Animal Hoarding: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do animal hoarding rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
Daly City and South San Francisco have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City does not have a stand-alone 'animal-hoarding' ordinance, but the conduct is reachable through Daly City Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), Title 7 (Health and Sanitation), and Title 8 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare), and is heavily backstopped by California state law. Cal. Penal Code §597 makes it a misdemeanor or felony to fail to provide food, water, shelter, and veterinary care to any animal - the core fact pattern of hoarding. Cal. Penal Code §597.9 separately bars any person previously convicted of animal cruelty from owning or possessing animals for 5 years (misdemeanor) or 10 years (felony). The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (Coyote Point Shelter) handles animal-control intake and cruelty investigations for San Mateo County.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no separate 'hoarding' ordinance, but its permit tiers cap how many animals a household may keep and its animal-care standard prohibits neglect. Keeping animals without proper food, water, shelter, or care violates the County Code, and severe neglect is a crime under California Penal Code Section 597.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Primary state law | Cal. Penal Code §597 (animal cruelty) | - |
| Post-conviction ban | Cal. Penal Code §597.9 (5 or 10 yrs) | - |
| Local backstop | Daly City Muni Code Titles 6, 7, 8 | - |
| Investigating agency | Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA | - |
| Maximum fine (PC §597) | $20,000 + forfeiture | - |
| Dedicated hoarding ordinance | - | None; handled via permit limits, care standard, and state cruelty law |
| Permit limits | - | Up to 10 animals (fanciers permit); more than 10 (kennel/cattery) |
| Care standard | - | Proper food, water, shelter, care required (Section 6.04.070(d)) |
| Permit revocation | - | For inhumane treatment or failure to provide care (Section 6.16.070) |
| State crime | - | Animal neglect/cruelty under CA Penal Code Section 597 |
| Report to | - | Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Does Daly City have its own hoarding ordinance?
Daly City does not have a stand-alone animal-hoarding ordinance. Local enforcement uses Daly City Muni Code Title 6 (Animals), Title 7 (Health and Sanitation), and Title 8 (Public Peace) to address sanitation and nuisance conditions, and refers cruelty cases to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA for prosecution under Cal. Penal Code §597.
Who investigates a suspected hoarding case?
Reports go to Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA's Coyote Point Shelter (650-340-7022), which provides animal-control and humane-officer services for San Mateo County jurisdictions including Daly City. The shelter's humane officers can apply for warrants and seize animals under Cal. Penal Code §597.1. Daly City code enforcement may parallel-track the housing and sanitation violations.
Can a convicted hoarder get pets again?
Not for years. Cal. Penal Code §597.9 prohibits any person convicted of animal cruelty under §597 (or related statutes) from owning, possessing, maintaining, or caring for animals for 5 years (misdemeanor conviction) or 10 years (felony conviction). Violating that ban is a separate offense punishable by a $1,000 fine.
South San Francisco FAQ
Is animal hoarding illegal in unincorporated San Mateo County?
There is no separate hoarding ordinance, but the County limits how many animals you may keep (an animal fanciers permit up to ten, a kennel/cattery permit for more than ten) and requires proper food, water, shelter, and care under Section 6.04.070(d). Serious neglect is a crime under California Penal Code Section 597.
How do I report suspected animal neglect or hoarding?
Report it to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, the County's contracted animal control agency, which investigates neglect and can pursue criminal charges when owners fail to provide proper and adequate food, water, shelter, and medical care. Severe cases are prosecuted under California Penal Code Section 597.
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