Animal Ordinances in Vallejo, CA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Vallejo, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Vallejo caps backyard chicken flocks at ten birds regardless of lot size and bans roosters citywide except on farms in agricultural zones. Zoning Code Section 16.306.02 adds coop setbacks, a six-foot height cap, and lets a residential lot hold up to eight household animals plus livestock scaled to acreage.
Vallejo Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code §§ 7.24.070; 16.306.02
On any lot in a residential zoning district, or in conjunction with any residential use in any other district, a total of eight animals (domestic or exotic) may be kept on one lot, of which not more than four may be dogs, and four cats and not more than one may be a pot-bellied pig... A.Roosters are prohibited.B.Chickens, ducks, and geese shall be kept in a securely fenced area within the rear ...
Dog Leash Laws
Vallejo law requires every dog off its owner's property to be under restraint by a leash or chain no longer than eight feet, continuously held by someone able to control the animal, whenever it is on a street, alley, park, school ground or unenclosed lot. Violations are infractions with fines that climb from $50 to $200 for repeat offenses, and the dog can be seized.
Vallejo Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code § 7.24.010
No person owning, having an interest in, harboring, or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog shall cause or permit such dog to: 1. Be in or upon any public street, road, alley, park, school ground, or other public place, unless the dog is under restraint by leash or chain of not more than eight feet in total length and continuously held by a competent person able to con...
Breed Restrictions
California law flatly bars Vallejo from writing any dog ordinance that singles out a breed. Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 lets the city adopt its own program for potentially dangerous and vicious dogs, even one tougher than the state's, but that program must judge dogs by documented behavior, never by breed, with one narrow carve-out tied to Health and Safety Code Section 122331.
Vallejo Dogs: No Breed-Specific Restrictions Under State Law
Few RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 (Local Authority Over Potentially Dangerous Dogs - No Breed-Specific Programs); §§ 31602, 31603 (Definitions)
31683. 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 ...
Beekeeping
Vallejo allows residential beekeeping in movable-frame hives, capped at three colonies per lot with setbacks of ten feet from side and rear lines and forty feet from the front. Keepers must register each colony with the county agricultural commissioner and keep a water source within ten feet of every hive.
Vallejo Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code § 7.38.020
No person may keep, maintain, or permit the keeping and maintenance of bees, except as follows: A.Each colony shall be maintained in a separate, movable frame hive, except that double queen or other multiple queen frame hives may be kept so long as the total number of colonies maintained does not exceed that permitted by Section 7.38.030.B.Colonies and hives shall be kept disease free and well-...
Exotic Pets
Vallejo outlaws keeping wild animals outright under Section 7.24.040, while a separate, narrower category, 'exotic animals' kept as pets or for display, must be registered with the animal control director under Section 7.12.140 if state law already requires them to carry a state license. The two rules work together: truly wild animals can't be kept at all, and licensed exotics need a city registration on top of their state paperwork.
Vallejo Wild Animal and Exotic Pet Rules
Heavy RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code § 7.24.040
A.The keeping of livestock, including bovines, horses, mules or burros within city limit is prohibited, except as provided in Section 7.24.055.B.The keeping of wild animals is prohibited.
Wildlife Feeding
Vallejo bans feeding wild or feral animals anywhere inside the Vallejo Municipal Marina. Under Municipal Code Section 2.68.385, no person can feed, cause the feeding of, or leave food out for any feral or undomesticated animal on marina docks, grounds, or the adjoining parking lots, and the harbormaster enforces the rule with citywide infraction and misdemeanor penalties.
Vallejo Marina Wildlife Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 2.68.385 (Feeding Animals, Marina)
2.68.385 - Feeding animals. No person shall feed, or cause the feeding of, or leave food for any feral or undomesticated animal. (Ord. 1509 N.C.(2d) § 6, 2003.)
Pet Limits
Vallejo caps residential animal keeping at eight domestic or exotic animals per lot, with no more than four dogs, four cats, and one pot-bellied pig, per Municipal Code Section 16.306.02. Roosters are prohibited outright, and poultry, livestock, and hives are regulated separately on top of that eight-animal cap.
Vallejo Household Pet Limit: 8 Animals
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 16.306.02
16.306.02 - Number of animals allowed. On any lot in a residential zoning district, or in conjunction with any residential use in any other district, a total of eight animals (domestic or exotic) may be kept on one lot, of which not more than four may be dogs, and four cats and not more than one may be a pot-bellied pig. In addition to the eight-animal total, poultry and other animals may be k...
Cat Rules
Vallejo caps household cat ownership at four animals over four months old under Section 7.04.030, the same numeric limit the code sets for dogs. Keeping a fifth cat on a lot, in a dwelling, or even aboard a boat is unlawful unless the property is licensed as a kennel or cattery under Chapter 7.32.
Vallejo Household Cat Limit: Four Per Home
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code § 7.04.030
It shall be unlawful for any owner to keep, harbor or maintain more than four cats which are over the age of four months on any lot, premises, dwelling, building, structure, boat or living accommodation, except as provided for in Chapter 7.32 of the Vallejo Municipal Code.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Vallejo won't hand an impounded dog back to its owner without addressing its reproductive status. Section 7.16.045 forces spay or neuter surgery before release for any unlicensed, unaltered dog picked up by animal services, and for any licensed dog impounded a third time within three years, unless a veterinarian confirms a medical reason the surgery can't happen yet.
Vallejo Mandatory Spay/Neuter for Repeat Dogs
Significant RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code § 7.16.045
A.Unlicensed dogs - Any unlicensed, unaltered dog impounded under Section 7.16.010 must be spayed or neutered prior to its release from the animal services department unless the dog is exempted from the license requirements under subsection A of Section 7.06.040 or has a medical exemption under subsection D of this section.B.Any licensed, unaltered dog impounded under Section 7.16.010 will be r...
Microchipping
No impounded dog or cat leaves Vallejo's animal shelter without a microchip. Section 7.16.047 requires every impounded dog or cat to be implanted with microchip identification before release to its owner, and if the animal doesn't already have one, animal services performs the procedure on the spot, billing the owner the fee listed in the department's fee schedule.
Vallejo Mandatory Microchipping at Pet Release
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code § 7.16.047
A.All dogs and cats impounded under Section 7.16.010 must be implanted with microchip identification before being released from impoundment to their owners.B.The animal services department will perform the microchip implantation procedure, at the owner's expense, on any dog or cat that does not already have microchip identification before the dog or cat is released from impoundment to its owner...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Vallejo bars small-animal veterinary facilities from operating within 200 feet of a residential use or residentially zoned district, per Municipal Code Section 16.306.03(B). The same 200-foot buffer separately applies to kennels under subsection (A) of the same chapter.
Vallejo Veterinary Clinic Zoning Buffer
Some RestrictionsVallejo, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 16.306.03(B)
16.306.03 - Animal sales and services. A.Kennels. There shall be no kennels within two hundred feet of a residential use or residentially zoning district.B.Veterinary (small animals). There shall be no veterinary facilities within two hundred feet of a residential use or residentially zoned district.
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