Animal Ordinances in Butte County, CA (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Butte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Butte County Zoning § 24-158 allows animal keeping on parcels of at least one acre, generally at one animal unit per acre on parcels 1 to 20 acres, with up to fifteen hens per 5,000 square feet of fenced yard or pen and no roosters on any parcel less than five acres.
Animal keeping: 1 animal unit/acre, 15 hens per 5,000 sq ft, no roosters under 5 acres
Some RestrictionsButte County Zoning Code § 24-158 (Animal keeping)
Hens are limited to fifteen (15) maximum per five thousand (5,000) square feet of fenced yard area or pen. Roosters shall not be permitted on any parcel less than five (5) acres in size. No animal keeping shall be allowed on parcels less than one (1) acre in size.
Dog Leash Laws
Butte County bans dogs from running loose under Section 4-1, and Section 4-1.5 adds a specific leash standard for the unincorporated areas near Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville and Paradise: a flexible rope, strap, cord or chain no longer than six feet, kept in the effective control of a capable adult. Violations are infractions with fines that climb from $50 to $300 per Section 4-1.4.
Butte County Dog At-Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 4-1.5
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in sections 4-1 through 4-1.3, this section shall apply in the unincorporated areas of the county as described in section 4-1.6. Within the unincorporated areas described in section 4-1.6, it shall be unlawful for any person owning, possessing or having custody or control of a dog, except a service dog, to allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or un...
Breed Restrictions
Butte County does not impose any breed-specific ban or designation of dangerous or vicious dogs. California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 expressly preempts breed-specific potentially-dangerous or vicious designations; only spay/neuter and breeding ordinances may be breed-specific under Health and Safety Code § 122331.
No breed-specific dangerous-dog rules; state preempts
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 (Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 668, Sec. 1)
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 as prov...
Beekeeping
Butte County's Zoning Ordinance classifies "large-scale bee keeping" as an Intensive Animal Operation. Table 24-19-1 marks that use "not allowed" in all eleven residential zones, from Foothill Residential through Very High Density Residential, and Table 24-22-1 bars it in every commercial and mixed-use zone too. Large-scale apiaries are conditionally permitted only in the Agriculture and Agriculture Services zones, where a Conditional Use Permit is required.
Large-Scale Beekeeping Banned in Butte County Homes
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 24-304 (Definitions - Intensive Animal Operations); Table 24-19-1 (§ 24-19, Residential Zones)
Intensive Animal Operations. The raising or fattening of animals in a manner that produces potentially adverse environmental impacts or adverse impacts to neighboring properties. Examples of Intensive Animal Operation uses include dairies, hog farms, feedlots, aquaculture, confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), large-scale bee keeping, and other similar operations. Animal Processing; Anima...
Exotic Pets
Keeping any wild or exotic animal in unincorporated Butte County requires a permit from the public health director under Section 4-30 of the county code. Applicants describe the species, numbers and housing, pay a fee set in the county's master fee schedule, and renew annually for $50, with a $25 late fee after thirty days. The department can deny, revoke or condition the permit on inspection results.
Butte County Wild and Exotic Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 4-30
No person shall own, possess, keep, have, maintain or harbor any wild or exotic animal without first applying to and receiving from the public health director or authorized designee a permit to do so.
Pet Limits
Butte County does not set a numeric cap on the number of household pets, but once an owner keeps enough dogs to trigger the 'kennel' definition in zoning section 24-165, a Minor Use Permit or Administrative Permit and a minimum two-acre parcel are required, and a personal hardship kennel may not exceed ten dogs.
No household pet cap; kennel permit at 5+ dogs
Significant RestrictionsButte County Zoning Code § 24-165 (Kennels)
Personal hardship kennels shall allow no more dogs than specified under the permit, not to exceed ten (10) dogs. All kennel structures and facilities shall be setback a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) feet from any property line.
Cat Rules
Every domestic cat over four months old in Butte County must carry a current rabies vaccination under Section 4-20 of the county code, with immunity maintained through a vaccine good for thirty-six months. The public health department also runs a welfare-check program under Section 4-20.2, letting two neighboring households trigger a home visit when unsanitary or overcrowded cat conditions create a public-health nuisance.
Butte County Cat Rabies Vaccination Law
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 4-20
Any person who owns a domestic cat over four (4) months of age in Butte County shall have such cat vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination shall be maintained current with a vaccine approved for use by the California Department of Public Health for a duration of immunity of thirty-six (36) months.
Microchipping
Butte County does not require microchips for ordinary pets, but Section 4-51 of the dangerous animal permit article makes chip implantation mandatory for any animal already declared dangerous. As a condition of keeping the animal, the owner must pay to have a microchip assigned by the public health department implanted, on top of a three-foot maximum leash, a secure enclosure, warning signage and $100,000 in liability insurance.
Butte County Dangerous Animal Microchip Rule
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 4-51(i)
(h)In addition to any registration tag required to be worn pursuant to this chapter, the animal shall at all times wear a separate tag issued by the public health director designating it as a dangerous animal.(i)The owner of the animal shall, at his or her expense, have a microchip assigned by the public health department, implanted.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Butte County's Zoning Ordinance classifies veterinarian clinics under the "Animal Services" land use. In the General Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Community Commercial and Mixed Use zones, a vet clinic needs a Conditional Use Permit from the Planning Commission before it can open. The Recreation Commercial and Sports and Entertainment zones bar the use outright, and only four rural residential zones allow it at all.
Vet Clinics Need a CUP in Butte County
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 24-304 (Definitions - Animal Services); Table 24-22-1 (§ 24-22, Land Use Regulations for Commercial and Mixed Use Zones)
Animal Services. Any establishment that keeps animals for sale or hire provides medical treatment for animals on the premises or regularly offers temporary boarding facilities for animals. Examples of Animal Services uses include veterinarian clinics, commercial dog and cat grooming businesses, animal hospitals, commercial kennels, and animal shelters.
Bird Protection
In every county-owned park and playground in unincorporated Butte County, it is unlawful to discharge a firearm or to injure or kill any bird or animal. A companion rule for Bidwell River Park bars the same conduct unless the Director of Public Works first grants permission, keeping wildlife protection consistent across the county's park system.
Butte County Bans Bird Harm in Parks
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 16-9
It is unlawful to discharge a firearm, or injure or kill any bird or animal in any park or playground owned or controlled by the county.
Animal Ordinances by City in Butte County
1 cities in Butte County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Butte County ordinances
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