Animal Ordinances in Tracy, CA (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Tracy, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Tracy allows backyard chickens and rabbits, but bans keeping them within 25 feet of any dwelling, school, church, or hospital, pushes that buffer to 50 feet once you keep more than 30, and caps the total at 200 without a special Council permit; keeping horses, cows, or goats needs at least 20,000 square feet.
Tracy Backyard Poultry and Livestock Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code §§ 5.08.260, 5.08.270
It is hereby declared to be a nuisance and it shall be unlawful to keep or permit to be kept, upon any premises in the City, any rabbits or poultry: (a) Within twenty-five (25) feet of any dwelling, school, church, or hospital, or, (b) If more than thirty (30) in all of any such rabbits or poultry are kept, within fifty (50) feet of any dwelling, school, church or hospital. (c) If more than 200...
Dog Leash Laws
In Tracy it is unlawful to own, keep, or possess a dog anywhere in the city, licensed or not, unless the dog is kept securely enclosed in a room, pen, or enclosure, or is secured on a leash; the Police Department must impound any dog found loose and unenclosed.
Tracy Dog Leash and Enclosure Law
Some RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code § 5.08.130(j)-(k)
Dogs not allowed at large. Such license shall entitle the owner of the dog for which such license is issued to keep such dog in the City during the term for which the license was issued; provided, however, such owner at all times shall keep such dog securely enclosed in a room, pen, or enclosure or shall keep such dog secured on a leash, and it shall be unlawful for any person at any time to ha...
Breed Restrictions
Tracy does not have breed-specific legislation. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific ordinances. Dangerous animals of any breed are subject to enforcement under TMC Chapter 5.08.
Tracy Dog Breed Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 - Local control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs; no breed-specific programs
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 chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except as prov...
Pet Limits
Tracy caps households at three adult dogs and three adult cats combined; owning more without a multiple pet permit is unlawful, and even with a permit the Police Chief can never approve more than five dogs and five cats at one residence.
Tracy Multiple Pet Permit Limit
Significant RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code §§ 5.08.410, 5.08.430(b)
It shall be unlawful to own, keep or harbor more than three (3) adult dogs and/or three (3) adult cats at the same residence without first obtaining a multiple pet permit. For purposes of this section a cat or dog is considered to be an adult at four (4) months of age. ... At no time shall a permit be granted allowing more than five (5) dogs and/or five (5) cats. For the purposes of title 10 of...
Cat Rules
Tracy exempts free-roaming "community cats" from licensing and its at-large nuisance law, but anyone who feeds one must first register as a community cat caregiver with Animal Services, which can attach its own conditions to that registration.
Tracy Community Cat Caregiver Rules
Light RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code §§ 5.08.450, 5.08.460
"Community cat" is any free roaming cat that is cared for by a registered community cat caregiver; a community cat may or may not be feral. Community cats are exempt from any licensing requirements required under this chapter. "Community cat caregiver" is a person who registers with Animal Services as a community cat caregiver to provide food to community cats. A community cat caregiver is not ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Tracy doesn't require every pet to be fixed, but once Animal Services impounds the same unaltered dog or cat three or more times in its lifetime, Section 5.08.130(n) forces the owner to have it spayed or neutered, at the owner's own expense, before the animal can be redeemed.
Tracy Mandatory Spay-Neuter for Repeat Impounds
Some RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code § 5.08.130(n)
Mandatory alteration for multiple impounds. Any unaltered dog or cat impounded three (3) or more times from the same owner within the lifetime of the animal shall be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense prior to redemption. Animal Services shall provide the owner with notice of such determination. At the option of the owner, a private veterinarian may perform the spaying or neutering. In t...
Microchipping
Tracy requires every dog and cat over four months old kept within city limits for sixty days or longer to be implanted with an identifying microchip. Owners must report the microchip number to Animal Services within thirty days of the procedure, under Tracy Municipal Code section 5.08.490. New owners of adopted shelter pets must submit microchip documentation within thirty days of adoption, and transfers require updated contact information.
Tracy Mandatory Dog and Cat Microchipping
Some RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code § 5.08.490 - Requirements
(a)All dogs and cats over the age of four (4) months and kept within City limits for a period of sixty (60) days or longer must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian of the dog or cat shall provide the microchip number to Animal Services within thirty (30) days of the microchipping procedure.(b)If a dog or cat is adopted from the animal shelter and is not microchipp...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Tracy's zoning code confines veterinary clinics to the NS (Neighborhood Shopping), CS (Community Shopping) and GHC (General Highway Commercial) zones, and caps clinics at 3,000 square feet of gross floor area in the NS zone. Both "veterinary clinic" and the broader "veterinary hospital" use must be conducted entirely inside a completely enclosed building.
Tracy Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsTracy Municipal Code §§ 10.08.895, 10.08.900, 10.08.1080
10.08.895 - Veterinary clinic. "Veterinary clinic" shall mean an establishment for the general health, welfare, surgery, and preventative treatment of household pets. All uses shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building. 10.08.900 - Veterinary hospital. "Veterinary hospital" shall mean an establishment for the care and treatment of animals, including household pets, livestock, and...
Looking for San Joaquin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tracy city rules.
Animal Ordinances in San Joaquin County →