10 rules for unincorporated San Benito County, California.
Verified from official government sources
On single residential (RS) and rural living (RL) zoned property in unincorporated San Benito County, residents may keep up to 12 small farm animals total in any combination, per Zoning Code Section 25.08.013. Coops must be kept clean, vermin-free, and odor-free, and animals may not disturb the peace.
In unincorporated San Benito County, dogs off their owner's property must be restrained by leash or confined in a vehicle, cage, or similar enclosure. Loose, unrestrained dogs may be impounded, with a reclaiming fee to retrieve them. Enforcement is handled by San Benito County Animal Care & Services.
San Benito County does not impose breed bans. California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits cities and counties from adopting breed-specific dog ordinances, except for spay/neuter and breeding programs. The County regulates individual dogs by dangerous or vicious behavior, not by breed, under its Title 13 animal ordinance.
Anyone keeping bees in San Benito County must register their apiary annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food & Agricultural Code Section 29040, by January 1 (or within 30 days). A $10 annual fee applies; counties may waive it for hobbyists with nine or fewer colonies. Hive placement on residential property is governed by the County Zoning Code.
Possession of exotic and wild animals in San Benito County is governed mainly by California law. California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 671 lists 'restricted species' that may not be kept without a state permit, and the Department of Fish & Wildlife does not issue permits for exotic pets. Counties may add their own restrictions.
We found no San Benito County ordinance that specifically bans feeding wild animals in unincorporated areas. Wildlife is primarily managed under California Department of Fish & Wildlife rules, and intentionally feeding big-game mammals such as deer and bears is prohibited statewide. Feeding that attracts nuisance wildlife can still trigger County nuisance and animal-keeping rules.
San Benito County is an agricultural county where cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are common. Livestock keeping is set by the County Zoning Code by district: small farm animals are limited to 12 on RS/RL parcels under Section 25.08.013, while agricultural and rural districts allow broader livestock use. A 2025 proposal to tighten rural livestock density was pending, not adopted.
San Benito County Animal Care & Services investigates animal cruelty and neglect, which often underlies hoarding. California Penal Code Section 597 makes it a crime to neglect or fail to provide proper food, water, shelter, and care for animals, and Section 597.1 lets officers seize neglected animals. Keeping excess animals also violates County zoning animal limits.
In residential areas of unincorporated San Benito County, the general allowance is roughly 2 dogs and/or 2 cats, with the exact number depending on the parcel's zoning. Dog and cat keeping is addressed in the County Zoning Code's animal-keeping section (25.08.013); rural and agricultural zoning allows more, and keeping many animals may require a kennel permit.
Cats are not required to be licensed in unincorporated San Benito County, but they must have a current rabies vaccination. There is no cat leash law. Like dogs, cats count toward household animal limits under the County Zoning Code, and a cat that bites is subject to California's rabies-quarantine rules.
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