Animal Ordinances in Napa, CA (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Napa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
The City of Napa allows up to six small domestic animals over the age of four months — including dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons, hens, and the like — as a household-pet right under the Zoning Ordinance definition of 'small domestic animals.' Roosters, geese, peacocks, and guinea hens are flatly prohibited inside the city under Napa Municipal Code Section 6.04.070. Keeping 15 or more chickens, rabbits, or similar small animals is treated as agricultural cultivation/animal keeping under Chapter 17.52 of the Zoning Ordinance and requires an administrative permit on a parcel of one acre or larger. Larger livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, hogs) are not a permitted use in the City's residential zones.
Napa CA Chickens, Hens, and Livestock
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Dogs in the City of Napa must be leashed when off the owner's property and may not be at large on any public street, highway, or place — Napa Municipal Code Section 6.04.190 makes it unlawful for any owner of a dog over four months of age to permit the dog to run at large. In City parks and on trails, dogs must be on a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length per Section 6.04.170 except in designated off-leash areas. Every dog over four months living in the City must be vaccinated against rabies and licensed annually through Napa County Animal Services.
Napa CA Dog Leash and License Rules
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
The City of Napa does not have a breed-specific dog ordinance and cannot enact one. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 expressly preempts local breed bans — cities and counties may not adopt dog-control ordinances that are specific to any breed. Napa may regulate individual dangerous and vicious dog behavior under the state framework at Food & Ag Code Sections 31601-31683 and under Napa Municipal Code Chapter 6.04, but no breed (including pit bulls, Rottweilers, or German shepherds) may be singled out for prohibition or numerical limit.
Napa CA Breed-Specific Legislation (Preempted by State Law)
Few RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code Section 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 as prov...
Beekeeping
The City of Napa expressly permits beekeeping as an accessory use in all zoning districts under Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.055, subject to operation in accordance with the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for beekeeping in Napa County adopted by City Council resolution. Hives must be moveable-comb, located behind a six-foot screening barrier (flyway), out of the front setback, and maintained to prevent swarming and aggressive behavior. Hive numbers are capped according to the lot/acreage table in the BMPs. State law requires every beekeeper to register their apiary annually with the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner by January 1 under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 29040.
Napa CA Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
The City of Napa Zoning Ordinance excludes venomous reptiles, apiaries (except as separately permitted), kennels, and other prohibited animals from the definition of 'small domestic animals' permitted at residences (NMC 17.06.030). California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 separately classifies a wide range of species as restricted and requires a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) before they may be imported, transported, or possessed in California — common exotics such as ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, most primates, and large carnivores are prohibited or restricted under state law and may not be kept as pets in Napa absent a CDFW permit.
Napa CA Exotic Pets
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Code Regs. tit. 14, Section 671 / CDFW 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). Entitlements include 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...
Wildlife Feeding
The City of Napa does not have a dedicated wildlife-feeding ordinance, but feeding wildlife in ways that create a nuisance is reachable under the City's general nuisance authority and through the animal-control framework in Napa Municipal Code Chapter 6.04. The principal restriction is at the state level: 14 CCR Section 251.3, issued by the California Fish and Game Commission, prohibits the intentional feeding of big game mammals — including deer, elk, antelope, mountain lion, wild pig, and bear — anywhere in California. California Fish and Game Code Sections 251.1 and 4150 separately prohibit harassment and unauthorized possession of certain mammals.
Napa CA Wildlife Feeding Rules
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
The City of Napa does not have a dedicated animal-hoarding ordinance but addresses hoarding through (1) the six-small-domestic-animal cap in Napa Municipal Code Section 17.06.030 and the agricultural-keeping permit threshold in Chapter 17.52; (2) the animal-control framework in Chapter 6.04 as enforced by Napa County Animal Services Officers; and (3) California Penal Code Section 597 (cruelty to animals), which is the principal criminal statute used statewide against neglect and hoarding situations, with felony exposure up to three years in state prison and a $20,000 fine.
Napa CA Animal Hoarding
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
The City of Napa caps household keeping at six (6) small domestic animals over four months of age under the Zoning Ordinance definition in Napa Municipal Code Section 17.06.030 — dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons, hens, and the like, but expressly not roosters, geese, peacocks, guinea hens, goats, sheep, hogs, apiaries (regulated separately), venomous reptiles, or kennels. Households keeping 15 or more chickens or other small animals are treated as agricultural keeping under Chapter 17.52 and require an administrative permit on a parcel of one (1) acre or larger.
Napa CA Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsLooking for Napa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Napa city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Napa County →