Animal Ordinances in San Rafael, CA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
San Rafael requires a city permit before keeping chickens, ducks, rabbits, cows, goats, sheep or other farm animals, besides cats and dogs, on any property within city limits, under SRMC § 6.04.010.
San Rafael Livestock & Poultry Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 6.04.010
It is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, or maintain any poultry, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, hares, cows, goats, sheep or other domesticated animals except cats and dogs, or to cause, permit or allow the same to be kept or maintained in any premises within the city without first having obtained any required permits and approvals from the city.
Dog Leash Laws
San Rafael requires every dog off its owner's property to be secured on a leash of reasonable length under SRMC §6.10.030; violations are an infraction, and Marin County's adopted animal control code adds further penalties enforced by SRPD.
San Rafael Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 6.10.030
No owner or keeper of a dog shall allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be or run at large in or upon any public place or premises, or in or upon any private place or premises other than those of the owner or keeper except with the consent of the person in charge of said private place or premises, unless such dog is securely restrained by a substantial leash of reasonable...
Beekeeping
San Rafael exempts backyard beekeeping from the administrative use permit the city otherwise requires for keeping mammals, birds, and reptiles on residential property.
San Rafael Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Few RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.17.020.B.8
An administrative use permit shall be required for the keeping of animals within the City of San Rafael. The following animals are exempt from these regulations:1.Fish;2.Three (3) or fewer domestic dogs, not including wolf-hybrids, over the age of four (4) months per dwelling unit;3.Ten (10) or fewer domestic cats over the age of four (4) months per dwelling unit;4.Any number of domestic dogs, ...
Exotic Pets
San Rafael requires an administrative use permit and individual case review for any animal not on its short exempt list, including wild or exotic species, before it may be kept.
San Rafael Exotic and Wild Animal Permits
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.17.020(C), (C)(8)
C.Other nonexempt animals are subject to individual case review, and may be subject to the following types of standards:1.Requirements for identification of animal guardianship, such as tagging or microchipping;2.Requirements for spaying or neutering of animals;3.Requirements for fences or fenced stockade areas;4.Requirements regarding provision of food and water supply, such as supply location...
Wildlife Feeding
San Rafael Municipal Code § 19.20.070.C.4 bars anyone from abandoning, hunting, capturing, harming, or feeding any animal in a city park or building. The clause is broader than the leash rules right above it: those cover only dogs and pets an owner maintains, while this one reaches wildlife such as deer, geese, and raccoons with no ownership qualifier at all.
San Rafael Wildlife Feeding Ban In Parks
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 19.20.070.C.4
C.Dogs, Pets and Other Animals.1.No person shall bring or allow a dog, pet, or other animal owned or maintained by them into any park, building or portion thereof, unless such dog or pet is on a leash and under control at all times.2.Any person having custody or control of a dog, pet, or other animal in any park, building, or portion thereof, shall be responsible for any damage caused by such d...
Pet Limits
San Rafael exempts up to 3 dogs and 10 cats per dwelling unit, plus 4 hens and 3 potbellied pigs, from its animal-keeping permit requirement. Keep more than these thresholds and an administrative use permit is required under San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.17.020.
San Rafael Household Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.17.020(B)
B.Applicability. Performance standards for the noncommercial keeping of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles and bees unless specifically exempted by this subsection shall apply throughout the City of San Rafael. ... An administrative use permit shall be required for the keeping of animals within the City of San Rafael. The following animals are exempt from these regulations:1.Fish;2.Thr...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
San Rafael does not order every pet owner to spay or neuter an animal. Under Municipal Code Section 14.17.020, keeping animals beyond the code's exempt numbers, more than three dogs, ten cats, or four hens per dwelling, triggers an administrative use permit, and the community development director can make spaying or neutering a condition of that permit under Section 14.17.020(C)(2).
San Rafael Spay-Neuter Rule for Kept Animals
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.17.020(C)(2)
An administrative use permit shall be required for the keeping of animals within the City of San Rafael. The following animals are exempt from these regulations:1.Fish;2.Three (3) or fewer domestic dogs, not including wolf-hybrids, over the age of four (4) months per dwelling unit;3.Ten (10) or fewer domestic cats over the age of four (4) months per dwelling unit;4.Any number of domestic dogs, ...
Microchipping
San Rafael has no citywide microchipping mandate. Keeping animals beyond the numbers exempted in Municipal Code Section 14.17.020(B), more than three dogs, ten cats, or four hens per dwelling, triggers an administrative use permit, and the community development director can require tagging or microchipping to identify the animal's guardian under Section 14.17.020(C)(1).
San Rafael Animal ID and Microchip Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.17.020(C)(1)
An administrative use permit shall be required for the keeping of animals within the City of San Rafael. The following animals are exempt from these regulations:1.Fish;2.Three (3) or fewer domestic dogs, not including wolf-hybrids, over the age of four (4) months per dwelling unit;3.Ten (10) or fewer domestic cats over the age of four (4) months per dwelling unit;4.Any number of domestic dogs, ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
San Rafael requires a zoning administrator use permit for any animal care facility, including veterinary clinics, citywide, with mandatory findings on noise, waste handling and nuisance impacts before approval.
San Rafael Animal Care Facility Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.17.040
A use permit approved by the zoning administrator, issued pursuant to Chapter 14.22 of this division, shall be required for animal care facilities within the City of San Rafael.C.Findings. In order to grant a use permit for animal care facilities in an office/commercial district, the following findings shall be made:1.Compliance with Applicable Laws. The animal care facility will not violate an...
Bird Protection
San Rafael's wildfire vegetation-clearing rules step aside where compliance would destroy a bird nest, egg or active raptor nest protected under state Fish and Game Code. SRMC §4.12.035 lets an owner request that exception from the fire chief.
San Rafael Bird Nest Clearing Exception
Light RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 4.12.035(A)
There shall be an exception from compliance with the requirements specified in Section 4.12.030 when such requirements would result in any of the following: 1. The destruction of a bird nest, egg, or bird in violation of Fish and Game Code Section 3503, 3503.5 or 3511; 2. Impacts on threatened or endangered species, including species protected under any federal or state law or regulation adopte...
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Marin County →