Animal Ordinances in El Dorado County, CA (2026)
11 rules for unincorporated El Dorado County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
El Dorado County allows small animals like chickens and rabbits on most residential lots under Section 130.40.080, but bans roosters, guinea hens and peacocks on parcels under three acres. Medium and large livestock need larger lots and, in some cases, an Administrative Permit, while commercial apiaries must sit at least 100 feet from any neighboring property line.
El Dorado County Backyard Chicken & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 130.40.080(C)(2)
2.Small animal keeping is allowed on lots within these Residential Zones: R1, R20K, R1A, R2A, R3A, RE-5 and RE-10 provided that owners adhere to all Operation and Maintenance standards in Subsection E (Operation and Maintenance Standards) and subject to Subsection G (Administrative) below in this Section and the following:a.Poultry, fowl, and rabbits must be contained within the boundary of the...
Dog Leash Laws
El Dorado County bans letting any dog, other animal or livestock run at large on public streets or unenclosed private land, and requires any animal removed from an enclosed lot to be confined on a leash no longer than ten feet under Code section 6.12.070.
El Dorado County Leash Law: 10-Foot Limit
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 6.12.070
No person owning or having control of any animal, livestock or poultry shall permit such animal, livestock or poultry to stray or run at large upon any public street or other public place, or any unenclosed private lot or other unenclosed private place in the County with the exception of livestock on open range as defined in Chapter 6.36. A. Any animal other than working animals shall be confin...
Breed Restrictions
El Dorado County enforces state Food and Agricultural Code sections 31601 through 31683 for potentially dangerous and vicious dogs under Code section 6.12.050, adding local triggers: an off-leash attack that injures a domestic animal counts even with no human victim, and Animal Control can seek euthanasia once a hearing declares a dog vicious.
El Dorado County Dangerous & Vicious Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 6.12.050
A. Food and Agriculture Code §§ 31601 to 31683 shall be operative in the County for the control of potentially dangerous and vicious dogs except as modified in this section. B. Potentially dangerous dog defined. A potentially dangerous dog is any dog which qualifies as a potentially dangerous dog in accordance with Food and Agricultural Code § 31601. Additionally, any dog which while off it's o...
Beekeeping
El Dorado County regulates apiaries under Chapter 6.44 of the County Code. Residential beekeepers face no hive-count cap or commercial spacing rule, but must fence bees away from schools, get landowner permission, tag hives with an ID sign, and keep a firebreak and shovel ready in forest-land areas.
El Dorado County Apiary and Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 6.44.170
A.No commercial location may be established within two miles of another commercial location unless the other commercial beekeeper agrees to a closer distance. The commercial beekeeper in an area first shall have rights to that area.B.If any County grower requests the services of a commercial beekeeper to provide colonies of bees for the purpose of pollination of his or her commercial crop, the ...
Exotic Pets
El Dorado County requires anyone keeping a wild animal, drawn from the Fish and Game Code's list of non-domesticated species, to hold a permit from the Director of Animal Control on top of any required State permit, under Code section 6.28.050.
El Dorado County Wild Animal Possession Permit
Significant RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 6.28.050
A. Applicability. The provisions of this section shall govern all aspects of the possession and keeping of wild animals within the County. B. Definition. ... the term "wild animal" means any animal of the class Aves (birds), class Mammalia (mammals), class Amphibia (frogs, toads, salamanders), class Osteichtyes (bony fishes), class Monorhina (lampreys), class Reptilia (reptiles), class Crustace...
Wildlife Feeding
El Dorado County makes it an infraction to knowingly feed any wild mammal in the South Lake Tahoe watershed, and to feed coyotes, mountain lions, deer or bears anywhere else in the County, under Code section 6.28.055; a violation is also declared a public nuisance subject to abatement.
El Dorado County Wildlife Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 6.28.055
A. In the South Lake Tahoe watershed within the County, as delineated on the official maps of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, no person shall knowingly and willfully feed or in any manner provide access to food to any wild animal, as defined in Section 6.28.050, of the class Mammalia (mammals). B. In all portions of the County not specified in Subsection A of this section, no person shall k...
Pet Limits
El Dorado County classifies any home keeping five or more dogs, or five or more cats, at least four months old as a 'noncommercial kennel' or 'noncommercial cattery' under Code section 6.04.020. Reaching that fifth animal triggers a mandatory Animal Control license plus a special use permit under section 6.25.020, so households effectively cap out at four dogs or four cats before licensing kicks in.
El Dorado County: 5+ Dogs or Cats Needs a Permit
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code §§ 6.04.020, 6.25.020(C)
Kennel means any enclosure, premises, building, structure, lot or area in or on which five or more dogs of at least four months of age are kept, harbored or maintained. ... Noncommercial cattery means any place where five or more live domestic cats of at least four months of age are kept or maintained solely for the use or hobby of the householder or owner. Noncommercial kennel means any place ...
Cat Rules
El Dorado County requires a license for any noncommercial cattery keeping five or more cats over four months old, under Code Sections 6.25.010 and 6.25.020. Licensed catteries need a special use permit, rabies proof for every cat, and must confine all cats indoors between 9:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., limiting kitten sales to three litters a year.
El Dorado County Licenses Catteries of Five-Plus Cats
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code §§ 6.25.010, 6.25.020
Noncommercial kennels and catteries shall denote kennels and catteries as defined in Section 6.04.020 wherein dogs or cats are kept and maintained for the hobby of the householder. ... Noncommercial kennels and catteries shall be licensed by the Animal Control Officer. ... All noncommercial kennels and catteries shall be subject to the following regulations: A.All dogs or cats kept on the prope...
Pet Groomer Rules
El Dorado County requires a license from the Director of Animal Control to operate a pet grooming parlor and holds it to sanitation standards under Code sections 6.24.010 and 6.24.025, including disinfecting tools between animals and a ban on leaving pets unattended on the grooming table.
El Dorado County Pet Grooming Parlor Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code §§ 6.24.010, 6.24.025
No person shall own or operate a commercial kennel, pet shop, pet grooming parlor, public aquarium, equine rental facility, cattery, or protection dog facility without first applying to and receiving from the Director of Animal Control a license to do so. ... A. All scissors, combs, brushes and clippers to be disinfected with a suitable germ killing agent between each animal groomed. ... E. Ele...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
El Dorado County zones veterinary clinics as an Agricultural Support Service under Code Section 130.40.070, not as a by-right use. Depending on road access and neighborhood impact, a clinic needs an Administrative Permit, a Minor Use Permit with Ag Commissioner review, or a Conditional Use Permit with full Ag Commission review.
El Dorado County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Permits
Significant RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 130.40.070 (Agricultural Support Services), referencing Table 130.21.020 (Agricultural, Rural Lands and Resource Zone Districts Use Matrix)
D.Uses Requiring an Administrative Permit. Uses allowed by Administrative Permit in compliance with Section 130.52.010 (Administrative Permit, Relief, or Waiver)...:1.Shall have direct access to a County-maintained roadway or State Highway.2.Shall have no impact to traffic, noise or neighboring parcels.E.Uses Requiring a Minor Use Permit. Uses allowed by a Minor Use Permit in compliance with Se...
Bird Protection
El Dorado County bans disturbing nesting Canada geese in Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, at any time and by any means during the annual breeding closure. Section 12.68.030 protects the geese from April 1 through the first Friday before Memorial Day, while Section 12.68.020 bars anyone from coming within 200 feet of Fannette Island in that window.
El Dorado County Canada Goose Nesting Protection
Heavy RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code §§ 12.68.020, 12.68.030
No person shall approach within 200 feet of Fannette Island in Emerald Bay during the period of April 1 to the first Friday preceding Memorial Day inclusive of each year by any means including, but not limited to, vessels, boats or airplanes. ... No person shall disturb nesting geese in Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California, at any time, by any means whatsoever, during the period of April 1 to th...
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