Animal Ordinances in Hanford, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Hanford, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Hanford allows up to three chickens per residential lot in the R-L-12, R-L-8, R-L-5, and single-family R-M zones, but bans roosters citywide under Municipal Code § 6.10.020. Chickens must stay in a coop and run set back from property lines and neighboring buildings, and cannot be kept in front or side yards or slaughtered on R-L-zoned lots.
Hanford Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.10.020
A. It is unlawful to keep, possess, or maintain chickens on any parcel of property located in the city, except in accordance with the following restrictions: 1. A maximum of three chickens may be kept on a residential lot zoned R-L-12, R-L-8, or R-L-5. 2. A maximum of three chickens may be kept on a residential lot zoned R-M that is occupied by one, and no more than one, single-family dwelling....
Dog Leash Laws
Hanford, California requires every dog to be kept under restraint at all times; an unrestrained dog is legally running at large unless it fits one of five narrow exceptions.
Hanford Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.08.020.D
All dogs shall be kept under restraint at all times. All unrestrained dogs will be considered running at large, except: 1. Assistance dogs while performing their duties; 2. Dogs participating in field or obedience trials or exhibitions; 3. Dogs assisting a security or police officer engaged in law enforcement activities; 4. Dogs being trained on private land with permission of the l...
Breed Restrictions
Hanford does not ban dogs by breed: California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 bars breed-specific ordinances, so Municipal Code § 6.16.010 targets behavior instead, declaring any animal that has attacked, bitten, or injured a person or another animal 'dangerous/vicious' regardless of breed. A declared animal is impounded, and the owner gets a hearing before the city orders euthanasia, retraining probation, or return.
Hanford Dangerous/Vicious Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code §§ 6.16.010, 6.16.020
It is unlawful for a person to keep a dangerous/vicious animal as the term is defined in Section 6.16.020. Any animal which has been found to be dangerous/vicious pursuant to the ordinance code of the city, or of this county, or any other county or city pursuant to any state statute, shall be conclusively presumed to be dangerous/vicious. ... "Dangerous/vicious animal" means an animal determine...
Beekeeping
Hanford, California bans keeping any swarm or colony of bees anywhere in the city unless the property is zoned for agricultural use, with no residential-yard exception.
Hanford Beekeeping Zoning Restriction
Heavy RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.08.070
It shall be unlawful for any individual or entity to bring, have, keep, or maintain, within the city, at any time, any swarm or swarms, colony or colonies of bees, llamas, roosters, pigeons, turkeys, peafowl, waterfowl, ostriches and other ratitae birds, or livestock on any premises within the city that have not been zoned for agricultural use; provided however, the keeping of livestock shall b...
Exotic Pets
Hanford, California bans keeping any wild, exotic, or vicious animal as a pet or for display, with narrow carve-outs only for licensed zoos, circuses, and commercial animal establishments.
Hanford Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.08.020.I, J
No person shall keep or permit to be kept on their premises any wild, exotic, or vicious animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not be construed so as to apply to a zoological garden, commercial animal establishment, theatrical exhibit or circus as defined in Section 6.04.010, except that no theatrical exhibit or act shall be held in...
Wildlife Feeding
Hanford, California prohibits feeding ducks and pigeons on private or public property citywide, and bans placing habitat meant to attract them, except at designated city park water features.
Hanford Ban on Feeding Ducks, Pigeons
Significant RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.08.051
Ducks and pigeons are considered migratory animals and shall not, except as otherwise allowed by this municipal code, be fed on private or public property. No habitat designed to attract ducks and/or pigeons onto private or public property are to be placed on private or public property in any zone in the city, without a permit for the erection of the habitat. Ducks may be fed at city parks that...
Pet Limits
Exceeding Hanford's household pet limits requires a discretionary multi-pet permit, with the animal control officer weighing housing, sanitation, and noise before approval.
Multi-Pet Permit Rules in Hanford, CA
Significant RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.28.030
It is unlawful for any person(s) or entity that is not a commercial animal establishment, non-profit animal establishment, or veterinary hospital, to own, maintain, or harbor on a single property within the city more than the maximum number of animals identified in Section 6.12.010 of this code without first obtaining a multi-pet permit from the animal control officer or city designee. The issu...
Cat Rules
Hanford bans letting a cat run free unless it is spayed/neutered, rabies-vaccinated, and ear-tipped or licensed; feral-cat feeders must first join a recognized TNR program.
Hanford Cat At-Large & Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.24.150
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any cat to permit such cat to run free outside the residence of its owner or keeper unless such cat has been: A. Neutered or spayed to prevent procreating; B. Immunized against rabies; C. Appropriately tipped on the ear to signify that the cat has been altered and immunized. In lieu of ear tipping the cat owner may license the cat per Section 6.12....
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Hanford requires its animal shelter to spay or neuter every dog and cat it sells, gives away, or releases, following state Food and Agricultural Code standards.
Shelter Animal Spay/Neuter Rule in Hanford, CA
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.12.160(B)
Except as otherwise provided herein, any dog or cat sold, given away or released by the animal shelter or city designee shall be spayed or neutered in accordance with Food and Agricultural Code Section 30503, as may be amended. Male and female animals shall be at least two months of age and have a weight of at least two pounds. An extension of time to perform surgery may be granted by the anima...
Microchipping
Hanford's animal shelter must microchip every dog and cat it impounds that isn't already chipped, billing the implant cost to the owner as part of the impound fee.
Shelter Animal Microchipping in Hanford, CA
Some RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.12.160(A)
Animal services shall implant each dog and cat impounded at the animal shelter, not previously microchipped, with a microchip identification device. The owner of such dog or cat shall be obligated to pay for the cost associated with the implantation of the microchip identification device as part of the impound fee. It shall be the owner's responsibility to have correct and current information r...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Hanford requires veterinary hospitals and commercial animal establishments to hold both a business license and a special use permit before operating, plus ongoing facility standards.
Hanford Veterinary Hospital Permits
Significant RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 6.28.010
It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to erect, establish or maintain any commercial animal establishment, non-profit animal establishment, or veterinary hospital, without first obtaining from the city: (1) a business license; and (2) a special use permit, if applicable. The requirement to obtain a business license shall be in addition to any breeder or other permits ...
Bird Protection
Hanford bans molesting, trapping, poisoning, or killing any wild or domestic bird, or taking eggs or nests, within the city's parks and recreational facilities.
Hanford Park Bird Protection
Heavy RestrictionsHanford Municipal Code § 12.24.110(F)(1)
No member of the public, shall or attempt to molest, hunt, disturb, injure, trap, take, net, poison, harm, tease or kill any kind of wild or domestic animal, bird, or reptile, or their eggs or nests, or fish. 2. No member of the public shall release or abandon any animal, amphibian, bird, or reptile, dead or alive, within a city park. G. Climbing. It is unlawful for the public to climb an...
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