Animal Ordinances in Simi Valley, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Simi Valley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
To keep chickens or other farm animals in Simi Valley, the parcel must be inside the City's Animal (A) Overlay Zone (or the more restrictive Limited (L) Overlay Zone), or must be at least 20,000 square feet with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) under Simi Valley Municipal Code § 9-44.060. Roosters are separately capped at four (4) per parcel under the adopted Ventura County Code § 4494-3, with a 40-foot setback from neighboring residences.
Farm Animals Require Animal Overlay Zone or CUP
Significant RestrictionsVentura County Code § 4494-3 (Rooster keeping), adopted by Simi Valley Ord. 1337; Simi Valley Municipal Code § 9-44.060 (Animal Keeping)
4494-3 - Rooster keeping. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Ventura County Ordinance Code, no person shall keep, maintain, control or harbor five (5) or more roosters on any parcel of real property within unincorporated Ventura County. This Section shall not apply to commercial poultry ranches whose primary commodity is the production of eggs or meat for sale as permitted by the Co...
Breed Restrictions
Simi Valley does not have a breed-specific ban. California Food & Agricultural Code § 31683 prohibits any local dog-control program from being specific as to breed (except for spay/neuter and breeding requirements under HSC § 122331). The City instead uses the adopted Ventura County 'potentially dangerous' and 'vicious' dog framework (VCC §§ 4470-3 through 4470-17) based on a dog's actual behavior.
No Breed-Specific Ban; State Law Preempts
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code § 3342(a) (Dog Bite Statute); cf. Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 (preempting breed-specific local programs)
The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness. A person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner within the meaning of this section when he ...
Beekeeping
Simi Valley allows beekeeping in the RMod, RM, RL, RVL, RE, and OS zones, with a Zoning Clearance required on lots between 10,000 square feet and three acres outside an animal overlay zone. Hives are capped at two per property, must sit 20 feet from a property line at the entrance, and 50 feet from any neighboring home.
Simi Valley Beekeeping Standards
Some RestrictionsSVMC § 9-44.060(D)(1)(a)-(d), (k)
1.Beekeeping. Beehives and beekeeping practices shall be permitted in the RMod, RM, RL, RVL, RE, and OS Zones as follows:... All beekeeping activities outlined in SVMC Section 9-44.060.D.1. a through d listed above are subject to the following standards: a.A bee hive shall consist of one queen bee and her colony. No more than 2 hives are allowed per property, unless otherwise permitted with the...
Exotic Pets
Exotic and wild animal ownership in Simi Valley is regulated by both state law and the municipal code. California Fish and Game Code restricts many species, and Simi Valley may impose additional restrictions on keeping non-domestic animals in residential areas.
Simi Valley Exotic Pet Regulations
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671
Restricted Species Permits are required for every person who imports, exports, transports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in Section 671(c), Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) (PDF) . Entitlements Fee Description Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment New: $155.53 Renewal and Amendment: $80.60 Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of a...
Wildlife Feeding
Simi Valley prohibits intentionally feeding crows or ravens anywhere in the City. Property owners cannot allow feeding of these birds on their land or the adjoining right-of-way, and the ban covers every species in the Corvus genus.
Simi Valley Bans Feeding Crows and Ravens
Heavy RestrictionsSimi Valley Municipal Code Sec. 6-1.1201
No person shall intentionally feed crows or ravens anywhere within the City limits of the City of Simi Valley. No owner or person in control of property shall cause or allow the intentionally feeding of crows or ravens on their property or the right-of-way abutting that property. This prohibition shall apply to all birds in the genus Corvus, and "crows" shall mean any species of crow and "raven...
Pet Limits
Under Simi Valley Development Code § 9-44.060 (Animal Keeping), a maximum of four (4) domestic dogs, cats, and/or Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs (in any combination) may be kept on a single residential lot in the OS, RE, RVL, RL, RM, RMod, RH, RVH and MH zones. Keeping five or more dogs or cats for commercial purposes constitutes a 'kennel' under the adopted Ventura County Code and requires a county-issued kennel license.
Maximum 4 Dogs, Cats, or Pot-Bellied Pigs Per Lot
Some RestrictionsVentura County Code § 2592 (adopted by Simi Valley Ord. 1337); see also Simi Valley Municipal Code § 9-44.060 (Animal Keeping) for the residential 4-pet limit
2592 - Kennel defined. A 'kennel' within the meaning of this Article means any place or premises where at any given time five (5) or more dogs or cats over the age of four (4) months are kept for commercial purposes. For the purposes of this Section, 'commercial purposes' include boarding, grooming, breeding, training, sale, adoption and related purposes for which some valuable consideration is...
Cat Rules
Simi Valley allows small-scale cat breeding, up to four adult cats with two litters a year, in every residential zone with just a Home Occupation Permit for sales. Breeding five or more cats on a single-family lot requires a Conditional Use Permit, a Ventura County kennel license, and annual County inspections.
Simi Valley Cat Breeding Permit Limits
Some RestrictionsSVMC § 9-44.060(D)(3)(a), (c)
3.Breeding of dogs and cats in Residential Zones.a.Cat breeding activities for no more than four adult cats (cats over four months in age), with a limit of two litters born per household per calendar year, is allowed in all residential zones. A Home Occupation Permit is required for the sale of the cats. ... c.Cat breeding involving five or more cats is allowed on properties, which have a detac...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Simi Valley expressly deleted the Ventura County spay/neuter mandate it otherwise adopted by reference. Section 6-1.201 removes former Section 4421 in its entirety, so the City has no local requirement that owned dogs or cats be sterilized.
Simi Valley Has No Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law
Few RestrictionsSimi Valley Municipal Code Sec. 6-1.201 (Deletion: Section 4421, Spay/neuter requirements)
For purposes of this chapter, Section 4421 of the Ventura County Code is found to be inapplicable to the City of Simi Valley and is hereby deleted from this chapter in its entirety.
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet grooming shops are a permitted use by right in Simi Valley's Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial, and Planned Development Commercial zones under Table 2-5 of the Development Code. The use is barred outright, with no conditional use permit path, in Office Commercial, Regional Commercial, Community Commercial, Business Park, and all three industrial zoning districts.
Simi Valley Pet Grooming Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsSimi Valley Municipal Code §§ 9-26.030 (Table 2-5), 9-80.020
P Permitted Use (2) CUP Conditional Use Permit required HP Home Occupation Permit required — Use not allowed LAND USE (1) PERMIT REQUIRED BY DISTRICT MU (9) CO CN CR CC CPD CI BP (9) LI GI Pet grooming P — P — — P — — — — (2) A Planned Development Permit (Section 9-52.050) is also required prior to any construction. Pet Grooming. A business providing pet washing and other grooming services.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals need a Conditional Use Permit in most Simi Valley commercial zones and are permitted by right only in the Planned Development Commercial (CPD) district. Table 2-5 of the Development Code bars the use entirely from the Mixed-Use, Regional Commercial, Community Commercial, and all three industrial zones.
Simi Valley Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsSimi Valley Municipal Code §§ 9-26.030 (Table 2-5), 9-80.020
P Permitted Use (2) CUP Conditional Use Permit required — Use not allowed MU (9) CO CN CR CC CPD CI BP (9) LI GI Veterinary clinics, animal — CUP CUP — — P — CUP — — Veterinary Clinics, Animal Hospitals. Office and indoor medical treatment facilities used by veterinarians, including large and small animal veterinary clinics, and animal hospitals. Kennels and boarding operations are commercial...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Simi Valley need a City Conditional Use Permit and can only operate on residential lots in the Limited Farm Animal overlay zone of at least 20,000 square feet. Only indigenous California wildlife may be treated, and mountain lions, bear, deer, and other big game are barred outright.
Simi Valley Wildlife Rehab Facility Permit
Significant RestrictionsSVMC § 9-44.050(C)(1)-(4), (9)(c)
C. Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities. Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities (Wildlife Facilities) are facilities, whose purpose is the care and release back into the natural environment, of injured and orphaned wild animals. Wildlife Facilities shall comply with the following standards.1.Wildlife Facilities must be located on Residential properties in the Limited Farm Animal-overlay zone, have a ...
Looking for Ventura County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Simi Valley city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Ventura County →