16 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in Riverside County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Keeping chickens (crowing fowl) in unincorporated Riverside County is governed by Land Use Ordinance No. 348. Fowl are not allowed on lots under 7,200 sq. ft. On residential lots of that size, up to 4 hens and 0 roosters are permitted; larger and agricultural parcels allow more, with strict enclosure setbacks.
In unincorporated Riverside County, Ordinance No. 630 makes it unlawful for any dog to run at large. Off its owner's premises, a dog must be physically restrained by a leash held by a person capable of controlling it. Voice, eye, or signal control alone does not satisfy the requirement.
Unincorporated Riverside County requires mandatory spaying or neutering of pit bull breeds. Under the County Code (Section 6.08.125, adopted via Ordinance No. 921), no person may own or possess a pit bull over four months of age that has not been spayed or neutered, with limited exemptions such as registered breeders and assistance dogs.
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 treated as an agricultural use under Land Use Ordinance No. 348, which lists apiaries among permitted agricultural activities in the A-1 (Light Agriculture) zone. Under California law, apiaries must also be registered with the County Agricultural Commissioner.
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's Ordinance No. 630 defines exotic and wild animals and requires any exotic or hybrid animal to be vaccinated and/or quarantined per state law. Possession of most exotic species is controlled by California's restricted-species law (14 CCR § 671), which bars private pet ownership of listed wild animals without a Fish and Wildlife permit.
Riverside County adopted Ordinance No. 934, the Prohibiting the Harassment and Feeding of Undomesticated Burros Act, making it an infraction to feed or harass wild burros in unincorporated areas such as Reche Canyon and Pigeon Pass. Feeding big-game wildlife is separately restricted under California law.
Land Use Ordinance No. 348 controls livestock in unincorporated Riverside County. In agricultural zones, grazing of cattle, horses, sheep, and goats is limited to five animals per acre (triple that for sheep or goats). Noncommercial hog-raising is capped at five hogs, with parcel-size minimums.
Riverside County has no ordinance using the word "hoarding," but Ordinance No. 630's kennel/cattery licensing thresholds, inspection powers, and public-nuisance provisions, combined with California Penal Code Section 597 animal-cruelty law, give Animal Services the tools to address hoarding situations and seize neglected animals.
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 No. 630 does not cap household pets at a small number, but keeping five or more dogs (four months or older) triggers a mandatory kennel license, and ten or more cats triggers a cattery license. Kennels also require Planning Department zoning verification under Ordinance 348.
Riverside County Ordinance No. 630 requires that unspayed or unaltered cats four months or older not be allowed outdoors in the unincorporated areas. Cat licensing is optional, but microchipping of all cats over four months is mandatory, and unaltered cats must be spayed or neutered.
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.
8 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
10 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
10 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
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