Animal Ordinances in Long Beach, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Long Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Long Beach caps residential goat-keeping at exactly two goats per property under LBMC § 6.20.170, and every goat requires an Animal Care Services Bureau permit with a microchip. Section 6.20.180 mandates neutering all male goats, and goats must stay at least ten feet from any neighboring dwelling.
Long Beach Backyard Goat Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code §§ 6.20.150, 6.20.170, 6.20.180, 6.20.190
6.20.150.A.No person shall have, keep, maintain, or have in possession or under control, on residential property within the City, any live goat without first applying to and receiving from the Animal Care Services Bureau a permit to do so. / 6.20.170. Exactly (no more and no less than) two (2) live goats may be kept on residential property within the City, except that offspring may be kept on t...
Dog Leash Laws
LBMC § 6.16.100 requires a dog on any public street, sidewalk, park, or private property open to the public to be on a secure leash no more than six feet long, held continuously by a person capable of controlling it. Designated off-leash park areas carry their own eighteen-item rulebook.
Long Beach Dog Leash Requirement
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 6.16.100
A.No person responsible for a dog shall permit such dog to do any of the following, unless the dog is upon a secure leash not more than six feet (6') long held continuously in the hands of a responsible person capable of controlling the dog, or unless the dog is securely confined within an automobile:1.Be in or upon any public street, sidewalk, improvement, park or other public place, or privat...
Breed Restrictions
Long Beach regulates dangerous animals by behavior, not breed: LBMC § 6.16.250 defines a "vicious animal" as one that bites or attempts to bite without provocation. A Hearing Officer can declare an animal vicious after a public hearing, and the Director may order humane destruction ten days after written notice.
Long Beach Vicious Animal Declaration Process
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code §§ 6.16.250, 6.16.280, 6.16.290
A."Vicious animal" is any animal which bites or attempts to bite any human or animal without provocation, or which has a disposition or propensity to attack, bite or menace any human or animal without provocation and endangers the health and safety of any person.B.Any animal while on the premises of the person responsible for that animal which bites or attempts to bite a person or other animal ...
Beekeeping
Long Beach caps residential beekeeping at four hives per property under LBMC § 6.24.010 and requires County registration filed with the Director of the City's Animal Care Services Bureau. Hives can't sit in a front yard, must stay at least ten feet from every property line, and need a six-foot flight barrier or eight-foot elevation.
Long Beach Residential Beehive Rules
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 6.24.010
A.No more than four (4) beehives may be established or maintained on any residential property within the City.B.Any person intending to establish or maintain any beehive on any residential property within the City must first register with the County of Los Angeles and provide a copy of such registration to the Director of the Animal Care Services Bureau.C.No person shall establish or maintain a...
Exotic Pets
Exotic pets regulated by state and city. Ferrets and hedgehogs are ILLEGAL in California. CDFW permits required for regulated species. City prohibits dangerous animals.
Long Beach Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671 (Restricted Species)
Fees 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...
Wildlife Feeding
Long Beach prohibits feeding wildlife in public parks and beaches under LBMC Title 16. Feeding pigeons and other pest wildlife may constitute a nuisance violation under the city's nuisance code Chapter 9.37.
Long Beach Wildlife Feeding Restrictions
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Department of Fish & Wildlife — Keep Me Wild / Human-Wildlife Conflict Toolkit
California. Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limit...
Pet Limits
Long Beach caps household pets at four weaned animals per site under Municipal Code § 21.51.210, though the limit doesn't count fish, rodents other than rabbits, or caged birds kept indoors. A residential dog breeder permitted under § 6.16.190 can keep an entire litter until the puppies turn four months old.
Long Beach Household Pet Limit
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 21.51.210(A), (B), (D)
The keeping of household pets shall be subject to the following limitations: A. Number. A total of not more than four (4) weaned household pets may be kept at one (1) site, unless any of the weaned pets are dogs bred pursuant to a permit issued under Section 6.16.190 of this code, in which case all such weaned dogs may be kept at one (1) site until such dogs have reached the age of four (4) mon...
Cat Rules
LBMC § 6.08.010(B) requires every cat over four months old to wear a City-issued license tag or carry an identifiable microchip at all times. Section 6.08.090 blocks licensing an unaltered cat unless a veterinarian certifies it unsuited for spay/neuter, tying licensing directly to the City's mandatory-alteration rule.
Long Beach Cat Licensing Requirement
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code §§ 6.08.010(B), 6.08.090
B.Cat license. No person responsible for any cat shall have such cat, male or female, over the age of four (4) months, within the City without at all times having upon such cat either a tag as provided in Subsection B.1. below, or a microchip as provided in Subsection B.2. below.1.Tag. The tag shall be securely fastened to a collar or harness as provided in this Chapter... 2.Microchip. In place...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
LBMC § 6.16.085 bars anyone from keeping a cat past four months or a dog past six months unaltered, unless the animal qualifies for a listed exception. Exceptions require veterinary certification or Animal Care Services Bureau approval at license renewal, so most pets in Long Beach must be spayed or neutered by default.
Long Beach Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 6.16.085
A.No person responsible for a cat over the age of four (4) months or a dog over the age of six (6) months shall allow such cat or dog to remain unaltered except as described in Subsection 6.16.085.B. ... D.Temporary exemption.1.Unless otherwise extended by the City Council, the provisions of this Section shall not be applicable until October 1, 2015.2.An unaltered dog or cat that has a valid li...
Pet Store Rules
LBMC § 6.16.062 bars animal shops from selling, bartering, or transferring dogs, cats, or rabbits unless the animal was bred locally under a City breeding permit, or came from a public shelter or a private rescue/humane organization: an adoption-sourcing rule that took effect October 1, 2015.
Long Beach Retail Pet Sale Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 6.16.062
A.No person or animal shop shall engage in the sale, barter, giving away, or transferring of dogs, cats, or rabbits unless the person or animal shop sells, barters, gives away, or transfers:1.A dog or cat bred and reared within the City in compliance with Section 6.16.190;2.A dog, cat, or rabbit obtained from a publicly operated animal shelter; or3.A dog, cat, or rabbit obtained from a private ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Long Beach zones animal grooming shops under LBMC Table 32-1 as an "indoor animal related use," permitted by right in most commercial districts. Any such business must meet the § 21.45.133 development standards for location, noise control, flooring, ventilation, and animal density regardless of whether it also boards animals.
Long Beach Pet Groomer Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 21.45.133 (Table 32-1, § 21.32.110)
The following special development standards shall apply to businesses involving indoor animal adoption and boarding uses by right or requiring an Administrative Use Permit: A.Location. The site shall not adjoin or abut a residential use district. Planned Development Districts allowing ground floor mixed-use commercial and residential are exempt from this requirement.B.Size. Adoption and boardin...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Long Beach lets small-scale veterinary care operate by right in most commercial zones, but boarding and adoption space triggers Municipal Code § 21.45.133: the site cannot adjoin a residential district, boarding is capped at 50% of gross floor area, and operators must document sound-abatement compliance before opening.
Long Beach Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 21.45.133
The following special development standards shall apply to businesses involving indoor animal adoption and boarding uses by right or requiring an Administrative Use Permit: A.Location. The site shall not adjoin or abut a residential use district. Planned Development Districts allowing ground floor mixed-use commercial and residential are exempt from this requirement.B.Size. Adoption and boardin...
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