could endanger the public, but exempts registered professional beekeepers operating under the zoning code and bees kept for study or research that aren't allowed to fly free.
Glendale Beekeeping and Beehive Rules
Some RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 8.76.010(B) (Insect control measures—Beehive prohibition and professional beekeeper exemption)
It is unlawful for any person to maintain or permit a beehive, nest or swarm to exist that may pose a danger to the public health, safety and welfare. The prohibition regarding maintenance of beehives, nests or swarms shall not restrict the activities of a professional beekeeper if permitted under the city's zoning code. For purposes of this subsection, the term "professional beekeeper" shall m...
Exotic Pets
Glendale follows California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regulations on exotic and wild animals. Many exotic species are prohibited in California, including ferrets, hedgehogs, and certain reptiles. Permits are required for restricted species.
Glendale Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Significant RestrictionsCA Department of Fish and Wildlife — Restricted Species Permits (CCR Title 14, Section 671(c))
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) (PDF). Entitlements Fee Description Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment New: $155.53 Renewal and Amendment: $80.60 Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of an...
Wildlife Feeding
Glendale bars feeding coyotes, raccoons, foxes, opossums or any other nondomesticated mammalian predator anywhere in the city under § 6.04.140(A), and separately bans feeding pigeons or leaving pigeon-edible food on any public street, sidewalk or public building under § 6.04.150. Nobody may leave food outdoors for any animal between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Glendale Ban on Feeding Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.04.140(A), (C); § 6.04.150(A), (B)
No person shall feed or in any manner provide food for one or more nondomesticated mammalian predators, including, but not limited to, coyotes, raccoons, foxes and opossums. ... Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section or this code, no person shall leave or permit to be left out of doors food for any animal between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the next day. ... No person...
Pet Limits
Glendale Municipal Code Section 6.08.130 treats any home with more than two dogs or more than three cats as a "kennel" that needs a city permit, and Section 6.08.160 caps every kennel permit at four dogs or six domestic cats over four months old.
Glendale Household Pet and Kennel Limits
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code §§ 6.08.130, 6.08.160
"Cat kennel" means and includes any place where more than three domestic cats over four months of age are kept, housed, fed, harbored, lodged or maintained. ... "Dog kennel" means and includes any place where more than two dogs over four months of age are kept, housed, fed, harbored, lodged or maintained. ... No person shall keep in any noncommercial kennel more than the number of dogs or domes...
Cat Rules
Glendale runs a voluntary trap-neuter-return program for feral cats under Chapter 6.03, and anyone acting as a caregiver for a feral cat colony must register for free with the city's contracted humane society under § 6.03.030. A colony of four or more registered, caregiver-managed feral cats is exempt from the city's general keeping-of-animals limits.
Glendale Feral Cat Registration Rules
Some RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.03.020; § 6.03.030
A "feral cat" is an unsocialized, undomesticated, free roaming cat that has not been diagnosed with a communicable disease, as may be determined by an animal control officer or a veterinarian. ... All care givers of feral cats in the city of Glendale are required to be registered with the humane society which provides animal care services, under contract, to the city. The registration is free a...
Coyote Management
Glendale Municipal Code Section 6.04.140 bans feeding coyotes, raccoons, foxes and opossums anywhere in the city, and bars leaving any pet food outdoors between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Violations are cited by animal control officers as infractions under the city's general penalty schedule.
Glendale Coyote and Predator Feeding Ban
Some RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.04.140
No person shall feed or in any manner provide food for one or more nondomesticated mammalian predators, including, but not limited to, coyotes, raccoons, foxes and opossums. B. Exceptions. This section shall not apply in any of the following instances: 1. Where the person is the owner of such nondomesticated predator and such predator is kept under a valid certificate or permit issued by ...
Pet Store Rules
Glendale Municipal Code Section 6.10.020 bans pet stores from selling, displaying or giving away dogs and cats in the city, limiting stores to hosting adoptions run by shelters, humane societies or rescue groups instead of commercial breeders.
Glendale Retail Pet Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 6.10.020
No pet store shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of dogs or cats in the city of Glendale on or after the effective date of this chapter. C. Existing Pet Stores. A legally existing pet store may continue to display, offer for sale, offer for adoption, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer cats and dogs for a pe...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet grooming shops are a permitted commercial use in Glendale under Table 30.12-A of Municipal Code § 30.12.020, so a groomer can open in a qualifying commercial zone without a conditional use permit. Chapter 30.70's definition at § 30.70.170 draws a hard line for the use: pet grooming covers only grooming services and specifically excludes overnight boarding or veterinary services.
Glendale Pet Grooming Shop Zoning Rules
Light RestrictionsGlendale Municipal Code § 30.70.170
"Pet grooming" means establishments providing grooming services for domestic pets and does not include overnight boarding or veterinary services.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Glendale zones veterinary offices, including hospitalization services, as a permitted use in the city's commercial districts under Table 30.12-A of Municipal Code § 30.12.020, so a vet clinic does not need a conditional use permit to open in a zone that lists a P for the use. Chapter 30.70 defines the use as a state-licensed medical facility for household pets that may include overnight animal care.
Glendale Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Light RestrictionsGlendale Municipal Code § 30.70.230; § 30.70.120; Table 30.12-A (§ 30.12.020)
"Veterinary offices, including hospitalization services" means a medical facility licensed by the state department of public health for the treatment of household pets. The use may include the overnight care of animals. ... "Kennel, animal boarding and day care" means commercial or public facilities for the keeping, boarding or maintaining and care of four or more dogs, four months of age or ol...
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