10 rules for unincorporated Mendocino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Mendocino County regulates backyard chickens and small animals through its Zoning Ordinance (Title 20). 'Animal raising—personal' allows hen chickens or rabbits for personal use on parcels 40,000 sq ft or less, with coops/pens kept at least 50 feet from dwellings and at least 5 feet from side/rear property lines.
In unincorporated Mendocino County, dogs may not run at large. Mendocino County Animal Care Services enforces Title 10 (Animals) of the County Code, and the county confirms owners must obey local ordinances including licensing, leash requirements and noise control, with citations issued for animals running at large.
Mendocino County cannot ban dogs by breed. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 bars any county dangerous-dog program from being breed-specific. The County instead regulates dangerous animals by conduct under Chapter 10.10 (Vicious Animals). No breed-specific ban was found in the County Code.
Beekeepers in Mendocino County must register their colonies with the County Agricultural Commissioner, consistent with California's statewide apiary-registration requirement administered through the BeeWhere/CalAgPermits system. Registration is $10 per beekeeper, and beekeepers must notify origin and destination counties within 72 hours of any hive movement.
Exotic-pet possession in unincorporated Mendocino County is governed primarily by California state law. Under 14 CCR §671, importing, transporting or possessing 'restricted' species (primates, most wild cats, bears, wolves/hybrids, many reptiles and birds) requires a Department of Fish & Wildlife permit — and permits are not issued for private pet possession.
Feeding wild big-game mammals is prohibited by California law (14 CCR §251.3): no person shall knowingly feed big game mammals such as deer and bears. Mendocino County strongly discourages feeding deer, raccoons and other wildlife, warning it inadvertently attracts mountain lions, which are common in the county.
Livestock keeping in unincorporated Mendocino County is governed by the Zoning Ordinance (Title 20) — 'animal raising—general agriculture' on parcels over 40,000 sq ft covers cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry. Mendocino is not a free-range county, so adequate perimeter fencing to contain livestock is required under California Food & Agricultural Code §17121.
Animal hoarding in unincorporated Mendocino County is addressed through California's animal-cruelty laws, enforced with the assistance of Mendocino County Animal Care Services. Under Penal Code §597, neglecting animals so they lack adequate food, water or veterinary care is a crime; §597.1 allows officers to seize animals found in immediate danger.
Unincorporated Mendocino County does not publish a simple flat household pet cap, but keeping five (5) or more dogs triggers a kennel-licensing requirement under Title 10. A certified agricultural kennel license is available where the dogs (5 or more) are used solely for herding/protection of farm animals or hunting and are not sold or traded commercially.
Unincorporated Mendocino County does not require cat licenses. Mendocino County Animal Care Services manages free-roaming feral cats through spay/neuter and return: since July 1, 2020 it spays/neuters and returns feral cats to the field rather than long-term sheltering them, and uses a Barn Cat Program. The County is not required by law to take in free-roaming feral cats.
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