Animal Ordinances in Riverside County, CA (2026)

Riverside County Code § 17.24.010

The noncommercial keeping of horses on lots not less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in area and one hundred (100) feet in width, provided they are kept not less than one hundred (100) feet from any street and twenty (20) feet from any property line. A maximum of two horses per twenty thousand (20,000) square feet and, in any event, not more than four horses on a lot will be permitted...

Riverside County Code § 6.08.140

It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in charge of any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to permit such dog to run at large.

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...

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 ...

Riverside County Code § 17.04.120

"Menagerie." a. Any lot or premises on which one or more wild animals of the following types are kept: (1) Venomous reptiles. (2) Non-venomous reptiles that weigh more than ten (10) pounds... (3) Birds... that weigh more than twenty (20) pounds... (4) Mammals that weigh more than twenty (20) pounds. ... c. A wild animal that has been tamed or trained shall be considered a wild animal.

Riverside County Code § 6.24.060

Except as provided in Section 6.24.060 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to feed, or in any manner, provide food to any burro that is not owned or lawfully possessed by that person.

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 Code § 6.08.030

It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, harbors, or keeps any unspayed or unaltered cat four months of age or older within the unincorporated area of Riverside County to allow or permit such unspayed or unaltered cat to be or remain outdoors in such unincorporated areas.

Riverside County Code § 6.08.120

No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog or cat in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with this chapter. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must have the animal spayed or neutered or provide a certificate of sterility.

Riverside County Code § 6.08.130

All dogs and cats over the age of four months must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to the department, and shall notify the department of any change of ownership of the dog or cat, or any change of address or telephone number.

Riverside County Code § 5.72.030

"Mobile operator." Businesses that are operated on a mobile basis utilizing a motor vehicle to visit customer locations to carry out services. This term includes, but is not limited to mobile operated businesses involving motor vehicle washing, pest control services, carpet, drape or furniture cleaning, concrete mixing, masonry, painting, landscaping, mobile pet groomers, pool cleaning, and por...

Riverside County Code § 17.94.020(B)(1), (C)(1)

B.The following uses shall be permitted provided a plot plan has been approved pursuant to provisions of chapter 17.216 of this ordinance... 1.Animal hospitals, not including any outdoor facilities. ... C.The following uses shall be permitted provided a conditional use permit has been approved pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17.200 of this ordinance:1.Animal hospitals and veterinary offic...