Animal Ordinances in Moreno Valley, CA (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Moreno Valley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Moreno Valley allows poultry and fowl on residential lots zoned RR, HR, R-1, RA-2 or AG, but only on parcels of 20,000 square feet or larger, capped at 15 birds per 20,000 square feet under Municipal Code Section 9.09.090 and Table 9.09.090-11. Roosters, guinea fowl and peafowl are banned outright regardless of lot size, and larger livestock face separate lot-size and corral standards.
Moreno Valley Backyard Poultry Rules
Some RestrictionsMoreno Valley, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 9.09.090(E)(1) & Table 9.09.090-11, Note 4
E. District Standards. 1. The following standards shall apply to all animal keeping uses, excluding dogs, cats and household pets, where permitted within the residential districts (See Table 9.09.090-11—Animal Keeping Requirements): ... Poultry, fowl 20,000 sq. ft. 15/20,000 sq. ft. RR, HR, R-1, RA-2, AG ... 4 No roosters, guinea fowl or peafowl.
Dog Leash Laws
Moreno Valley bans letting any animal except a cat "run at large" within the city under Section 10.02.080, covering dogs and other pets whether or not the person letting them loose is the owner. An at-large animal that injures a person or animal, or threatens public health or safety, becomes a misdemeanor under subsection E; on-duty police dogs are exempt.
Moreno Valley Dog At-Large Leash Law
Some RestrictionsMoreno Valley, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.080
§ 10.02.080. At large or stray animals. A. It is unlawful for the owner of any animal, other than a cat, to allow such animal to run at large within the city. B. It is unlawful for any person, whether or not the owner, to cause any animal, other than a cat, to run at large within the city. C. It is lawful for any person to take up, in a humane manner, any animal running at large in violation...
Breed Restrictions
California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 bars any city dog-control program from being "specific as to breed," so Moreno Valley does not ban or restrict animals by breed. Instead, Chapter 10.02 of its Municipal Code declares individual dogs "potentially dangerous" or "vicious" based on documented bites or attacks under Sections 10.02.200, 10.02.210 and 10.02.230.
Moreno Valley Dangerous Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683
31683. 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 ...
Exotic Pets
Exotic pet ownership is governed by California CDFW regulations (Title 14, CCR §671). Most wild animals are prohibited. Ferrets are illegal in California. Moreno Valley may impose additional local restrictions.
Moreno Valley Exotic Pet Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 — Restricted Species Permits
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). [...] Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment New: $155.53 Renewal and Amendment: $80.60 — Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of an existing permit, nonrefund...
Wildlife Feeding
California Fish and Game Code section 2118 prohibits keeping or feeding wildlife including coyotes, raccoons, and wild predators. Moreno Valley enforces this through Code Compliance and coordinates with CDFW. Feeding attracts predators into residential areas near the Box Springs Mountains and creates public safety risks.
Wildlife Feeding Rules in Moreno Valley
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) - Human-Wildlife Conflicts / "Keep Me Wild" Program
Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit. Vision: To proactively address human-wildlife conflicts and improve wildlife incident responses; to support safe human-wildlife interactions; and to increase understanding, awareness and appreciation of wildlife in California. Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California,...
Pet Limits
Moreno Valley caps cats and dogs at four total per household on standard residential lots under Municipal Code Table 9.09.090-11, but Note 5 tightens that in the R-10, R-15 and R-20 districts and multifamily projects: units of 1,000 square feet or less get only two animals total, larger units get up to two dogs and two cats.
Moreno Valley Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsMoreno Valley, CA, Municipal Code Table 9.09.090-11, Note 5
Cats or dogs None Maximum 4 All ... 5 Residential districts of R-10, R-15, R-20 and multiple-family projects such as two-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, bungalow courts, mobile home parks and apartment houses or similar structures shall be subject to the following criteria: a. Dwelling units of 1,000 square feet or less shall be limited to a total of two such animals. b. Dwelling u...
Cat Rules
Moreno Valley makes cat licensing optional, not mandatory: Section 10.02.030 lets an owner obtain a license, including a microchip, for a council-set fee upon proof of rabies vaccination, unlike the mandatory dog license required under Section 10.02.020. Cats are also the only animal exempt from the city's at-large/leash law.
Moreno Valley Cat Licensing Rules
Light RestrictionsMoreno Valley, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.030
§ 10.02.030. Optional licensing of cats. An owner of a cat may be issued a license, including microchip, for such cat upon presentation to the chief animal control officer of a certificate of vaccination signed by a veterinarian certifying that such a cat has been vaccinated, and upon payment of a license fee of such amount as may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Moreno Valley requires every dog and cat to be spayed or neutered, or covered by a veterinarian's certificate of sterility (or, for dogs, an unaltered-dog license), under Section 10.02.100(A). The city only cites owners for this specific violation when they are already being cited for another animal-law violation.
Moreno Valley Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law
Some RestrictionsMoreno Valley, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.100
§ 10.02.100. Mandatory spaying and neutering—Dogs and cats. A. Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered and unspayed dog or cat in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with this chapter. An owner or custodian of an una...
Microchipping
Every dog and cat over four months old that stays in Moreno Valley 30 days or longer must carry an implanted microchip under Section 10.02.105(A), on top of any separate dog license or optional cat license. Owners must report the chip number to animal services and update it whenever the animal changes hands, address or phone contact.
Moreno Valley Mandatory Pet Microchipping
Some RestrictionsMoreno Valley, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.105
§ 10.02.105. Mandatory microchipping—Dogs and cats. A. Requirement. All dogs and cats over the age of four months and kept within the city for a period of 30 days or longer must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to animal services, and shall notify animal services of any change of ownership of the dog or cat, or any c...
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Moreno Valley city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Riverside County →