Animal Ordinances in Santee, CA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Santee, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Santee, backyard chicken keeping is allowed in single-family residential zones under Santee Municipal Code Section 13.10.030(F)(3), but roosters are prohibited outright and the flock size is capped by Table 13.10.030B at one bird per 2,000 square feet of site area. Coops have to sit in the rear yard, fully enclosed, and be set back 15 to 20 feet from property lines depending on the zone.
Santee Limits Backyard Chickens, Bans Roosters
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.10.030(F)(3)
3. Chicken Keeping. Keeping of chickens accessory to a residential use shall be subject to Table 13.10.030B to determine the maximum number of chickens allowed, roosters excluded. The authority granted by this subsection and Table 13.10.030B to allow the keeping of chickens in single-family residential zones shall not apply where restrictions on the keeping of chickens exist by lease or restric...
Dog Leash Laws
Section 6.10.080 requires every Santee dog owner or custodian to prevent the dog from being at large, and on private property the dog must be leashed, tethered, under direct voice or electronic-containment control, or confined in an adequate enclosure. San Diego County Animal Services, contracted as the City's authorized agency, enforces the leash law alongside Sheriff's Santee Station deputies.
Santee Dog At-Large and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 6.10.080(A), (C)
A dog owner or custodian or a person who has control of a dog must prevent the dog from being at large, except as provided in subsections B and D. ... A dog owner or custodian or a person having control of a dog that is lawfully on private property must keep the dog: (1) leashed or tethered as allowed under Health and Safety Code Section 122335(2); under direct and effective control by voice or...
Breed Restrictions
Santee has no breed-specific ban; instead Section 6.10.100 makes an owner liable when a guard, dangerous or potentially dangerous dog injures someone through the owner's failure to exercise ordinary care, and Section 6.10.140 lets the authorized agency formally declare a dog dangerous after notice and a hearing. A declared dangerous dog then faces lifetime restrictions such as insurance, secure enclosures and mandatory muzzling under Section 6.10.150.
Santee Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code §§ 6.10.100(A), 6.10.140(A)(1)
It is unlawful for the owner, custodian or person having control of a guard dog, dangerous dog or potentially dangerous animal to fail to exercise ordinary care over the animal that results in the animal causing injury to a person engaged in lawful activity, if the owner, custodian or person having control of the animal knew or should have known the animal had vicious or dangerous propensities ...
Beekeeping
In the City of Santee, beekeeping is an agricultural use allowed only on residential lots of two and one-half acres or more, under Santee Municipal Code Section 13.10.030(F)(1)(a)(i). Every hive or bee box must sit at least 400 feet from any street, school, park, property line or occupied dwelling other than the beekeeper's own home, and the site needs an on-site water source for the bees.
Santee Requires 2.5 Acres and 400-Ft Hive Buffer
Significant RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.10.030(F)(1)(a)(i)
C. Agricultural Uses (on Lots of Two and One-Half Acres or More) ... ... 2. Apiary (subject to Section 13.10.030(F)) P P P P P P P — ... ... F. Special Use Regulations. 1. Agricultural Uses. Prior to development, the following agricultural uses are either permitted on lots of two and one-half acres or more: a. Permitted Uses. i. Apiary. Provided that all hives or boxes housing bees shall be pla...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Santee, owning a venomous reptile is banned outright under Santee Municipal Code Section 6.10.210, and every wild animal owner must keep the animal in an escape-proof enclosure with adequate care. Larger reptiles, big birds and rodents, and other animals that create a greater public risk face extra safeguards enforced by San Diego County Animal Services.
Santee Wild and Exotic Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 6.10.210
A. Except as provided in subsection D, it is unlawful for any person to own, possess or maintain any venomous reptile. ... A reptile does not create a greater risk to the public unless it is one of the following: a crocodilian (order Crocodilia), a boa or python (family Boidae) that attains an adult weight over 15 pounds or an adult length over 3.5 feet, or a Monitor Lizard (family Varanidae) t...
Pet Limits
In the City of Santee, dogs and cats over four months old are a permitted accessory use in every residential zone, from HL through R-30, but Table 13.10.030A caps the combined total at four cats and dogs per household. Puppies and kittens under four months don't count toward the cap, and additional pets beyond four require Development Services review under the city's other-animal standards.
Santee Caps Household Dogs and Cats at Four
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.10.030, Table 13.10.030A
Table 13.10.030A Use Regulations for Residential Districts ... HL R-1 R-1A R-2 R-7 R-14 R-22 R-30 ... ... D. Accessory Uses in Conjunction With a Permitted Principal Use on the Same Site 1. Animal keeping, accessory to a permitted use (Section 13.10.030(F)(2)) a. Dogs and cats over four months old (not exceeding four cats and/or dogs combined) P P P P P P P P
Microchipping
In the City of Santee, San Diego County Animal Services can require owners to pay for a microchip when they redeem a dog or cat found at large without identification. The fee applies on top of standard redemption charges under Santee Municipal Code Section 6.10.190. Owners must also show proper identification and meet all impoundment requirements before reclaiming an animal.
Santee Microchip Fee for Impounded Pets
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 6.10.190
A. The owner of an impounded animal that the authorized agency is not seeking to abate may claim the animal prior to other legal disposition by providing proper identification, meeting all requirements and paying the authorized agency the applicable redemption fees. ... ... C. When a person redeems a justifiably impounded dog or cat found at large and without identification, the authorized agen...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Santee's Residential Business (R-B) district, Table 13.21.030A under Santee Municipal Code § 13.21.030 lists "Pet grooming services" as a permitted (P) use alongside other low-intensity commercial uses such as tailor shops and print shops, letting a stand-alone grooming business locate in a converted residence without a conditional use permit.
Santee Pet Grooming Services Zoning
Few RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.21.030 (Table 13.21.030A)
Table 13.21.030A Use Regulations for Residential Business District Use R-B District ... ... B. Commercial Uses 1. Appliance repair P ... ... 9. Pet grooming services P 10. Photography studio or video production P
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Santee, animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and commercial kennels fall under the "animal care facility, small animal only" use category in Table 13.12.030A. Development Services permits these by right in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and General Commercial (GC) districts if kennels stay indoors; outdoor kennels, pens or runs require a conditional use permit in GC and are barred outright in Office/Professional (OP) and Neighborhood Commercial (NC).
Santee Veterinary and Animal Hospital Zoning
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.12.030 (Table 13.12.030A)
Table 13.12.030A Use Regulations for Commercial/Office Districts Use OP NC GC ... ... 2. Animal care facility, small animal only (animal hospital, veterinarian, commercial kennel, grooming) a. Excluding exterior kennel, pens or runs — P P b. Including exterior kennel, pens or runs — — C
Bird Protection
In the City of Santee, no one may trap, kill, wound, or maltreat any wild or domesticated bird, or any other animal, inside a City park or recreation area, and pet owners cannot let their animal pursue, trap, kill, or wound wildlife there either. The rule sits in the City Parks chapter of the Municipal Code, and community services officers, Sheriff's deputies acting as peace officers, and the Director of Community Services all have authority to enforce it.
Santee Bird Protection In City Parks
Significant RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 8.08.050
§ 8.08.050. Animals. A. No person is permitted to trap, kill, wound or maltreat any wild or domesticated bird or animal in any City park or recreation area, and no person may permit any pet to pursue, trap, kill or wound any wild or domesticated bird or animal in any City park or recreation area.
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santee city rules.
Animal Ordinances in San Diego County →