Animal Ordinances in Napa County, CA (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Napa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Napa County Code Chapter 6.18 (Keeping of Roosters), as amended by Ordinance 1431 effective Feb. 1, 2026, prohibits roosters on parcels under 0.5 acre, allows 1 rooster on 0.5-1.5 acres, and 4 roosters on parcels over 1.5 acres. Roosters must have water, shelter, room to spread wings and turn around, sanitary housing, a 50-foot setback from neighboring dwellings, and may not be tethered. Hens and other livestock are regulated by zoning (Title 18).
New rooster caps; Ch. 6.18 keeps poultry on rural parcels
Significant RestrictionsNapa County Code Chapter 6.18 (Keeping of Roosters), as amended December 2025; eff. Feb. 1, 2026
Rooster Limits by Parcel Size: Less than 0.5 acres - 0 roosters; 0.5 to 1.5 acres - 1 rooster; Greater than 1.5 acres - 4 roosters. Roosters must be provided sufficient room to spread both wings fully and to be able to turn in a complete circle without any impediment and without touching the side of an enclosure, and clean and sanitary premises that are kept in good repair. Enclosures shall mai...
Breed Restrictions
Napa County does not ban any dog breed. California Food & Agricultural Code 31683 prohibits cities and counties from enacting breed-specific dog programs except for spay/neuter and breeding rules. HSC 122331 likewise forbids declaring any breed potentially dangerous or vicious. Napa County uses its conduct-based Dangerous Animals ordinance (Chapter 6.16) instead.
No breed bans; California law preempts breed-specific rules
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Food & Agricultural Code section 31683
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, cities and counties may enact dog control ordinances that are not specific as to breed. This section does not affect any rights of an owner of a dog under any other provision of law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vi...
Beekeeping
Napa County Code Chapter 6.12 (Beehives), as amended by Ordinance 1377, requires apiaries to use moveable-frame hives in sound condition and be screened from neighboring dwellings and public walkways. California Food & Agricultural Code section 29040 and Title 3 CCR 6654 require every beekeeper to register hive locations annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner through the BeeWhere system.
Ch. 6.12 beehive rules; mandatory BeeWhere state registration
Some RestrictionsNapa County Beekeeping Program (citing Cal. Food & Ag. Code 29040; 3 CCR 6654; Napa County Code Ch. 6.12, Ord. 1377)
California Food and Agricultural Code section 29040 requires every beekeeper register their hives each year starting January 1st. Registration is done through BeeWhere, California's electronic hive tracking system. Growers must check for nearby colonies before pesticide application under Title 3 California Code of Regulations section 6654(a).
Pet Limits
Napa County Code Title 6 does not set a numerical limit on the number of dogs or cats a household in the unincorporated area may keep. Cat limits were discussed by the Board of Supervisors in December 2025 (referencing Sacramento County's 4-cat cap) but have not been adopted. Every dog over four months must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated under Cal. Health & Safety Code 121690.
No county-wide pet number cap; state law and nuisance rules apply
Some RestrictionsCal. Health & Safety Code section 121690(a)-(b)
Every owner of a dog, after the dog attains the age of four months, shall no less than once every two years secure a license for the dog as provided by ordinance of the responsible city, city and county, or county. License fees shall be fixed by the responsible city, city and county, or county at an amount necessary to cover all or any part of the costs incurred in carrying out this chapter. Ev...
Animal Ordinances by City in Napa County
1 cities in Napa County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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