16 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 6 cities in Riverside County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Under Riverside County Ordinance 348, chickens and small livestock are allowed on most residential-agricultural (R-A), rural residential (R-R), and agricultural (A-1, A-2) parcels. On standard residential (R-1) parcels, small numbers of hens may be kept subject to setback and coop standards. Roosters and larger flocks generally require parcels of 1 acre or more.
Riverside County Ordinance 630 requires dogs in public places and on private property not owned by the dog's owner to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under physical control. Off-leash is permitted only in posted designated areas. Violations carry fines and can escalate to impoundment for repeat offenses.
Unincorporated Riverside County does not impose breed-specific legislation. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 bars any local law that declares a dog dangerous based solely on breed. Riverside County Ordinance 630 regulates potentially dangerous and vicious dogs by behavior, not breed. Mandatory spay/neuter can apply only to individual dogs declared dangerous.
California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 (Chapter 9. Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dogs)
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, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except as prov...
Beekeeping in unincorporated Riverside County is regulated under Ordinance 348 and California Food & Agricultural Code §29001+. Apiaries must be registered annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner. Hives are typically permitted on agricultural and rural residential parcels with setbacks from property lines; residential beekeeping is more limited.
California Food and Agricultural Code Section 29040 (Article 4. Registration and Identification of Apiaries)
Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year in which they ...
California Fish & Game Code §2118 and California Code of Regulations Title 14 §671 prohibit keeping most exotic wildlife (big cats, primates, venomous reptiles, wolves, alligators) as pets in California, including Riverside County. Riverside County Ordinance 630 enforces state law and requires permits where state allows exotics (typically for USDA-licensed exhibitors).
Riverside County Ordinance 630 and California Fish & Game Code §251.3 prohibit intentionally feeding big-game mammals (bears, deer, coyotes, mountain lions). Feeding wildlife creates dangerous habituation and triggers public-safety responses. Bird feeders are generally allowed but can be cited if they attract rodents, bears, or create a nuisance.
Unincorporated Riverside County allows livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, goats) on agriculturally zoned parcels under Ordinance 348. Typical minimums are 1 acre for the first horse or cow and 20,000 sq ft per additional animal, with setback and sanitation rules. Wine Country, Aguanga, Anza, and the Banning Pass are notable horse regions.
Riverside County enforces animal hoarding through Ordinance 630 cruelty provisions and California Penal Code Section 597, allowing RCDAS to seize animals when health, sanitation, or welfare conditions are compromised.
California Penal Code Section 597 (Title 14. Malicious Mischief)
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c) of this section or Section 599c, a person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal, is guilty of a crime punishable pursuant to subdivision (d). (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), a person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overl...
Riverside County Ordinance 630 limits residential properties to four dogs and four cats over four months old without a kennel or cattery permit, with stricter caps in subdivided residential zones.
Riverside County Ordinance 630 requires owned cats over four months old to wear ID, be vaccinated against rabies, and discourages free-roaming through nuisance provisions enforced by RCDAS.
Riverside County Ordinance 630.10 requires all dogs and cats over four months in unincorporated areas to be spayed or neutered unless the owner holds a valid intact-animal permit from RCDAS.
Riverside County requires all licensed dogs and cats to be microchipped with current owner contact information registered to a recognized national database, enforced through RCDAS at licensing renewal.
Riverside County follows California Department of Fish and Wildlife guidance: coyotes are not relocated, attractants must be removed, and hazing by residents is encouraged, with depredation permits required for lethal removal.
California AB 485 prohibits Riverside County pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs, cats, or rabbits unless sourced from shelters or rescues, enforced locally by RCDAS and county code compliance.
Riverside County pet grooming businesses must meet zoning under Ordinance 348, obtain a county business license, comply with Public Health sanitation standards, and meet Ordinance 630 humane-handling rules.
Riverside County Ordinance 348 permits veterinary clinics in commercial and limited industrial zones, with overnight boarding and outdoor runs requiring conditional use permits and noise-buffer setbacks from residences.
6 cities in Riverside County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
12 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
8 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
See every category we cover for Riverside County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Riverside County Ordinance Hub →