Animal Ordinances in Petaluma, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Petaluma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Petaluma lets residents keep domestic fowl like chickens if the coop sits at least 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling, while goats, sheep, cattle, and other livestock require a permit from the animal control officer under Chapter 9.12 before they can be kept anywhere in the city.
Petaluma Backyard Chicken and Livestock Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 9.08.050, 9.12.010
9.08.050 Keeping domestic birds. It is unlawful for any person to keep on any premises in the city any domestic bird as defined in Section 9.04.020, unless such birds are kept in an enclosure. No part of such enclosure shall be within twenty-five feet of any dwelling houses occupied by human beings other than the person's own dwelling; provided, however, that a domestic bird may be kept tempora...
Dog Leash Laws
Petaluma requires every dog off its owner's property to be under physical restraint by a leash no longer than six feet, or it is legally "at large" and subject to citation and impoundment under Municipal Code Section 9.08.130. Guide dogs, trial dogs, and herding dogs are named exceptions.
Petaluma Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 9.08.130(A)-(B)
A. It is unlawful for any owner and/or possessor of any animal to suffer or permit such animal to be at large as defined in this section. Violations of this section are subject to citation and the animal at large is subject to impoundment as authorized by Chapter 9.28. B. In the case of dogs, "at large" means a dog that is not on the premises of its owner and/or possessor or the premises of ano...
Breed Restrictions
Petaluma has no breed-specific ban. Chapter 9.24, adopted under Food and Agricultural Code §31683, instead regulates any animal, of any breed, whose documented conduct makes it "dangerous" or "potentially dangerous." A hearing officer can order registration, secure confinement, muzzling, insurance, microchipping, sterilization, or euthanasia.
Petaluma Dangerous Dog and Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §9.24.010; §9.24.020
A. Authority. ... Pursuant to Food and Agricultural Code §31683 and its general police powers, the city adopts this chapter regulating dangerous and potentially dangerous animals. B. Purpose. The keeping of an animal defined as dangerous or potentially dangerous under this chapter shall be declared a public nuisance and shall be abated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. ... "Dan...
Beekeeping
Petaluma allows keeping bees at home, but caps every household at two bee colonies, requires framed movable hives, and demands hives sit a safe distance from sidewalks and foot traffic under Municipal Code Section 9.08.030. Violating any condition makes the apiary unlawful and citable by animal control.
Petaluma Backyard Beekeeping and Apiary Rules
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 9.08.030
The keeping of a bee colony or maintaining an apiary in the city is permitted only in accordance with the following: A. No more than two bee colonies are permitted per household; B. All hives must be framed and moveable; C. All hives must be kept a safe distance away from pedestrian walkways and pedestrian traffic, and so as to not constitute a nuisance.
Wildlife Feeding
Petaluma bans feeding wildlife, defined broadly to cover ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels, skunks and deer, inside its city parks. Municipal Code §9.08.210 makes it unlawful to feed wildlife or leave food accessible to it within any city park; feeding wildlife outside parks is not covered by this section.
Petaluma Feeding Wildlife in Parks Ban
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §9.08.210
9.08.210 Feeding of wildlife. A. It is unlawful to feed wildlife or leave food accessible to wildlife within any city park. B. Wildlife is defined to include any feral animal, including but not limited to, ducks, geese, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and/or deer.
Pet Limits
Petaluma does not cap dogs or cats at a flat household number, but once a home keeps five or more dogs or seven or more cats over four months old, it becomes a "hobby kennel" or "commercial kennel" under Municipal Code Section 9.04.020, triggering zoning restrictions that do not apply below those thresholds.
Petaluma Dog and Cat Household Limits (Kennels)
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 9.04.020(N)-(O), § 9.08.020
N. "Commercial kennel or cattery" means any premises except veterinary hospitals, animal shelters or private kennels where five or more dogs four months in age or older, or seven or more cats four months of age or older, are kept for commercial purposes. O. "Hobby kennel or cattery" means any place or premises on which five or more dogs or seven or more cats over four months of age are owned an...
Cat Rules
Petaluma requires unconfined cats over four months old to be spayed or neutered under §9.08.130(F), and separately regulates feral cat colonies under §9.14.110, which declares feral cats and their unauthorized feeding a public nuisance unless managed by a city-registered feral cat care organization.
Petaluma Cat At-Large and Feral Colony Rules
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §9.08.130(F); §9.14.110
F. No person owning or otherwise having a cat over four months of age in his/her possession shall cause, permit or allow such cat to be unconfined in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public or private place, including the exterior yards of the animal owner’s property, unless such cat is spayed or neutered. ... Feral cats, and feeding or maintaining feral cats, within the city are...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Petaluma requires unconfined cats over four months old to be spayed or neutered, and dogs over six months old cited for running at large must be spayed, neutered, and microchipped at the owner's expense under Municipal Code Section 9.08.130(F) and (G). Verification is due to animal services within seven days.
Petaluma Mandatory Spay/Neuter for At-Large Pets
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 9.08.130(F)-(G)
F. No person owning or otherwise having a cat over four months of age in his/her possession shall cause, permit or allow such cat to be unconfined in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public or private place, including the exterior yards of the animal owner's property, unless such cat is spayed or neutered. ... ... G. Mandatory Spay/Neutering and Microchipping of All Dogs at Large...
Pet Store Rules
Petaluma does not ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats. Municipal Code §9.08.190 bars public sale, barter, or display-for-sale of any animal citywide, but expressly exempts pet stores "engaged in the business of selling them," plus owner-to-owner sales from private property and shelter adoptions.
Petaluma Pet Store Animal Sale Rules
Few RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §9.08.190
No person shall publicly sell, offer for sale, barter, give away or display for sale any animal within the city limits, except as follows: This section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale/adoption of any dog, cat or any other animal by pet stores engaged in the business of selling them; nor shall this section be construed to prohibit the sale or gift of a pet, or its offspring, by the o...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Petaluma allows veterinary clinics and animal hospitals as a permitted, by-right use in the MU1A, MU1B and MU2 mixed-use zones under Table 4.3 of the Implementing Zoning Ordinance, but Note 8 requires a conditional use permit specifically for overnight boarding and care, and the use is not allowed at all in the MU1C zone.
Petaluma Veterinary Clinic Zoning Permits
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance § 4.030, Table 4.3, Note 8
| LAND USE TYPE (1) | Permit Required by Zone | Specific Use | | | | Regulations | | " | MU1A | MU1B (21) | MU1C | MU2 (22) | " | ... | Veterinary Clinic, Animal Hospital | P(8) | P(8...
Bird Protection
Petaluma requires anyone keeping domestic birds to clean coops and enclosures at least once a week to prevent manure and offal buildup, and caps the combined total of birds, rodents, and reptiles on any property at twenty in the aggregate, with a separate cap of twelve rabbits, under Municipal Code Sections 9.08.060 and 9.08.070.
Petaluma Domestic Bird Sanitation and Number Limits
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 9.08.060, 9.08.070
9.08.060 Sanitation of bird enclosures. It is unlawful for any person to keep domestic birds on any premises, unless coops and enclosures in which such birds are kept are maintained in a sanitary manner and are regularly cleaned at least once each week, in order to prevent any accumulation of manure or offal. Violation of this section constitutes a public nuisance. ... 9.08.070 Birds, rabbits, ...
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