Animal Ordinances in Santa Ana, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Santa Ana, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Santa Ana caps backyard fowl and rabbits at four total per property before a special permit is required, and bans roosters outright on any residential premises. Coops and hutches must sit at least thirty feet from any neighboring residence, and manure or waste must be cleared within forty-eight hours under Sections 5-6 and 5-6.5 of the Municipal Code.
Santa Ana Backyard Chicken and Fowl Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-6 (Permit Required for Large Number of Fowl, Etc.); § 5-6.5 (Prohibition of Roosters)
(a)No person shall keep or maintain more than four (4) in number of any fowl (excluding roosters which are not permitted within the city per section 5-6.5 hereof), rabbit, or any combination thereof, on any premises within the city unless a special permit has been issued, subject to the rules and regulations provided in this section and the approval of the city department of planning and develo...
Dog Leash Laws
Santa Ana requires every dog off its owner's property to wear a current license tag and stay on a leash strong enough to hold 40 pounds and no longer than 8 feet. Dogs must otherwise stay confined to a yard or enclosure. A first violation draws a minimum $50 fine, rising to $75 and then $150 for repeat offenses within a year.
Santa Ana Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-58
(a)All dogs must be confined within a yard or other enclosure except as hereinafter provided.(b)No person owning, keeping, or harboring any dog shall permit such dog to be on any public street or other public place within the city except when, such dog is wearing a collar and current license tag and is secured to and controlled by the person in charge of such dog by a leash of sufficient streng...
Breed Restrictions
Santa Ana has no breed-specific ban, § 5-72.1 defines potentially dangerous and vicious dogs entirely by documented biting or attacking behavior, never by breed. An animal services or police officer can tentatively declare a dog dangerous under § 5-72, triggering owner notice, a hearing right, and conditions like $100,000 liability insurance or muzzling.
Santa Ana Vicious & Dangerous Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code §§ 5-72, 5-72.1
Sec. 5-72.1(a) Potentially dangerous dog means any of the following:(1)Any dog which, when unprovoked, after two (2) separate documented bites within the prior 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury whether the person and the dog are on or off the property of the owner or custodian of the dog.(2)Any dog which, when unprov...
Beekeeping
Santa Ana allows backyard beekeeping on single-family residential lots without a permit, but caps hives at two on lots of 6,000 square feet or less, rising to one hive per 3,000 square feet up to a five-hive maximum on larger parcels. Hives must sit in the rear yard, at least twenty feet from the street and five feet from side property lines.
Santa Ana Backyard Beekeeping Hive Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-7 (Backyard Beekeeping)
(a)General requirements.(1)No more than two (2) hives may be maintained on a single-family residential property with six thousand (6,000) square feet or less. On lots larger than six thousand (6,000) square feet, the number of hives is limited to one (1) hive for every three thousand (3,000) square feet of lot area, with a maximum of five (5) hives, whichever is less...(b)Hive placement require...
Exotic Pets
Keeping a wild or exotic animal in Santa Ana requires a permit from the animal control officer under Section 5-8, and no location may hold more than two wild animals over two months old even with a permit. Common pets like chinchillas, hamsters, turtles, and nonpoisonous snakes are exempt, but primates, big cats, bears, and crocodilians are not.
Santa Ana Wild and Exotic Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-8 (Wild Animals — Permit — Exceptions); § 5-1(s) (Exotic Animal Definition)
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, or cause to be kept or maintained, any wild animal without first, applying for and receiving a permit from the animal control officer, except that no permit is required to keep or maintain the following wild animals: chinchillas, chipmunks, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, tropical fish (except caribee), nonpoisonous snakes, where permitte...
Pet Limits
Santa Ana caps ownership at three dogs per premises under Section 5-50, with no exceptions built into the code: the section states flatly there 'shall be no exceptions.' A household or property that wants to keep more than three dogs must instead qualify and get inspected as a commercial kennel under Section 5-62.
Santa Ana Limit of Three Dogs Per Home
Significant RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-50 (Limitation of Number of Dogs)
(a)No person or persons shall keep, harbor or maintain upon any one premises within the city more than three (3) dogs unless the person or persons shall comply with the commercial kennel requirements of this chapter.(b)There shall be no exceptions to this section.
Cat Rules
Cats are not licensed in Santa Ana, Section 5-51 levies its license fee on dogs only, but Section 5-14 still requires every owner to confine any animal, cats included, on the owner's own premises. A cat found running at large on a public street or someone else's property is declared a nuisance and subject to seizure and impoundment by the animal control officer.
Santa Ana Cat Restraint and Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-14(a),(h) (Restraint of Animals)
(a)Any person owning or having charge, custody, care or control of any animal kept or harbored in the City of Santa Ana shall confine such animal exclusively upon such owner's premises, except when otherwise properly restrained as hereinafter provided...(h)Any animal found to be at large or trespassing upon private premises or public property in violation of this section shall be deemed prima f...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Santa Ana follows OC Animal Care policies that strongly encourage spay and neuter, with sharply higher license fees for unaltered dogs. California Food and Agricultural Code section 30503 requires shelters to sterilize dogs and cats before adoption throughout the entire state.
Spay and Neuter Requirements for Santa Ana Pets
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code Section 30503
(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away to a new owner any dog that has not been spayed or neutered. (b) (1) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a dog is too sick...
Pet Store Rules
California AB 485 prohibits pet stores statewide from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits unless sourced from a public shelter or registered rescue. Santa Ana retailers must comply, post sourcing signs at each enclosure, and keep paperwork available for inspection by city or state staff.
Pet Store Sourcing Rules in Santa Ana
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Health and Safety Code Section 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 control agency...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Santa Ana's zoning code lists animal hospitals and veterinary clinics as a permitted use in the C1 Community Commercial district and the C-SM South Main Street Commercial district, meaning they're allowed by right without a conditional use permit. The same use is absent from residential and most other zone use lists in Chapter 41, so a clinic must sit on C1 or C-SM land to open legally.
Santa Ana Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 41-365(i); § 41-521(d)
Sec. 41-365. - Uses permitted in the C1 district. The following uses are permitted in the C1 district: (a)Retail and service uses...(g)Theaters.(h)Hospitals, clinics, and sanitariums.(i)Animal hospitals and veterinaries.(j)Plant nurseries.(k)Gymnasiums...(t)Medical offices. / Sec. 41-521(d): "Animal hospitals and veterinarians."
Bird Protection
Santa Ana designates itself a bird sanctuary under Municipal Code Section 5-5 and bans killing or injuring any species of wild bird within city limits, along with damaging or molesting a wild bird's nest or eggs. The animal control officer may also order destruction or control of birds such as starlings when a flock becomes a public nuisance or health menace.
Santa Ana Wild Bird Protection Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 5-5 (Bird Sanctuary)
The City of Santa Ana is designated a bird sanctuary and signs bearing the legend "SANTA ANA IS A BIRD SANCTUARY" shall be placed at appropriate locations at or near the city limits at principal entrances to the city. No person shall kill or injure any species of wild birds or molest or damage the nest or the eggs of any wild birds within the city. It shall be unlawful for any person to willful...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
California Fish and Wildlife requires rehabilitators to hold a state permit before keeping injured native wildlife. Santa Ana residents finding hurt birds or mammals should contact OC Animal Care or a permitted facility rather than attempting to nurse the animal at home.
Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Permits in Santa Ana
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife — Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Program
Injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals may be temporarily possessed for rehabilitation by a person in California under a Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit issued by CDFW. Trained wildlife rehabilitators provide treatment and care of these animals for the purpose of their release, in a condition of good health, to suitable habitat in the wild. [...] Wild animals rarely require human help. ...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Ana city rules.
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