Animal Ordinances in Placer County, CA (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Placer County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Placer County's 2011 Fowl and Poultry Ordinance allows up to six chicken hens in Residential Single-Family, Multi-Family, and Resort zones on lots of at least 5,000 sq ft. Roosters, guinea hens, and peahens are prohibited. Larger hen counts apply in agricultural and forest zones.
Placer County Backyard Chickens & Hens
Light RestrictionsPlacer County Zoning Ordinance § 17.56.050(F)(6) - Fowl and Poultry
Fowl and Poultry. The number of fowl or poultry that may be kept on a site where allowed by Subsection D is not limited by this section except as follows: a. In the combining Agricultural (-AG) zone district (where the site must be no less than one-half acre for any such animals to be kept) and in the Residential-Forest (RF) zone district (where the site must be no less than one acre for any an...
Dog Leash Laws
Dog and other animal owners in unincorporated Placer County may not let their animals run at large. County Code § 6.08.010(A) bars owners from allowing any animal off their property and unrestrained; § 6.04.020 defines "at large" as being off the owner's premises without a leash, lead, or adequate enclosure. Animal Services enforces the rule and can impound violators.
Placer County Dog At-Large & Leash Law
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code §§ 6.04.020, 6.08.010(A)
"At large" means an animal off the premises of its owner and not under restraint by lead, leash or adequate enclosure. ... It is unlawful for the owner of any animal to violate any of the provisions of this chapter hereinbefore or hereinafter set out, or to commit any of the following acts: A. To allow any animal to run at large;
Breed Restrictions
Placer County has no breed-specific ban. The County regulates dogs individually through a potentially-dangerous and vicious-dog process under Code Section 6.08.030, which supplements California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31621 et seq. and is based on a dog's behavior, not its breed.
Placer County Dog Breed Restrictions
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Food & Agricultural Code § 31683
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, and that may include similar requirements as this chapter, provided that no program shall regulate these dogs in a manner that is specific as to breed.
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is allowed in Placer County zones that permit it, but hives must meet County Code § 6.32.030's registration, water, setback, and quantity rules. All beekeepers must register annually with the county agricultural commissioner, commercial and pollinator apiaries need 50-foot property-line setbacks, and residential single-family lots are capped at two colonies.
Placer County Beekeeping Setback & Registration Rules
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 6.32.030
All beekeepers must register with the commissioner as required under the Apiary Protection Act. ... Commercial and Pollinator Apiary Separation. Commercial and pollinator apiaries must comply with the following setback requirements: 1. A 50 foot setback is required from all property line boundaries. ... Non-Commercial Apiary. Non-commercial apiaries must be set back 25 feet from neighboring pro...
Exotic Pets
Placer County treats carnivorous, poisonous, or non-native 'zoo' animals as a distinct, more heavily regulated category: keeping any such exotic or dangerous animal requires at minimum an administrative review permit, and a minor use permit if it is carnivorous or poisonous, under County Code § 17.56.050(F)(15).
Placer County Exotic & Zoo Animal Keeping Rules
Significant RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 17.56.050(F)(15)
Zoo Animals. The raising or keeping of animals other than those specified in subsections (F)(1) through (F)(14), (F)(16) and (F)(17) of this section that are common to zoos, or are carnivorous, poisonous or are not native to North America, is considered to be a "zoo," and is subject to the following requirements: ... For carnivorous and/or poisonous animals, or animals determined by the plannin...
Pet Limits
Placer County zoning Section 17.56.050(F)(16) limits households to four dogs, four cats, or a combination of four in RS and RM residential zones; up to eight is allowed with a private kennel/cattery permit. Limits rise to six (and more with permits) in agricultural and forest zones.
Placer County Dog & Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Zoning Ordinance § 17.56.050(F)(16)(a) - Dogs and Cats, RS and RM Zones
Residential Single-Family (RS) and Residential Multifamily (RM) Zones. In the RS and RM zone districts, the keeping of no more than four dogs, four cats or a combination of such animals (four months of age or older) not to exceed a total of four, is allowed... However, up to eight dogs, eight cats or a combination of such animals (four months of age or older) not to exceed a total of eight, may...
Cat Rules
Placer County does not require cat owners to license their pets, unlike dogs. Under County Code § 6.12.010(J), a cat license is available only if the owner requests one and shows a current rabies vaccination certificate, with the same annual fee dogs pay under Section 2.116.110. The code also formally defines "feral cats" for impoundment purposes at § 6.20.010(D).
Placer County Cat Licensing & Feral Cat Rules
Light RestrictionsPlacer County Code §§ 6.12.010(J), 6.20.010(D)
At the request of an owner and upon showing of a valid certificate of rabies vaccination, a license for a cat may be issued and an annual fee in an amount as set forth in Section 2.116.110 shall be charged and collected. ... "Feral cats" are cats with temperaments that are completely unsocialized as defined by California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31752.5.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Placer County does not mandate spay or neuter surgery for every pet, but every dog or cat adopted from the county shelter must be spayed or neutered before release. County Code § 6.20.050(C) requires the surgery before delivery to the adopter, or a refundable deposit if the animal is too young or sick, forfeited if surgery isn't done within six months.
Placer County Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 6.20.050(C)
When any dog or cat is to be adopted pursuant to this chapter, prior to the delivery of the animal by the owner, the animal shall be spayed or neutered by a veterinarian. If the animal is too young or sick as certified by a licensed veterinarian then there shall be deposited by the purchaser with animal services, a spaying or neutering deposit, which shall be designated for the veterinarian, fo...
Microchipping
Placer County has no general microchipping mandate for pet dogs and cats. But if a dog is formally declared potentially dangerous or vicious under County Code § 6.08.030, its owner must have it microchipped and spayed or neutered within 30 days of the order, at the owner's own expense, under § 6.08.050(C)(1).
Placer County Dangerous Dog Microchipping Rule
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 6.08.050(C)(1)
Within 30 days of the order that the dog is potentially dangerous or vicious, or prior to release of the dog, if the dog has been impounded under this section, the owner of the dog shall, at the owner's sole expense, complete the following and deliver proof of the same to animal services: 1. Have the dog spayed or neutered, and have the dog microchipped;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals are a defined commercial land use in Placer County, not an 'animal keeping' activity. Placer County Code § 17.04.030 classifies them as 'medical services - veterinary clinics and hospitals,' and each zone district table sets its own permit requirement, from a Minor Use Permit in farm and agricultural zones to a simple zoning clearance in highway-commercial zones. They are not a listed use in the Residential Single-Family (RS) district at all.
Placer County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 17.10.010(B)
B. Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements. The following land uses are allowed in the F zone as provided by Section 17.06.050 (Land use and permit tables), subject to the land use permit shown for each use, any applicable specific standards, and all other applicable provisions of this chapter. ... Medical services - Veterinary clinics and hospitals MUP
Animal Ordinances by City in Placer County
1 cities in Placer County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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