Animal Ordinances in Huntington Beach, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Huntington Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Huntington Beach caps backyard fowl at six total chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons or squabs combined, with no more than one goose, duck or turkey among them, under Municipal Code Section 7.12.130. Newborn chicks under eight weeks don't count toward the six-bird cap, but a household may never keep more than 24 of them at once.
Huntington Beach Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.130 (Fowl—Number Permitted)
No person or household shall maintain in or upon any public or private property in the City more than one goose, duck, or turkey; and no more than six in all of chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs or similar domestic fowl; except newborn chicks under eight weeks of age. However, not more than 24 newborn chicks may be maintained.
Dog Leash Laws
Huntington Beach requires dogs in city parks to be physically restrained by a leash no longer than six feet under Municipal Code Section 13.48.070. The same six-foot limit lets dogs onto one stretch of city beach north of 22nd Street; everywhere else on the Beach and Pier dogs are barred outright under Section 13.08.070, and park rangers can order removal of a noisy or unruly dog.
Huntington Beach Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 13.48.070 (Animals)
No person shall ride, lead or let loose any cattle, horse, mule, goat, sheep, swine, cat, dog, fowl or animal of any kind in a park except that it shall not be unlawful to have dogs, physically restrained by a leash not in excess of six feet, or to ride horses on trails specifically provided for them. No person shall permit a dog to be or remain unattended outside a tent, camper or other enclos...
Breed Restrictions
Huntington Beach does not impose breed-specific bans. California state law (Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683) prohibits breed-specific legislation by municipalities.
Huntington Beach Dog Breed Restrictions
Some RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 - Local control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs; no breed-specific programs
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
Huntington Beach bans keeping hive bees within 200 feet of any dwelling house, effectively outlawing backyard beekeeping on most residential lots. Only bees kept for educational study or medical/scientific research, and not allowed to fly free, are exempt.
Huntington Beach Beekeeping Distance Rule
Significant RestrictionsHuntington Beach Municipal Code § 7.12.010
No person shall keep or maintain, or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained, upon premises owned or controlled by him or her in the City, any hive bees within 200 feet of any dwelling house of the owner or person in control of such bees. This section shall not apply to the keeping of bees within an educational institution for study or observation, or within a physician's office or laboratory...
Exotic Pets
California has strict exotic animal laws enforced by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many species are prohibited as pets, and permits are required for others.
Huntington Beach Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Code Regs. tit. 14, § 671 (Restricted Species) - California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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 a...
Wildlife Feeding
Huntington Beach bars feeding, disturbing or touching wildlife anywhere on city property, including parks, ponds and trails, unless the Director of Community Services has given written authorization. Municipal Code § 13.48.075, added in 2015, backs the ban with the Chapter 13.48 misdemeanor penalty: up to a $500 fine or three months in jail. Park rangers with limited peace-officer status enforce it directly.
Huntington Beach Wildlife Feeding Ban in Parks
Significant RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 13.48.075 (Feeding Wildlife on City Property Prohibited)
Unless specifically authorized by the Director of Community Services in writing, no person shall feed, disturb or have physical contact with wildlife on City property.
Pet Limits
Huntington Beach treats any property with four or more dogs, or four or more cats, over four months old as a "kennel" under Municipal Code Section 7.12.150, capping ordinary households at three of each species. A single-family home can keep a fourth dog only with a City residential animal permit, and only if one of the four is a certified guide, signal or service dog.
Huntington Beach Household Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.150 (Kennels)
"Kennel" means any property where four or more dogs, or four or more cats, over the age of four months, are kept or maintained for any purpose, except veterinary clinics and hospitals. For purposes of this section, a detached single-family residence with a maximum of four dogs shall not be considered a kennel when at least one of the dogs is a specially-trained guide dog, signal dog or service ...
Cat Rules
Huntington Beach folds cats into its general livestock at-large ban: Municipal Code Section 7.12.020(A) makes it unlawful for anyone owning or controlling a cat, along with cattle, horses, sheep, goats and wild-species animals, to let it run at large, be staked or pastured in a street or public place, or trespass onto someone else's property without consent. The same section requires food, water and shelter for a restrained cat.
Huntington Beach Cat At-Large Rule
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.020(A) (Running at Large Prohibited)
No person owning or having control of any ox, steer, bull, cow, horse, colt, calf, sheep, goat, cat or any animal of a species commonly referred to as wild shall: 1. Permit such animal to run at large in the City; 2. Cause or permit any such animal to be pastured, herded, staked or tied in any street, lane, alley, park, or other public place; 3. Tie, stake, pasture or permit the tying, staking ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Huntington Beach's mandatory spay-or-neuter rule is narrow: it applies only to miniature pot-bellied pigs kept under a residential animal permit, not to dogs or cats generally. Municipal Code Section 7.12.160(A)(2) requires every permitted pot-bellied pig to be spayed or neutered, and Section 7.12.160(A)(3) makes the owner present proof of sterilization before the City will issue the permit.
Huntington Beach Pot-Bellied Pig Spay Rule
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.160(A) (Residential Animal Permit)
A miniature pot-bellied pig kept pursuant to a residential animal permit shall comply with the following provisions: 1. A "miniature pot-bellied pig" shall mean any pig weighing not more than 125 pounds that is continuously registered with a nationally-recognized miniature pig association. 2. All miniature pot-bellied pigs shall be spayed or neutered. 3. Proof of sterilization shall be presente...
Pet Store Rules
Since Ordinance No. 3941 took effect July 18, 2012, Huntington Beach bars any commercial establishment from displaying, selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering or auctioning dogs or cats unless the animals came from a shelter, humane society or rescue organization. Municipal Code Section 7.12.180 makes pet stores adoption-only for dogs and cats, with a narrow carve-out for a donated local cat.
Huntington Beach Retail Pet Sale Ban
Significant RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.180 (Prohibition on Retail Sale of Dogs and Cats)
No commercial establishment shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, or auction dogs or cats, except dogs and/or cats obtained from a shelter, or humane society or rescue organization. Cats obtained by donation from a local resident for no charge may also be displayed, sold, and offered for sale or adoption. The pet shop owner shall notify in writing the Orange County Animal Servic...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A stand-alone veterinary office in Huntington Beach is a permitted 'Offices, Business and Professional' use by right in the CO, CG and CV commercial districts. A full-service 'Animal Hospital' offering surgery and boarding is treated differently: Section 211.04 allows it only in the CG General Commercial District, and only with a conditional use permit from the Zoning Administrator.
Huntington Beach Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance § 204.10 (Animal Hospitals; Offices, Business and Professional); § 211.04 (CO, CG, CV Districts Land Use Controls)
Animal Hospitals. Establishments where small animals receive medical and surgical treatment. This classification includes only facilities that are entirely enclosed, soundproofed, and air-conditioned. Grooming and temporary (maximum 30 days) boarding of animals are included, if incidental to the hospital use. ... Offices, Business and Professional. Offices of firms or organizations providing pr...
Bird Protection
Huntington Beach makes it unlawful to intentionally kill or maim any bird within city limits under Municipal Code Section 7.12.035, a flat ban covering wild and domestic birds alike. The prohibition excludes veterinarians, actions to prevent immediate injury to a person or pet, government wildlife officials, and takes licensed under the state Fish and Game Code.
Huntington Beach Bird Protection Law
Heavy RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.035 (Killing or Maiming of Birds)
No person shall intentionally kill or maim a bird within the City of Huntington Beach. This section shall not apply to the following: A. A veterinarian while engaged in practicing veterinary medicine. B. Any person acting to prevent immediate death or injury to a person or domestic animal. C. An official of a state, federal or local agency who, by virtue of this office, has authority to destroy...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Huntington Beach city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Orange County →