Animal Ordinances in Pasadena, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Pasadena, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Pasadena caps backyard flocks at 10 birds or rabbits total, bans roosters outright, and requires registering chickens with the poundmaster under Municipal Code Section 6.20.032. Chickens must sit at least 35 feet from any dwelling, church, school, or hospital, live in predator-proof shelter, and get at least 10 square feet of enclosed yard each; larger livestock like cattle and hogs are barred entirely.
Pasadena Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.20.031 and 6.20.032 (Chickens: Enclosure/Shelter and Registration)
Adequate enclosure or fencing shall be required sufficient to contain live chickens on the property to prevent escape. The enclosure shall be a minimum size of ten (10) square feet of permeable land per chicken. Adequate shelter shall be required sufficient to protect chickens from the elements, and to prevent wildlife or other predators from gaining entry. ... No person shall have, keep, maint...
Dog Leash Laws
Pasadena requires every dog off its owner's property to be confined by a leash no longer than six feet under Municipal Code Section 6.12.010, unless it's inside a car or within the city's single designated off-leash area, Viña Vieja Park. Owners who let dogs run loose face poundmaster enforcement and Title 6 penalties reaching a $500 fine or six months in jail.
Pasadena Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.12.010 (Running at Large Prohibited)
No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog shall cause or permit such dog to be in or upon any public street, alley or other public place or in or upon any unenclosed lot or premises, unless such dog is securely confined by a strong cord, chain or leash, not exceeding 6 feet, securely and continuously held by a competent ...
Breed Restrictions
Pasadena does not have breed-specific legislation. California state law (Food and Agricultural Code § 31683) preempts local breed-specific bans. Dogs are regulated based on individual behavior.
Pasadena Dangerous Dog Regulations
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 (Local Dog Control — No Breed-Specific Regulation)
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 ...
Beekeeping
Pasadena bans homeowners and tenants from keeping a beehive, nest or swarm that could endanger public health or safety, under the insect control measures in Section 8.28.110. The ban lifts only for a professional beekeeper currently registered with the Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner, and even then the city's zoning code can still restrict the activity.
Pasadena Beekeeping Rules for Residential Property
Significant RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code § 8.28.110.B-C (Insect Control Measures)
B.It shall be unlawful for any property owner or tenant to maintain or permit a beehive, nest or swarm to exist that may pose a danger to the public health and safety.C.The prohibition regarding maintenance of beehives, nests or swarms shall not restrict the activities of a professional beekeeper if not prohibited under the city's zoning code. For purposes of this subsection, the term "professi...
Exotic Pets
California has some of the strictest exotic animal laws in the nation. Ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and most wild animals are prohibited as pets. Pasadena follows state law through the CDFW.
Pasadena Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671(c) (CDFW Restricted Species — Exotic Animal Permit Requirements)
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, nonrefundable....
Wildlife Feeding
Pasadena's 1964 pigeon feeding ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 6.28, declares it a nuisance to feed pigeons on any public street or in the civic center, or to feed a pigeon that isn't yours on someone else's private property without consent. Scattering seed, grain, nuts, or crumbs in those same public areas is banned too, backed by a misdemeanor penalty.
Pasadena Pigeon Feeding Ban
Significant RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.28.040 and 6.28.050 (Pigeon Feeding Ordinance)
It is declared to be a nuisance and no person shall feed any pigeon upon any public street or upon any publicly owned property within the civic center area as defined by "the zoning plan and code of the city of Pasadena" in the city. ... It is declared to be a nuisance and no person shall feed any pigeon which is not in his custody or control, and which is not confined within an enclosure, upon...
Cat Rules
Pasadena doesn't license or leash cats the way it does dogs, but Municipal Code Section 6.24.020 keeps cat breeding and cat kennels away from neighbors: no breeding cat within 300 feet of another home, and no cat kennel, five or more cats under Section 6.04.020(C), within 1,000 feet of a neighboring dwelling outside the manufacturing district.
Pasadena Cat Breeding and Kennel Rules
Light RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.24.020 (Cat Kennels)
No person shall keep or maintain or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained upon any premises owned or controlled by him or it any cat, male or female, kept mainly for breeding purposes, within 300 feet of any dwelling house other than that of the owner or person in control of such cat. In any portion of the city, excepting the manufacturing district fixed and established by the zoning plan a...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Pasadena requires every dog and cat over six months old to be spayed or neutered under Municipal Code Section 6.09.010, unless the owner holds a veterinarian's infirmity waiver, an unaltered dog license, or the animal is a law-enforcement, service, or registered show/breeding dog or cat. A first violation is an infraction; repeat violations are misdemeanors.
Pasadena Mandatory Dog and Cat Spay-Neuter
Heavy RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.09.010 (Mandatory Spaying/Neutering of Dogs and Cats)
No person shall own, keep or exercise control over, or harbor an unaltered and unspayed dog or cat over the age of six months 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 unaltered cat must have the...
Pet Store Rules
Pasadena bans displaying animals for sale, adoption, barter, or exchange on any public sidewalk under Municipal Code Section 6.40.035, but exempts government agencies, nonprofit rescues, humane societies, permitted dog or cat shows, and permitted pet stores that sell or transfer animals inside the store. In practice, that means pet stores may sell animals in-store, just not on the sidewalk out front.
Pasadena Pet Sidewalk Sale Ban
Some RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 6.40.035 (Display of Animals for Sale on Public Sidewalks Prohibited)
It is unlawful for any person to display animals for sale, adoption, barter, or exchange, whether for compensation or otherwise, on any public sidewalk within the city. This prohibition shall not apply to government agencies; non-profit animal rescue organizations exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3); humane societies; permitted dog or cat shows; or permitted p...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pasadena's Zoning Code does not list stand-alone pet grooming as its own permitted use. Section 17.50.050(B) allows grooming only as an incidental use to a licensed animal hospital, alongside temporary boarding capped at 30 days, meaning a groomer must operate inside a permitted veterinary facility.
Pasadena Pet Grooming Allowed Only at Animal Hospitals
Significant RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 17.50.050(B)
B.Incidental uses allowed. Grooming and temporary boarding of animals for a maximum of 30 days is allowed if incidental to the animal hospital use.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Pasadena regulates veterinary clinics as "Animal Hospitals" under Zoning Code Section 17.50.050, which requires every facility to be fully enclosed, soundproofed, and air conditioned, and adds stricter enclosure, noise, and staffing rules for any animal hospital established after April 19, 2021.
Pasadena Animal Hospital Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 17.50.050(A), (C)
A.Improvements required. All animal hospitals shall be entirely enclosed, soundproofed, and air conditioned. ... C.Animal Hospitals Established After April 19, 2021. In addition to the standards specified in this section, the following standards shall also apply to animal hospital facilities established after April 19, 2021.a.Enclosures. All facilities shall be entirely enclosed and be fully co...
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