Animal Ordinances in Pacifica, CA (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Pacifica, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Keeping chicken roosters, homing pigeons, horses, or other livestock anywhere in the City of Pacifica requires a permit from the Building Official under the Animal Control chapter of the Municipal Code. The Council sets which animal-keeping activities need a fee-based permit, and the Agricultural District zoning additionally caps how many small livestock a residential parcel there may keep.
Pacifica Chicken and Livestock Keeping Permits
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 6-1.102
Sec. 6-1.102. - Permits: Required. The Council shall adopt any required administrative policies which specify circumstances in which fees are required for permits to keep animals or maintain certain uses of property concerning animals. In each instance in which a fee is specified, a permit shall be required to keep such animals or maintain such uses as follows: (a)Small animals;(b)Pet stores;(c...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Pacifica, dogs off their owner's property must be controlled by a chain, lead rope, or leash attached to a collar, saddle, harness, or halter under Pacifica Municipal Code Section 6-1.206. The rule does not apply to cats or working service animals. Dogs may run off-leash only on the beach between Paloma Avenue and the city's northern boundary and inside the fenced dog park at 1220 Linda Mar Boulevard.
Pacifica Dog Leash and Off-Leash Beach Rules
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 6-1.206(a), (g)
(a)To be upon any public street, sidewalk, park, school ground, any public property, or upon any unenclosed premises in this jurisdiction unless:(1)The animal is properly licensed, if such licensing is necessary hereunder; and(2)The animal is controlled by a chain, lead rope, or leash, which is connected to the animal's collar, saddle, harness, or halter. This latter requirement is not applicab...
Breed Restrictions
Pacifica has no breed-specific dog ordinance. Under Pacifica Municipal Code Section 6-1.215(k), the city and San Mateo County have opted out of the state's potentially-dangerous-dog statute and instead run their own conduct-based dangerous and vicious animal program under Section 6-1.209, which designates an animal dangerous based on its behavior, never its breed, before requiring a permit.
Pacifica's Dangerous Animal Law Is Not Breed-Based
Few RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code §§ 6-1.209(a), 6-1.215(k)
(a)No person shall knowingly keep, have, maintain, sell, trade, or let for hire an animal designated as dangerous under this article without obtaining a dangerous animal permit from the Animal Control Officer. The animal owner shall comply with all conditions of the dangerous animal permit including, but not limited to, all requirements of Section 6-1.210 of this article. Any animal which is de...
Beekeeping
In the City of Pacifica, keeping bees is not banned or separately licensed, but Municipal Code Section 5-25.03(B)(35) makes it a public nuisance to run an apiary in a way that disturbs the peace, health, or safety of neighboring properties. Code Enforcement acts on the nuisance rule alone; there is no beekeeping permit process, hive-count cap, or setback written into this chapter.
Pacifica Backyard Beekeeping Nuisance Rule
Light RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 5-25.03(B)(35)
The City Council finds and declares that it is a public nuisance and unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge of any property within the City to maintain, or to allow or permit others to maintain, such property in such a manner that: ... (35)All apiaries maintained for the purposes of keeping bees shall be kept in a manner that does not disturb the peace, health or sa...
Cat Rules
In the City of Pacifica, every cat over three months old must carry a current annual license under Pacifica Municipal Code Section 6-1.204, the same licensing article that covers dogs. The license fee is due when the cat turns three months old or within sixty days of acquiring it, and renews on the rabies vaccination expiration date. Altered cats pay a lower fee than unaltered cats, and a microchip does not excuse an owner from licensing.
Pacifica Cat Licensing Requirements
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 6-1.204(a)
(a)Licensing requirements for dogs and cats shall be as follows:(1)An annual license shall be obtained, and an annual license fee shall be paid by the owner for every dog or cat over the age of three (3) months owned or kept in unincorporated San Mateo County, and all cities within the County which adopt this article. Said annual license fee shall be first due when the animal reaches three (3) ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
In the City of Pacifica, an unaltered animal impounded a second time within three years must be spayed or neutered before it can be redeemed, at the owner's cost, under Pacifica Municipal Code Section 6-1.228(b). Any first-time redemption of an unaltered animal also carries a refundable $100 spay or neuter fee under Section 6-1.228(a).
Pacifica Mandatory Spay/Neuter After Second Impound
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 6-1.228(a), (b)
(a)Upon redemption of any impounded unaltered animal, the person responsible for the care, custody or control of any animal will be required to pay a spay or neuter fee in the amount of One Hundred and no/100ths ($100.00) Dollars in addition to the impound fees imposed under Section 6-1.230 of this article. Such fee shall be refundable upon proof of spay and neuter of the animal within thirty (...
Microchipping
Pacifica does not require every pet to be microchipped, but Pacifica Municipal Code Section 6-1.210(a)(12) makes microchipping mandatory for any animal placed under a dangerous animal permit: the owner must have the animal microchipped and report the microchip number to the Animal Control Officer within thirty calendar days of the permit's issuance.
Pacifica Dangerous Animal Microchipping Requirement
Light RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 6-1.210(a)(12)
(12)Ensure said animal be microchipped and inform the Animal Control Officer with the microchip number within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the dangerous animal permit was issued.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Pacifica, an animal hospital or veterinary clinic is allowed only in the C-1, C-2, C-3 and Professional Office (O) Districts, and only with a use permit under Municipal Code § 9-4.2307. The clinic must be soundproofed, engineer-certified against noise, odor-controlled, and cannot board animals beyond short-term treatment cases.
Pacifica Animal Hospital Zoning Standards
Significant RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.2307
Animal hospitals or clinics shall be permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial (C-1), General Commercial (C-2), Service Commercial (C-3), and Professional Office (O) Districts provided a use permit shall have been obtained as set forth in Article 33 of this chapter and provided: ... (a)All animals shall be kept within an enclosed soundproof structure;(b)Plans and specifications shall bear the ce...
Bird Protection
In the City of Pacifica's parks, beaches, mini-parks, adjacent parking areas and recreation facilities, Municipal Code § 4-10.118(a)(19) bars hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, chasing, or throwing objects at any animal, reptile, or bird, and bars removing wildlife young, eggs, or nests. Subsection (20) separately bars giving an animal or bird any noxious substance. Government agencies acting officially are exempt.
Pacifica Bans Harming Wildlife in Parks
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code §§ 4-10.118(a)(19)-(20), 4-10.123(b)
(19)Hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, chasing or throwing missiles, items or devices at any animal, reptile or bird, or removing or having in one's possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs or nest of any reptile or bird. This prohibition shall not apply to governmental agencies acting in the course and scope of their official duties;(20)Giving or offering, or attempting to give,...
Looking for San Mateo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pacifica city rules.
Animal Ordinances in San Mateo County →