Animal Ordinances in Sacramento, CA (2026)
11 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 three hen chickens per residential lot, but only under an annual permit from the animal care services manager. Roosters are banned outright, hens must stay enclosed at least 20 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and out of the front yard, and slaughtering hens on residential lots is prohibited under City Code Chapter 9.44, Article XI.
Backyard Chicken Permits in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 9.44.860
A. It is unlawful to keep, possess, or maintain chickens on any parcel of property located in the city, except in accordance with the following restrictions: 1. A maximum of three hen chickens may be kept on a developed lot used exclusively for residential purposes, but only if authorized under a permit issued pursuant to this article. 2. All hen chickens shall be confined in a pen, coop, or ...
Dog Leash Laws
Sacramento requires dogs to be leashed or tethered whenever off their owner's property, and even on the owner's own property unless fenced, tethered or under the owner's direct control, per City Code §§ 9.44.020 and 9.44.220. Leashes and tethers can't exceed eight feet.
Sacramento Dog At-Large / Leash Law
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code §§ 9.44.020, 9.44.220
At Large. An animal is "at large" in the following situations: 1. When it is off the premises of its owner, and not under restraint by leash, tether or adequate enclosure. 2. When it is on the premises of its owner and not restrained by leash, tether, fence or adequate enclosure, or not under the control and in the immediate presence of the owner. 3. The leash or tether required under subsectio...
Breed 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
Some 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 ...
Exotic Pets
Owning a wild animal in Sacramento requires a permit from the city's animal care services manager under City Code § 9.44.380. The permit requirement doesn't apply to licensed veterinarians, accredited zoos, state-licensed game farms, research institutions and similar exempt facilities.
Sacramento Wild Animal Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 9.44.380
A. No persons shall own any wild animal without first applying to and receiving from the animal care services manager a permit to do so. The permit requirements of this article are not applicable to the following: B. Owners who use wild animals for diagnostic purposes or research, the use having been approved by the California State Board of Public Health pursuant to Section 1666 of the Health ...
Wildlife 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...
Pet Limits
Sacramento caps the number of animals a household may keep: three swine, three dogs over four months (four if all are spayed, neutered or vet-certified unfit for surgery), and seven cats over eight weeks, per City Code § 9.44.370. The cap applies per dwelling unit or adjacent yard, not per resident.
Sacramento Household Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 9.44.370
A. Swine. No person or group of persons shall keep, harbor, or maintain more than three swine permitted by section 9.44.320 in or about any dwelling unit, or adjacent yard. B. Dogs. 1. Except as provided in subsection B.2, no person or group of persons shall keep, harbor, or maintain more than three dogs over the age of four months in or about any dwelling unit or adjacent yard. 2. A person or ...
Cat Rules
Sacramento requires every cat over four months old to be licensed by the city, and bans keeping an unsterilized cat unless the owner holds an unaltered-cat license or qualifies for a health exemption, under City Code § 9.44.430.
Sacramento Cat Licensing and Sterilization
Significant RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 9.44.430
A. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the limits of the city a cat, over the age of four months, without first obtaining from the city a license authorizing the keeping of such cat within the city. B. It is unlawful for any person to breed an unaltered cat within the limits of the city while the cat is unlicensed. C. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Sacramento requires a dog to be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense before a second or subsequent redemption from animal care services after being impounded for running at large, under City Code § 9.44.190. The manager can waive it for extenuating circumstances.
Sacramento Repeat-Impound Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 9.44.190
In order to reduce the likelihood that dogs allowed to be at large shall breed unwanted animals, any dog impounded for being at large which previously has been redeemed from the animal care services center after impoundment for being at large shall be spayed or neutered at the redeeming owner's expense prior to a second or subsequent redemption. The animal care services manager may waive this r...
Pet 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
Some 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...
Pet Groomer Rules
Sacramento lets a resident run a pet-sitting, grooming, training, or veterinary-care business from home only with an administrative permit under City Code § 17.228.210.E, but the grooming, sitting, training, or treatment work itself can't happen at the house. Do it there instead of off-site and the operation drops out of the administrative-permit track into a discretionary conditional use permit.
Home Pet Grooming Rules in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.228.210.E
The following occupations are permitted with an administrative permit. The application for an administrative permit for a home occupation shall include a signed declaration of the applicant confirming that all of the special conditions stated in this section, and the general conditions stated in section 17.228.230 that are applicable to the proposed occupation, will be satisfied. ... E. Pet ser...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Sacramento's zoning code treats veterinary clinics and hospitals as a permitted use in the SC (Shopping Center) zone under Sacramento City Code § 17.216.510, but only if the entire business operates inside a building: outdoor boarding of animals is barred there outright. In the R-4 zone, § 17.208.510 caps clinics at 25% of gross floor area or 6,400 square feet, with zoning administrator approval required.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.216.510 (SC zone - Permitted uses)
A. Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted by right in the SC zone, subject to the limitations specified: ... Veterinary clinic; veterinary hospital Entire business to be conducted within a building and no outdoor boarding of animals is allowed.
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sacramento city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Sacramento County →