Animal Ordinances in Manteca, CA (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Manteca, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Manteca requires a city permit to keep goats, sheep, cows, or horses, and bans pens within 50 feet of schools, churches, or neighboring homes (100 feet of hospitals).
Manteca Livestock Keeping Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 6.12.010
It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain or cause or permit to be kept or maintained within the corporate limits of the city any goats, sheep, cows or other bovine animals, or horses, mules, donkeys, ponies or other equine animals, within any pen or stable, the exterior boundaries of which are within fifty feet of any school, church, public building, hotel, restaurant, lunchroom, or th...
Dog Leash Laws
Manteca bans dogs at large anywhere in the city and sets the legal definition of restrained: a chain, strap, or cord no longer than six feet, held by a person or staked down.
Manteca Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 6.08.010
shall suffer, allow, or permit such dog to run, be, or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, or other public place or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such dog without the consent of the owner of such property, within the corporate limits of the city; and all dogs may be deemed running at large within the meaning of this s...
Breed Restrictions
Manteca singles out pit bull-type breeds for its own chapter of law, defining the breed broadly by name and physical traits and layering permit requirements on top.
Manteca Pit Bull Breed Definition Rule
Significant RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 6.10.030(A)
Whenever the word "Pit Bull" is used in this chapter, it shall mean the any dog that is a Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or any other dog displaying the physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics that conform to the standards estab...
Exotic Pets
Manteca's zoning code defines 'exotic animals' as potbelly pigs, snakes, reptiles and large tropical birds like peacocks, and allows keeping them by right in every agricultural and residential zoning district citywide.
Manteca Exotic Pet Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 17.24.020(B)(1)(b); § 17.22.020, Table 17.22.020-1
Exotic Animals. Wild animals not customarily confined or cultivated by man for domestic or commercial purposes, but kept as a pet or for display, including potbelly pigs, snakes, reptiles, and large tropical birds (including peacocks). c. Insects. Small arthropod animals confined or cultivated by man for domestic or commercial purposes including but not limited to flies, crickets, mosquitoes...
Pet Limits
Manteca caps most households at three dogs and three cats over four months old, with owners who already exceeded that limit grandfathered in only if their animals stay currently licensed.
Manteca Dog and Cat Household Limit
Some RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 6.04.061
It is unlawful for any person to keep or harbor more than three dogs and three cats which are over the age of four months on any lot, premises, dwelling, building, structure, boat or living accommodation, except as provided for in Section 6.08.150. Owners who have more than the stated number of dogs (three) and cats (three) as of the passing of the ordinance codified in this section are exempt ...
Cat Rules
Manteca has no cat licensing or leash law, but impounded cats, strays or those picked up at large, go through a set holding, redemption, and adoption process at the city shelter.
Manteca Cat Impoundment Rules
Light RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code §§ 6.16.150, 6.16.160, 6.16.170
It is made the duty of the animal services officer to impound all cats delivered to the city animal control shelter. (Prior code § 3-41; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011) § 6.16.160. Cats—Unclaimed. A. All cats not claimed or redeemed within the mandatory holding period, shall become the property of the city and may be adopted, euthanized, placed with a rescue organization or other...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Manteca requires pit bull breeds to be spayed or neutered unless the owner obtains an intact-breed permit, based on state authority under SB 861.
Manteca Pit Bull Spay/Neuter Mandate
Significant RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 6.10.050
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: A. The pit bull is under eight weeks of age. B. The pit bull cannot be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to a physical abnormality. A veterinarian must certi...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Manteca bars veterinary clinics from every agricultural and residential zoning district. Vets can open by right only in Mixed-Use Commercial, General Commercial and Commercial Manufacturing zones, with outdoor animal areas kept 50 feet from housing.
Manteca Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsManteca Municipal Code § 17.24.020(B)(6); § 17.22.020, Table 17.22.020-1, Note 7
Veterinary facility that is primarily enclosed, containing only enough cage arrangements as necessary to provide services for domestic and exotic animals requiring acute medical or surgical care with accessory outdoor use that provides long-term medical care. ... Where veterinary facilities include any outdoor uses, such facilities shall maintain a minimum 50-foot setback from any residential d...
Looking for San Joaquin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Manteca city rules.
Animal Ordinances in San Joaquin County →