Animal Ordinances in Tulare, CA (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Tulare, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Tulare regulates animal keeping under Title 6 Chapter 6.12 (Tulare Animal Ordinance) and Title 10 zoning. Livestock at large is prohibited (§ 6.12), and animals must not become a public nuisance (§ 6.12.210). Commercial agricultural operations are exempted under Cal. Civ. Code § 3482.5 (Right to Farm) — important in dairy-heavy Tulare County.
Backyard Chickens & Livestock in Tulare
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Tulare Municipal Code § 6.12.310 prohibits any dog from straying off the owner's property unless restrained by a leash or lead not exceeding eight feet. Off-leash dogs are 'at large' and subject to impoundment. Narrow exceptions cover peace-officer/SAR dogs, sanctioned obedience or competition events, livestock-herding dogs working ranch operations (a Central Valley ag-area carve-out), hunters' dogs while hunting, and dogs inside a designated leash-free park or enclosure. The 8-foot cap matches the typical California standard and is shorter than retractable leashes set beyond 8 feet, which technically violate the code.
Dog Leash Law — 8-Foot Maximum, Off-Leash Only in Designated Areas
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Tulare does NOT ban or restrict any dog breed. California Food & Ag. Code § 31683 prohibits cities and counties from declaring any breed (including pit bulls) 'potentially dangerous' or 'vicious' based on breed alone — those determinations must rest on individual dog behavior under Cal. Food & Ag. Code §§ 31602–31683. The same statute does, however, permit breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter and breeding programs. Tulare Muni Code §§ 6.12.380 et seq. adopt a citywide spay/neuter framework: all dogs and cats in Tulare must be altered unless the owner obtains an 'Unaltered Animal Certification' under § 6.12.410. Licensing is conditioned on proof of spay/neuter or a valid unaltered certificate.
No Breed-Specific Bans — Spay/Neuter Required for All Licensed Dogs
Some RestrictionsBeekeeping
Beekeeping in Tulare is governed primarily by Tulare County's apiary code (Chapter 5, Agriculture) administered by the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner, plus California Food & Agricultural Code Division 13 (Bee Management). Apiaries must be registered, identified, and sited to allow pesticide-notification coordination — Tulare County is a top-50 US ag county with extensive crop spraying.
Beekeeping & Apiary Registration in Tulare
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
Exotic pet ownership in Tulare is governed primarily by California Code of Regulations Title 14 § 671, which lists hundreds of 'Restricted Species' that cannot be possessed without a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). CDFW does not issue permits for private pet possession. Tulare Municipal Code § 6.12.050 incorporates the state definition by reference: an 'exotic animal' is any wild animal the California Fish and Game Commission has declared prohibited.
Exotic & Restricted Pets in Tulare
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Tulare has no city-specific wildlife-feeding ordinance. State law controls: 14 CCR § 251.1 prohibits harassing wildlife (which CDFW interprets to include feeding that disrupts normal behavior), and 14 CCR § 251.3 specifically prohibits feeding big-game mammals (deer, bear, elk). Local enforcement may proceed under Tulare Municipal Code § 6.12.210 (animal nuisances) or § 7.28 (general nuisance) if feeding attracts rodents or creates a public-health problem.
Feeding Wildlife in Tulare
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Animal hoarding is prosecuted under California Penal Code § 597 (animal cruelty) — neither Tulare nor California sets a specific numeric threshold. Hoarding is charged whenever overcrowding compromises animal welfare, nutrition, or veterinary care. Tulare Municipal Code § 6.12.210 (animal nuisances) provides local civil/abatement enforcement; Cal. Penal Code § 597 provides criminal sanctions (misdemeanor or felony 'wobbler').
Animal Hoarding in Tulare
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Tulare County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tulare city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Tulare County →