Animal Ordinances in Marin County, CA (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Marin County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Marin County, the Development Code (Title 22, Chapter 22.32) permits the keeping of up to 12 fowl and/or 12 rabbits or similar small animals as 'Livestock Operations, Small Animals.' Large livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, hogs) and equestrian uses are separately defined and zone-restricted.
Backyard Chickens and Small Livestock Standards
Some RestrictionsMarin County Development Code, Title 22, Ch. 22.32 (Livestock Operations, Small Animals; Chicken Coop definitions)
Livestock Operations, Small Animals. The raising or keeping of up to 12 fowl and/or 12 rabbits or similar animals. Excludes commercial hog raising, dairying, and larger livestock operations. Chicken Coop. A structure designed to completely enclose chickens on all sides as well as below and above.
Dog Leash Laws
Marin County bans dogs from running at large in parks, schools, commercial districts, game refuges and public watershed land under Section 8.04.160, and Section 8.04.175 separately requires every dog to stay under the immediate control of a responsible person at all times. Inside San Quentin Village, Section 8.04.176 goes further and mandates an actual leash no longer than six feet.
Marin County Dog At-Large and Leash Rules
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances §§ 8.04.160, 8.04.175, 8.04.176
8.04.160. It is unlawful for the owner/guardian or person having control of any dog to permit the same, under any circumstances, to run at large in any public parks, or in any school, or upon any school grounds, or in any commercial district, or in any game refuge, or in any public watershed area; and every dog found running at large in violation of the provisions of this section shall be immed...
Breed Restrictions
Marin County has no breed-specific ban. California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 preempts local breed-based bans, although mandatory spay/neuter ordinances by breed are permitted. The County instead regulates individual dogs through its Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dog ordinance, § 8.04.181.
No Breed Ban; Dangerous/Vicious Dog Rules Apply
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code § 8.04.181 (Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dogs)
The owner/guardian of a dog found potentially dangerous under this section, who has no additional violations of any of the provisions of Title 8 of the Marin County Code... within a 36-month period from the date of designation as potentially dangerous, shall be removed from the list of potentially dangerous dogs by the Director.
Beekeeping
Marin County does not zone or cap backyard hives; the Development Code simply lists beekeeping as an allowed agricultural production use. The county's real regulatory bite lands in the Fire Code: inside a designated hazardous fire area, no one may use lighted or smoldering material to smoke bees without a permit from the Fire Code Official.
Marin County Bans Bee-Smoking in Hazardous Fire Areas
Light RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 16.16.060 (WUI Code Appendix A, § 104.13)
Section A104.13 is hereby added to Appendix A of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code and shall read as follows: Section 104.13 APAIRIES. Lighted or smoldering material shall not be used in connection with smoking bees in or upon hazardous fire areas except by permit from the Fire Code Official.
Exotic Pets
Marin County bans keeping any wild or undomesticated animal anywhere in the unincorporated county under Section 8.04.182, a list defined in Section 8.04.183 that runs from big cats and bears to venomous snakes and elephants. Section 8.04.225 layers a second, residential-only ban on any non-domestic cat, and violating either is a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine.
Marin County Ban on Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances §§ 8.04.182, 8.04.183, 8.04.184, 8.04.225
8.04.182. No person shall board, have, keep, maintain, display, or have in his/her possession or control, for any length of time, in any area, any wild and/or undomesticated animal, as defined in Section 8.04.183 of this chapter. 8.04.184(c). (c)Penalty. Any person or entity other than a licensed California wildlife rehabilitator or an American Zoological Association (AZA) accredited facility, ...
Wildlife Feeding
It is unlawful to intentionally feed coyotes, mountain lions, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, opossums, turkeys or any other non-captive wild animal anywhere in unincorporated Marin County under Section 8.04.226. The only exception covers people legally trapping wildlife who use food as bait.
Marin County Ban on Feeding Wild Animals
Heavy RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 8.04.226
(a)No person shall intentionally feed or in any manner knowingly provide food for non-captive wild and/or undomesticated animals as defined in Section 8.04.183 of this chapter, including, but not limited to, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, opossums and turkeys.(b)This section shall not apply to persons legally engaged in trapping wild animals with devices utilizing fo...
Pet Limits
Marin County Code § 8.04.185 establishes a limitation on the number of dogs per household. Under the Title 22 Development Code, keeping six or more household pets four months or older constitutes a 'kennel' subject to discretionary permitting.
Limit on Number of Dogs; Kennel Permit Triggers
Significant RestrictionsMarin County Development Code, Title 22 (Definitions – Kennels and Animal Boarding; Household Pets)
Kennels and Animal Boarding. Regulates the keeping of six or more household pets at least four months of age or older. Household Pets. Permits the keeping of cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals determined by the Director to be comparable.
Cat Rules
Marin County requires every cat to be vaccinated against rabies, whether owned by a household or a colony caretaker, under Section 8.04.040(b) of the county code. Unlike dogs, cats need no annual county license, but veterinarians must report vaccinations to the animal services agency within thirty days, and unvaccinated cats can be denied return from the shelter.
Marin County Cat Rabies Vaccination Mandate
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 8.04.040
(b)All cats shall be vaccinated against rabies. Any person in possession, control or ownership/guardianship of any cat shall have that cat vaccinated against rabies.(c)Any veterinarian operating either at an established place of business or at a mobile clinic shall provide a copy of a rabies vaccination certificate for any cat or dog vaccinated by him/her to the animal services provider within ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Any grooming business operating in unincorporated Marin County is a "commercial animal establishment" under the county code and cannot open without a permit from the county's animal services agency. The permit carries an annual fee set by the Board of Supervisors, expires after twelve months, and triggers a delinquency charge if not renewed on time. Operating without one is a misdemeanor.
Marin County Pet Grooming Business Permit
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 8.04.240
It is unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any commercial animal establishment without first obtaining a permit therefore. An annual permit fee may be established by separate ordinance of the board of supervisors. Such permit shall expire on the last day of the twelfth month from the date of issue. In the event that application for renewal is not made on or before the date of expirati...
Bird Protection
When a biological assessment finds a high chance of nesting birds on a construction site, Section 22.20.040(G) of Marin's Development Code requires work that could disturb them, tree removal, grading, or other site disturbance, to happen outside the February 1 to August 15 nesting season or clear a pre-construction survey and buffer zone first.
Marin County Nesting Bird Construction Buffer Rule
Some RestrictionsMarin County Development Code § 22.20.040(G)
G.Nesting Bird Protection Measures (excluding Northern Spotted Owl). For the purposes of protecting nesting birds, outdoor construction activity that involves tree removal, grading, or other site disturbances in an area where a biological assessment has identified a high probability of the presence of nesting birds are subject to the requirements enumerated below before and during site preparat...
Animal Ordinances by City in Marin County
1 cities in Marin County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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