Animal Ordinances in Newport Beach, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Newport Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Newport Beach bans keeping cows, pigs, goats, horses, mules, poultry, or any other animal commonly considered livestock anywhere in the city unless the zoning code specifically allows it. That flat ban covers backyard chickens too, since poultry is named directly in the ordinance.
Newport Beach Backyard Chicken and Livestock Ban
Significant RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.010(A)
No person shall keep any cow, pig, goat, horse, mule, poultry or any other animal commonly considered livestock within the City except where specifically permitted under the provisions of Title 20, Planning and Zoning, of this Code.
Dog Leash Laws
Newport Beach requires dogs on any beach, street, alley, public place or another person's private property to be on a substantial leash or chain no longer than six feet, controlled by someone able to restrain the dog, under Municipal Code Sec. 7.04.020. Additional rules ban dogs entirely from certain beaches by time of day and from specific parks and piers.
Newport Beach Dog Leash Requirements
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7.04.020 (Leash Required)
No person having the care, charge or control of any dog shall cause or allow, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, such dog to be present upon any beach, street, alley, or public place, or upon any private property or premises other than his or her own without written consent of the owner or lessee of such land unless such dog is securely restrained by a substant...
Breed Restrictions
Newport Beach has no breed-specific ban; instead it regulates individual dogs by behavior. Under Municipal Code Sec. 7.04.100, once a dog bites a person or another dog and is reported, an Animal Control Officer can order the owner to confine and securely restrain it while the dog is evaluated as potentially dangerous.
Newport Beach Dangerous Dog Custody Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 7.04.100 (Biting Dog - Report - Custody and Control)
Upon receiving a report from any person who has been bitten by a dog, or from any person who has witnessed such occurrence, or has witnessed a dog who has bitten another dog, a Newport Beach Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner, possessor or custodian of the biting dog, in writing. If the Animal Control Officer believes the dog may be potentially dangerous to the community, he/she may ...
Beekeeping
Newport Beach outright bans keeping bee apiaries in any residential area of the city. The prohibition uses California's own statutory definition of an apiary, and violating it is charged as an infraction under the municipal code.
Newport Beach Residential Apiary Ban
Heavy RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.25.010
It is unlawful for any person to maintain or keep an apiary as that term is defined in California Food and Agricultural Code Section 29002 in any residential area within the City.
Exotic Pets
Newport Beach follows California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations prohibiting most exotic pets. Ferrets, hedgehogs, and most wild or non-domesticated animals are illegal to keep as pets under state law, and the city does not grant local exceptions.
Newport Beach Exotic Pet Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 671 — Restricted Species
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
Feeding any non-domesticated animal anywhere in Newport Beach is unlawful, with a narrow exception for animals fed under a valid county, state, or federal permit. A parallel rule separately bans feeding waterfowl on or near Newport Bay.
Newport Beach Non-Domesticated Animal Feeding Ban
Significant RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code §§ 7.30.010-7.30.020
It is unlawful for any person to feed or provide food to any non-domesticated animal. (Ord. 2006-4 § 1 (part), 2006) It shall not be a violation of Section 7.30.010 of this chapter for a person to feed or provide food to a non-domesticated animal when the non-domesticated animal is maintained, treated or fed pursuant to a valid certificate or permit issued by the County of Orange, the State of ...
Cat Rules
Newport Beach does not require cats to be licensed like dogs, but a cat allowed to stray onto public property or someone else's land without permission can still be impounded. Owners must redeem an impounded cat within four days or the city takes ownership.
Newport Beach Cat At-Large and Impound Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code §§ 7.16.010, 7.16.050
No person having control, charge or custody of any fowl, dog or other animal, shall permit the same to stray, or run, or be at large in or upon any public street or other public place within the City, or upon any private road or upon the premises of another without the permission of the owners of such premises... The impounding fee for each dog or cat impounded pursuant to the provisions of thi...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Newport Beach does not mandate spay or neuter for dogs and cats citywide, but any miniature pot-bellied pig kept in the city must be sterilized before the owner can get the required Wild Animal Permit. Proof of the procedure has to be filed with the police department first.
Newport Beach Pot-Bellied Pig Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.12.010(B)
Miniature pot-bellied pigs, weighing not more than one hundred twenty-five (125) pounds, and registered with a nationally recognized miniature pig association, shall not be considered livestock. Any person wishing to keep a miniature pot-bellied pig shall first obtain a wild animal permit pursuant to Section 7.08.040 except the applicant will not be required to obtain a California Fish and Game...
Pet Groomer Rules
Newport Beach requires every stand-alone animal grooming business to operate entirely inside a soundproofed, air-conditioned building under Municipal Code Section 20.48.050(B). Outdoor cages, overnight boarding, exterior trash containers and offensive odors are all barred, and the use needs a minor use permit or conditional use permit depending on the zoning district.
Newport Beach Animal Grooming Facility Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 20.48.050(B) (Animal Sales and Services - Animal Grooming)
Animal Grooming. Animal grooming facilities shall be entirely enclosed, soundproofed, and air-conditioned. Boarding of animals, outside runs or cages, outside trash containers, and offensive odors shall be prohibited.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Newport Beach requires animal hospitals and veterinary clinics to be entirely enclosed, soundproofed and air-conditioned under Municipal Code Section 20.48.050(D). Outdoor runs, cages, trash containers and pet odors are banned, on-site cremation is prohibited outright, and grooming must stay incidental to the clinic's veterinary services.
Newport Beach Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 20.48.050(D)
D. Veterinary Services. Animal hospitals/clinics shall be entirely enclosed, soundproofed, and air-conditioned. Outside runs or cages, outside trash containers, and offensive odors shall be prohibited. Animal cremation shall not be allowed. Grooming activities shall be incidental to the hospital/clinic use. Temporary boarding of animals shall be allowed as an accessory use.
Bird Protection
Newport Beach bars anyone without a state or federal wildlife license from incubating or otherwise propagating eggs of ducks, terns, gulls or pelicans found on or near Newport Bay. The city adopted the rule to keep the bay's waterfowl habitat as close to natural as possible.
Newport Beach Waterfowl Habitat Protection Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 7.26.020
No person, unless permitted or licensed to do so by the California Department of Fish and Game or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall incubate or otherwise assist in the propagation of eggs produced by waterfowl such as ducks, terns, gulls or pelicans found on or adjacent to Newport Bay.
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Newport Beach city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Orange County →