Animal Ordinances in Santa Maria, CA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Santa Maria, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 5-3, Article 8 (Livestock) bans hogs, swine, stallions, and bulls inside the city limits and requires horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and goats to be kept at least 125 feet from any residence. The RA Residential Agricultural zone is the only zoning district where most livestock can be kept, and only on parcels of two acres or more.
Hogs/Stallions/Bulls Banned; Livestock Setbacks Apply
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Muni. Code Title 5, Ch. 5-3, Art. 8, Sec. 5-3.801 and 5-3.803
It is unlawful to keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained, any live hog or swine, or any live stallion or bull, within the City. It is unlawful to keep or maintain...within the City, any live horse, mule or other equine animal, any cow or other bovine animal, or any sheep or goat within one hundred twenty-five (125) feet of any building or structure used or occupied as a residence or...
Dog Leash Laws
Santa Maria bans letting any dog run at large on sidewalks, streets or other public places, or on private property without the owner's permission. Section 5-3.201 lets dogs onto public sidewalks only on a leash six feet or shorter under the immediate control of the handler, and an Animal Control Officer may impound any loose dog.
Santa Maria Dogs-At-Large / Leash Law
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 5-3.201
It is unlawful for any person owning or having custody or control of any dog to allow, cause or permit such dog to be at large in or upon any sidewalk, street or other public place in the City or in or upon any private property or area in the City without the express permission of the owner or custodian of such property or area; provided, that dogs may be permitted upon the sidewalks and other ...
Breed Restrictions
Santa Maria has no breed-specific ban. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other breeds are legal to own. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 preempts breed-specific dog ordinances statewide except narrow spay/neuter rules. Santa Maria instead uses behavior-based 'restricted' and 'vicious' dog procedures under Chapter 5-3.
No Breed Bans - Behavior-Based Vicious Dog Rules Only
Some RestrictionsCal. Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683
Except as provided in Section 122331 of the Health and Safety Code, no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed. 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 c...
Beekeeping
Santa Maria bans commercial beekeeping outright but allows noncommercial hobby hives under Article 7 of the animal code. Section 5-3.703 caps lot density at four hives on lots under 10,000 square feet, with one added hive per 5,000 extra square feet, and every colony must sit at least 10 feet from the property line unless raised eight feet up.
Santa Maria Backyard Beekeeping Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 5-3.701, 5-3.703(a)-(b)
It is unlawful for any person to engage in commercial beekeeping... It is unlawful for any person to keep bees for noncommercial purposes within the City, except in the manner prescribed in, and in compliance with the provisions of this section and following sections... No more than four hives shall be maintained on lots having less than 10,000 square feet in area. On lots having more than 10,0...
Exotic Pets
Santa Maria prohibits keeping any bear or non-domesticated feline within city limits under Municipal Code Section 5-3.1002, allowing only licensed zoos, circuses, public-agency zoos, and treating veterinarians as exceptions. A banned animal found on private property, a street, park or school ground is destroyed by a Police Officer at the owner's expense, and owners get just 48 hours to arrange destruction or surrender once Animal Control or police make a demand.
Santa Maria Bans Bears and Wild Felines as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 5-3.1001, 5-3.1002
Section 5-3.1001. Definitions. ... "Wild animal" includes any animal, other than common domestic animals, such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, dogs or cats, or domestic fowl, such as chickens, ducks, geese or turkeys, whether ordinarily native to this State or not. ... Section 5-3.1002. Bears and certain felines. (a) No person shall keep within the City any bear or any feline (other t...
Pet Limits
Santa Maria does not cap the number of dogs at a residence by simple ordinance, but Municipal Code Section 12-2.78 defines any property with four or more dogs as a 'kennel,' which is a regulated land use subject to zoning permits. Every dog over four months must also be licensed under Section 5-3.301.
Four-or-More Dogs Triggers Kennel Requirement
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Muni. Code Title 12, Ch. 12-2, Sec. 12-2.78
Kennel means any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises wherein four or more dogs are kept or maintained for any purpose whatsoever.
Cat Rules
Santa Maria's animal shelter must verify whether an unclaimed stray cat is feral or tame using a standardized temperament protocol before deciding its fate. Under Section 5-3.508(d), a cat found docile stays the full holding period for owner redemption and adoption; a cat confirmed truly feral may be euthanized or released to a rescue group willing to alter it.
Santa Maria Stray & Feral Cat Impound Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 5-3.508(d)
If an apparently feral cat has not been reclaimed by its owner or caretaker within the first three days of the required holding period, shelter personnel qualified to verify the temperament of the animal shall verify whether it is feral or tame by using a standardized protocol. If the cat is determined to be docile or a frightened or difficult tame cat, the cat shall be held for the entire requ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Santa Maria doesn't order every pet fixed by force, but Section 5-3.301(a)(3) requires every dog or cat over four months old to carry an Unaltered Animal License, which needs a veterinarian's written authorization, or be spayed or neutered. Owners cited for dog attacks or three at-large violations are barred from the unaltered option entirely.
Santa Maria Unaltered-Pet License Mandate
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 5-3.301(a), (a)(3)
Every owner in the City of a dog or cat over four months of age must obtain an Unaltered Animal License for the animal, or the owner shall have the dog or cat spayed or neutered. ... Owners of unaltered dogs and cats may purchase an Unaltered Animal License from the County if a California licensed veterinarian issues a Veterinary Certificate stating in writing that the owner has discussed the o...
Microchipping
Santa Maria does not require every pet to carry a microchip, but a dog declared restricted or vicious after an administrative hearing must be microchipped, licensed, spayed or neutered and vaccinated before Animal Services will release it, under Section 5-3.203(e). A court can order the same for any dog found dangerous under Section 5-3.204.
Santa Maria Mandatory Dog Microchipping
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 5-3.203(e)(1)-(2)
A dog determined to be a restricted dog shall be properly licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated at the owner or custodian's expenses, prior to release to the owner or custodian if the dog was impounded. ... If a dog determined to be a restricted dog was not impounded, the dog owner or custodian shall provide proof that the dog is licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary clinics are not permitted outright in Santa Maria's C-2 General Commercial District. Section 12-13.04 lists them among the conditional uses that require a discretionary conditional use permit from the Planning Commission, which must find the clinic compatible with adjoining land uses and impose conditions to mitigate impacts like noise, odor or traffic before approving it.
Santa Maria Requires a CUP for Vet Clinics
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 12-13.04(h)
Section 12-13.04. Conditional uses. Those uses which the Planning Commission finds to fall within the intent and purpose of this zone, that will not be more obnoxious or detrimental to the public welfare, and are found by the commission to be compatible with adjoining land uses, provided that conditions and development standards are applied to mitigate any potentially adverse impacts, are permi...
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