Animal Ordinances in Ridgecrest, CA (2026)
4 verified animal ordinances for Ridgecrest, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Ridgecrest limits backyard chickens and livestock to its Primary Agriculture (PA) zoning district in Kern County, California, capping animals by lot size and requiring 50- to 100-foot setbacks from dwellings and public areas.
Backyard Chickens and Livestock in Ridgecrest
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 106-311(b)(3)
No fowl or animals, nor any pen, coop, stable, barn or corral shall be kept or maintained within 50 feet of any dwelling or other building used for human habitation, or within 100 feet of the front lot line of the lot upon which it is located, or within 100 feet of any public park, school, hospital or similar institution....a.One hog or pig per 10,000 square feet of area;b.Three goats or three ...
Dog Leash Laws
Ridgecrest requires every dog to be fastened by chain, rope, harness, or leash unless it is confined securely on private property the owner controls. Loose dogs may be impounded by the city's animal control officer.
Ridgecrest Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 3-4
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or having the care, custody, or possession of any dog to keep or maintain any dog in any place in the city except fastened securely by a chain, rope, harness, or leash, or except confined securely within private property legally controlled by the person in possession of the dog.
Breed Restrictions
Ridgecrest has no breed-specific ban; instead, the health officer can declare an individual dog vicious based on its behavior and order it kept chained or confined at all times under City Code § 3-106.
Ridgecrest Vicious Dog Determination Rules
Significant RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 3-106
If it shall be determined by the health officer, after giving the order of quarantine mentioned in section 3-80 that said dog is a vicious dog, although not afflicted with rabies, the health officer shall thereupon order the person who owns or has the custody of said dog to keep said dog at all times securely fastened by chain or securely confined within the private property of said owner or pe...
Pet Limits
Keeping four or more dogs and/or cats at one property meets Ridgecrest's zoning definition of a kennel, and kennels aren't a permitted or conditional use in the R-1 single-family zone.
Ridgecrest Household Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 106-2 (definition of "Kennel")
Kennel means any lot or premises on which four or more dogs and/or cats, four months of age or older, are kept, boarded or trained with or without special buildings or runways. Kitchen means any room or part of a room which is designed and/or used for cooking and the preparation of food. Landscaped area means land set aside exclusively for shrubs, flowers, trees, and/or other landscaping ...
Looking for Kern County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ridgecrest city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Kern County →