Animal Ordinances in Ventura, CA (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Ventura, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Ventura, keeping chickens or other fowl as livestock in the R-1 single-family zone requires a lot of at least one acre under the zoning code's Animal Husbandry standards, capped at two adult animals per acre and four total per site, unless the birds are part of a 4-H or group-sponsored project under a director's permit.
Chickens and Livestock in Ventura's R-1 Zone
Significant RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 24.210.050(L)
L. Animal Husbandry – Livestock Animals. Animal Husbandry uses involving livestock animals are permitted in the R-1 zone only to the extent allowed by this subsection: 1. Animal Husbandry uses carried out in the R-1 zone are limited to the raising of dogs, cats, horses, cows, oxen, sheep, goats, and fowl, not including roosters; 2. No such livestock animals shall be raised, kept, or maintained ...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Ventura, Municipal Code Section 8.50.030(A) requires any animal brought onto a public beach along the Pacific Ocean to be on a leash held continuously by a person able to control it. The city also adopts Ventura County's animal control ordinance by reference under Section 8.50.010, and off-leash exercise is allowed only in two designated city parks under posted rules.
Ventura Dog Leash Law: Beaches and Public Property
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code §§ 8.50.010, 8.50.030(A)
Chapter 4 of Division 4, Animals, of the Ventura County Ordinance Code is hereby adopted by reference by the city of San Buenaventura to the extent such does not conflict with this code. In the instance of conflicting provisions, the provisions of this code shall apply. ... A. ... No person shall bring onto or allow to remain on any public beach adjacent to the Pacific Ocean or any bay or inlet...
Beekeeping
The City of Ventura prohibits beekeeping outright. Municipal Code Section 8.50.050 makes it unlawful for anyone to have, keep, maintain or possess any bees on any premises in the city, with a single narrow exception for bees kept inside a school or laboratory for educational or scientific purposes.
Ventura Bans Keeping Bees Citywide
Heavy RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 8.50.050
No person shall have, keep, maintain, or have in their possession or under their control any bees in or upon any premises except when kept within a school or laboratory for educational or scientific purposes.
Exotic Pets
In the City of Ventura's R-1 single-family zone, only a short list of wild animals, such as chipmunks, turtles, raccoons, certain monkeys, nonpoisonous snakes and raptors, may be kept as pets, and only noncommercially with state Fish and Wildlife permits; the R-1-B beach zone and R-2 duplex zone ban wild animals outright.
Wild and Exotic Animal Limits in Ventura
Heavy RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 24.210.050(O)
O. Wild Animals. Wild animals may be permitted in the R-1 zone only if all the following requirements of this subsection are met: 1. The only wild animals that may be permitted are: a. Chipmunks or squirrels. b. Turtles. c. Raccoons. d. Marmoset, spider or squirrel monkeys. e. Nonpoisonous snakes. f. Hawks, falcons or other raptors. 2. No such wild animal may be kept or maintained unless any an...
Wildlife Feeding
In the City of Ventura it is unlawful to feed squirrels, pigeons, rats or feral cats along the waterfront, defined as within 500 feet of the Pacific Ocean's mean high tide. Adopted in 2002, the ban targets nuisance animals near the pier, harbor and beaches, with penalties that escalate from an infraction to a misdemeanor.
Feeding Wildlife Ban in Ventura
Significant RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code §§ 20.200.010, 20.200.020, 20.200.030
It is unlawful for any person to feed, offer food, or in any manner provide food as sustenance to any nondomesticated animal, including squirrels, pigeons, rats, or feral cats, along the waterfront within the limits of the city of San Buenaventura. ... “waterfront” means any public way or place within 500 feet of the mean high tide of the Pacific Ocean including but not limited to any public: b...
Pet Groomer Rules
In the City of Ventura, a dog grooming salon or pet store is defined by Section 24.115.330(A) of the Municipal Code as an Animal Sales and Services: Grooming and Pet Stores use, and it is a use permitted outright, with no discretionary permit, in the C-1 limited commercial zone under Section 24.232.020.
Pet Grooming Shop Zoning in Ventura, CA
Few RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code §§ 24.115.330(A), 24.232.020(B)
A. Animal Sales and Services: ... Grooming and Pet Stores. Grooming or selling of animals. Typical uses include dog bathing and clipping salons, pet grooming shops, and pet stores and shops. ... The following use types are permitted, ... subject to the provisions of this chapter: ... B. General. ... Animal Sales and Services: Grooming and Pet Stores.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Ventura, a veterinary clinic or animal hospital for small animals is defined by Section 24.115.330(B) of the Municipal Code as an Animal Sales and Services: Veterinary use, and Section 24.232.020 lists it as a use permitted outright, without a discretionary permit, in the C-1 limited commercial zone.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Ventura
Few RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code §§ 24.115.330(B), 24.232.020(B)
B. Animal Sales and Services: ... Veterinary. Veterinary facilities which may provide veterinary services for small animals, including facilities where small animals may sometimes be kept overnight for medical purposes only. Typical uses include pet clinics, dog and cat hospitals, animal hospitals for domestic animals and offices for veterinarians who provide off-site veterinary services. ... T...
Bird Protection
Ventura requires bird-safe building design within the Harbor Mixed-Use Development (HMXD) zone at Ventura Harbor. Municipal Code Section 24.248.140(M) caps untreated glass at 35 percent of any facade on new buildings and major renovations, requires bird-deterring glazing, restricts nighttime lighting, and bans reflective "bird trap" features that kill birds by collision.
Bird-Safe Building Rules for Ventura Harbor
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 24.248.140(M)
M. Bird-Safe Buildings Standards. All new buildings, and major renovations of existing buildings, shall be required to comply with bird-safe building standards for facade treatments, landscaping, lighting, and building interiors as follows: 1. Untreated glass or glazing shall not comprise more than 35 percent of a building facade. 2. Acceptable glazing treatments include: fritting, netting, per...
Looking for Ventura County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ventura city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Ventura County →