Animal Ordinances in Tustin, CA (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Tustin, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Tustin bans roosters citywide except on large R-1 lots inside the Cultural Resources Overlay District, and separately requires a use permit to keep any equine, bovine, swine, sheep, or goat, limited to the R-A District and select Planned Community areas under City Code Sections 4221 and 4222.
Tustin Rooster Ban and Livestock Use Permit
Significant RestrictionsTustin City Code §§ 4221(a), 4222
(2)More than ten (10) birds, fowl, hamsters, white rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, nonpoisonous snakes, insects or rabbits or any combination thereof. No crowing type birds or fowl are authorized with the exception of roosters which are permitted pursuant to regulations contained in subsections (a)(3) and (b).(3)More than one (1) rooster on R-1 (single-family) District lots within the Cultura...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Tustin, dogs and other animals must be leashed, tethered, caged or otherwise physically restrained any time they are brought into a City park under Tustin City Code Section 4225. Owners must also clean up after their animals, and pets are barred from playgrounds, sandboxes and sports courts.
Tustin Leash Rule for Dogs in Parks
Some RestrictionsTustin City Code § 4225(a)-(b)
No person shall bring into any park any animal, reptile or fowl of any kind, unless such animal is, at all times, physically restrained and controlled by leash, tether, cage or other device. Nor shall any person bring into any public park any animal that constitutes a safety hazard or detriment to the enjoyment of the area by the public. ... It shall be the responsibility of any person having c...
Beekeeping
Tustin caps residential beekeeping at one beehive or colony per parcel under City Code Section 4221(a)(4), and that single occupied hive must sit at least 100 feet from any adjacent residential structure, street, or highway, well beyond a typical backyard.
Tustin Backyard Beekeeping Limit and Setback
Some RestrictionsTustin City Code § 4221(a)(4)
(a)It shall be unlawful to keep, maintain, or cause to be kept or maintained on any single parcel of property the following in the City: ... (4)More than one (1) beehive or colony. No occupied beehive shall be closer than one hundred (100) feet from any adjacent residential structure or street or highway.
Exotic Pets
In the City of Tustin, keeping any wild animal as a pet is illegal under Tustin City Code Section 4223. The ordinance defines wild animals broadly to cover any species that is not naturally tame, and only exempts zoos, licensed veterinary hospitals, permitted entertainment uses, accredited educational institutions and a short list of small pets like hamsters and turtles.
Tustin Bans Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsTustin City Code § 4223
The term "wild animal" means and includes any animal, reptile, fowl, or fish which is not naturally tame or gentle but is of a wild nature or disposition or which is known to be vicious and or dangerous to the health or safety of people who might come in contact with it, and which must be kept in confinement to be brought within the immediate power of the owner. ... It is unlawful for any perso...
Pet Limits
A Tustin household cannot keep more than three dogs or three common house cats, or any combination of the two, on a single parcel under City Code Section 4221(a)(1); the limit excludes puppies and kittens under three months old, and the cap does not apply to licensed pet shops or kennels.
Tustin Caps Dogs and Cats at Three Per Home
Some RestrictionsTustin City Code § 4221(a)(1)
(a)It shall be unlawful to keep, maintain, or cause to be kept or maintained on any single parcel of property the following in the City:(1)More than three (3) dogs or more than three (3) common house cats, except those under three (3) months of age, or any combination thereof.
Pet Store Rules
Tustin does not ban retail pet sales outright, but a pet shop cannot open without a County-issued permit. City Code Section 4206 defines a pet shop as any commercial dealer in live animals, including fish, birds, and reptiles, and Section 4207 makes it unlawful to run one in Tustin without first obtaining a license from the Orange County Health Officer.
Tustin Pet Shop Licensing Requirements
Some RestrictionsTustin City Code §§ 4206, 4207
Pet shop means any person or facility engaged in the sale or trade of live animals, including fish, birds and reptiles, on a commercial basis. ... It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on animal exhibitions, animal rental establishments, commercial stables, grooming parlors, kennels, or pet shops within the City of Tustin for animal care...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Tustin, pet grooming is a permitted service business use in the C1 Retail Commercial District under the zoning code, but only when conducted wholly within an enclosed building alongside barber shops, massage establishments and similar personal-service uses. A groomer whose business model does not match the listed description needs a Community Development similarity determination before opening, and outdoor wash stations or kennel runs are not part of the permitted use.
Tustin Pet Grooming Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsTustin City Code § 9232a
2.Service businesses, exemplified by the following list, including any retail sales incidental thereto, when conducted within a building:(a)Banks, financial institutions and savings and loans (including those providing drive-thru service). ... (k)Massage establishments.(l)Pet Grooming.(m)Reprographics. ... (u)Tutoring facilities.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary clinics and small-animal hospitals in the City of Tustin must keep every animal inside an enclosed, air-conditioned, soundproof building under City Code § 9271h, and the facility has to be designed so no odor reaches beyond the property line. The zoning code separately lists animal hospitals and clinics as a conditionally permitted use in the C1 Retail Commercial District, requiring a Conditional Use Permit before one can open.
Tustin Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsTustin City Code § 9271h
One (1) caretaker apartment shall be permitted incidental to an animal hospital. Said apartment shall be used solely by persons employed in the hospital for caretaker duties. ... Small animal hospitals or clinics shall be subject to additional provisions hereinafter set forth: (1)All animals shall be kept within an enclosed, air conditioned, soundproof structure.(2)Said hospitals or clinics sha...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tustin city rules.
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