Animal Ordinances in Sacramento, CA (2026)
14 verified animal ordinances for Sacramento, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Sacramento allows up to 3 hens (no roosters) in residential zones under SMC 9.44; larger livestock only in Agricultural Residential (A) zones.
Chickens and Livestock Rules in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Sacramento requires dogs to be leashed in public under SMC 9.44.290 except in designated off-leash areas like Granite Park, Partner Park, and Howe Community Park dog parks.
Dog Leash Laws in Sacramento
Heavy RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Sacramento does not ban any dog breeds; California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 preempts breed-specific bans except for mandatory spay/neuter programs.
Dog Breed Restrictions in Sacramento
Few RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683
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
Sacramento allows residential beekeeping with up to 2 hives per lot under SMC 9.44, with setbacks from property lines and a water source requirement.
Beekeeping Rules in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
California state law (CA Code of Regulations §671) prohibits ferrets, hedgehogs, and many other exotic animals statewide. Sacramento City Code §9.44 adopts state standards. CDFW regulates wildlife possession permits. No city exemptions for prohibited species.
Sacramento Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Sacramento prohibits feeding wildlife including deer, coyotes, turkeys, and waterfowl along the American River Parkway under SMC 9.44 and CDFW code.
Wildlife Feeding Rules in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife - Keep Me Wild Program
Vision: To proactively address human-wildlife conflicts and improve wildlife incident responses; to support safe human-wildlife interactions; and to increase understanding, awareness and appreciation of wildlife in California. Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing clima...
Livestock
Large livestock in Sacramento is limited to Agricultural Residential (A) zones requiring at least 1 acre; standard residential zones allow only small animals.
Livestock Rules in Sacramento
Heavy RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Sacramento City Code Title 22 and California Penal Code 597 allow Sacramento County Animal Care Services and SacPD to seize animals kept in hoarding conditions and pursue criminal charges when owners cannot meet basic care, sanitation, and veterinary needs.
Animal Hoarding and Welfare Enforcement
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
Sacramento City Code Title 22 limits the number of dogs and cats kept at a single dwelling unit without a kennel or multiple-animal permit, with separate caps for dogs and cats and tighter rules in attached housing.
Per-Household Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Sacramento Title 22 treats cats more permissively than dogs but requires rabies vaccination and prohibits cat owners from allowing repeated nuisance trespass onto neighboring property. Sacramento County Animal Care Services impounds stray cats brought in by residents.
Sacramento Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Sacramento County Animal Care Services requires dogs and cats released from the shelter to be spayed or neutered, and Sacramento city ordinances support unaltered-animal permit requirements for breeders to reduce shelter intake.
Sacramento Spay-Neuter Requirement for Adopted Pets
Some RestrictionsMicrochipping
Sacramento County requires every dog or cat released from Bradshaw Animal Shelter to be microchipped before going home, and Sacramento city encourages microchipping at low-cost clinics to speed reunification of lost pets.
Microchipping Required for Shelter-Released Pets
Some RestrictionsCoyote Management
Sacramento follows a non-lethal coyote management approach using hazing education, secure trash and pet management, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife coordination, while county animal control responds to bites or aggressive encounters.
Sacramento Coyote and Urban Wildlife Conflict Rules
Some RestrictionsPet Store Rules
Sacramento aligns with California Assembly Bill 485 to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores unless sourced from public shelters or qualifying nonprofit rescues, and city zoning rules govern where pet stores may operate.
Sacramento Pet Store Sourcing Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Health & Safety Code § 122354.5
122354.5. (a) A pet store shall not adopt out, sell, or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. This section does not prevent a pet store from providing space to display animals for adoption in accordance with subdivision (b). (b) (1) A pet store shall not provide space for the display of dogs, cats, or rabbits available for adoption unless the animals are displayed by either a public animal cont...
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sacramento city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Sacramento County →