Animal Ordinances in Sonoma, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Sonoma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
The City of Sonoma allows backyard hens under Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.08.030's Table 1: up to 16 hens on lots under 10,000 square feet, more on larger lots up to a citywide cap of 50, kept in a rear-yard henhouse and pen set back 10 feet from side and rear lines. Roosters are banned.
Sonoma Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 8.08.030(A) (Table 1)
+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+------------------------------+ | Area of Regulation | Lot Size of 10,000 Square | Lot Size of Less Than 10,000 | | | Feet or Greater | Square Feet | +--------------------------------+--------------------------------+------------------------------+ ....
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Sonoma, dogs may not run at large on any public street, public place, or private property without the owner's or property owner's permission. Elsewhere in public, a dog must be restrained by a leash no longer than six feet. Guide, service, and on-duty police dogs are exempt, and a dog found at large may be impounded.
City of Sonoma Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 8.06.060
Except as provided by SMC 8.06.070, no person shall cause, permit, or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property without the permission of the property owner or premises other than those of the owner or other person in control of such dog, nor shall any person cause, permit, or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other publ...
Breed Restrictions
The City of Sonoma has no breed-specific dog law. Chapter 8.12 of the Municipal Code instead lets the city declare an individual dog potentially dangerous or vicious after an investigation and administrative hearing, based on the dog's own conduct rather than its breed.
City of Sonoma Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code §§ 8.12.010, 8.12.030
The keeping of a dog defined as potentially dangerous or vicious under this chapter shall be declared a public nuisance and shall be abated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. ... Pursuant to California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683, the city is granted the authority to adopt its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. ... An animal care a...
Beekeeping
The City of Sonoma permits residential beekeeping under Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.08.030(C)'s Table 3: up to two hives on lots of 10,000 square feet or less, up to four on larger lots, banned in commercial, mixed-use, multifamily, and mobile-home zones. Hives must sit in the rear yard, 10 feet from side or rear lines, and screened from neighbors.
Sonoma Backyard Beekeeping Standards
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 8.08.030(C) (Table 3)
+----------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------+ | Area of Regulation | 2 – 4 Hives | 5 – 10 Hives | +----------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------+ | Zoning District: | Prohibited in commercial, | Allowed only in the agricultural | | ...
Exotic Pets
The City of Sonoma bans keeping any exotic animal, defined as a wild animal the California Fish and Game Commission has declared a prohibited species, unless the owner can prove valid federal and state permits, inspections, and other required approvals. Without that paperwork, possession within city limits is unlawful under Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.06.120.
Sonoma Exotic Animal Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code §§ 8.02.040, 8.06.120
“Exotic animal” means any wild animal which the California Fish and Game Commission has declared to be a prohibited wild animal and the importation, transportation, or possession of which is unlawful except under authority of a revocable permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Game. ... No owner of any exotic animal shall maintain such animal without proof of proper federal and s...
Pet Limits
The City of Sonoma caps household pets at three dogs or three cats over four months old per dwelling unit under Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.10.020. A resident who wants one more may apply to the chief of police for a permit, subject to conditions and a fee, or the request can be denied and appealed.
Sonoma Limit on Dogs and Cats
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 8.10.020
A. No more than three dogs or three cats over the age of four months shall be permitted at a dwelling unit. Dogs or cats in greater numbers may be kept only in kennels lawfully established and maintained in places permitted by the zoning ordinance or in accordance with a permit issued pursuant to subsection (B) of this section.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
The City of Sonoma does not require all dogs to be spayed or neutered. Under Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.10.050, every dog license carries a 50 percent fee discount when the owner presents a veterinarian's certificate showing the dog has been altered. A true spay/neuter mandate exists only for dogs judicially declared potentially dangerous or vicious under Chapter 8.12.
City of Sonoma Dog License Spay/Neuter Discount
Light RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code §§ 8.10.050(A), 8.12.050(A)(4)
An annual dog license fee set by resolution of the city council shall be imposed upon every dog four months and older which is kept in the city by any person who is the owner as provided in SMC 8.10.010. If a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered, the annual license fee shall be reduced by 50 percent. ... To have the animal spayed or neut...
Microchipping
The City of Sonoma has no general microchipping law for pets. Under Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.12.050(A)(9), microchipping is required only as an abatement condition once a dog has been declared potentially dangerous or vicious after a Chapter 8.12 administrative hearing.
City of Sonoma Dangerous Dog Microchip Rule
Light RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 8.12.050(A)(9)
A. Pursuant to SMC 8.12.040, the owner of a dog determined to be potentially dangerous or vicious by the hearing officer shall be required to comply with the abatement order of the animal hearing officer which contains any or all of the following conditions: ... ... 9. To have a microchip implanted into the dog by a veterinarian or other qualified animal services professional for identification...
Pet Groomer Rules
A commercial pet grooming establishment in the City of Sonoma must provide one off-street parking space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area under the parking table in SMC 19.48.040. A groomer operating out of a home instead needs a conditional use permit, since SMC 19.50.040(F)(5) lists pet grooming among the home occupations that require one.
City of Sonoma Pet Grooming Business Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 19.48.040, Table 4-4; § 19.50.040(F)(5)
| Pet grooming | One space for each 500 sq. ft. of gross | | | floor area. | ... ... 5. Specified additional uses: direct product distribution, pet grooming, or any other use or occupation which the city planner determines is similar in nature to the previously listed uses;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
The City of Sonoma's zoning code groups veterinarians, animal hospitals, kennels and boarding operations under a single "Kennel" land use category, which appears only in the Special Purpose Zoning Districts table, requiring a use permit in the P (Public) district and disallowed in the Agricultural (A), Park (Pk) and Open Water (W) special purpose districts; a separate parking rule sets one space per 400 square feet for veterinary clinics.
Veterinary Clinic & Kennel Zoning in Sonoma
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code §§ 19.10.050, 19.48.040, 19.92.020
| Land Use (1) | A | Pk | P | W | Specific Use Regulations | ... | Kennel | – | – | UP | – | | | ... “Veterinarians, animal hospitals, kennels, boarding” means office and indoor medical treatment facilities used by veterinarians, including large and small animal veterinary clinics, and...
Bird Protection
The City of Sonoma bans hunting, trapping, harming or harassing any wild animal, reptile or bird within city parks and recreation areas, and forbids taking eggs, nests or young. Violating the rule is a misdemeanor under Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.12, enforced by the police chief.
City of Sonoma Park Wild Bird Protection
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 9.12.100
It is unlawful for any person to hunt, molest, harm, frighten, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird; or remove or have in his possession the young of any wild animal, or the eggs or nest or young of any reptile or bird.
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sonoma city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Sonoma County →