Animal Ordinances in San Mateo County, CA (2026)

San Mateo County Zoning Regulations § 8.16.020(g)(3)

On parcels of at least 2,500 sq. ft. in size, and in compliance with the conditions set forth in Title 8, Chapter 8.380 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, the keeping of no more than six (6) of the following domestic poultry: chicken and ducks. Roosters are prohibited. ... the keeping of no more than ten (10) of the following domestic poultry: chicken and ducks. Roosters are prohibited.

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 6.04.060(a)

(a)To be upon any public street, sidewalk, park, school ground, any public property, or upon any unenclosed premises in this jurisdiction unless:1)The animal is properly licensed, if such licensing is necessary hereunder; and2)The animal is controlled by a chain, lead rope, or leash, which is connected to the animal's collar, saddle, harness, or halter. This latter requirement is not applicable...

Cal. Food & Agricultural Code Sec. 31683 (Local Dangerous Dog Ordinances)

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, 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 ...

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 6.08.030

No person shall own or keep any exotic animal without first applying to and receiving from the Planning and Building Department a use permit to do so. Section 6315(u) San Mateo County Ordinance Code, Zoning Annex. The application for a Health System permit shall contain the name of the applicant, his address, the address of the proposed location of the exotic animal, (if different from the a...

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 6.20.020(a)

(a)It shall be unlawful for any person, business or entity to keep or cause to be kept five (5) or more dogs, or five (5) or more cats, or five (5) dogs and cats in any combination per dwelling unit or per business establishment unless in conformance with this chapter. In addition to any civil remedy provided for by law, a violation of any provision of this chapter may be prosecuted as an infra...

San Mateo County Code § 6.04.040(a)(1),(4)

An annual license shall be obtained, and an annual license fee shall be paid by the Owner for every dog or cat over the age of three (3) months owned or kept in unincorporated San Mateo County, and all cities within the County which adopt this Chapter. Said annual license fee shall be first due when the animal reaches three (3) months of age or within sixty (60) calendar days after the dog or c...

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 6.12.020(a)

Any person who owns or harbors within the unincorporated San Mateo County, any cat or dog over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered, shall procure either a license to keep an unaltered dog or cat or a license and permit for breeding cats or dogs issued by the San Mateo County Animal Control Program under section 6.12.030 of this chapter.

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 6.12.040(c)

No person shall offer for sale or adoption any cat, dog, or wolf hybrid on any public street, sidewalk or public park unless such person first obtains a business license to sell pets or is a recognized pet rescue/adoption agency such as Pets in Need and the Peninsula Humane Society.(d)Prior to release for adoption, any animal adopted from any animal welfare agency shall be spayed or neutered as...

San Mateo County Zoning Code § 8.68.020(f)(6)

(f) The following uses subject to securing a use permit as specified in Chapter 8.280 of Title 8. 1. Mortuaries. 2. Outdoor advertising structures or signs as defined in Sections 5202 and 5203 of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California. 3. Retail dry cleaning establishments. 4. Patio and garden supply sales. 5...

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 3.68.080(n)

All County Parks and Recreation Areas and the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge are sanctuaries for wildlife. No person shall feed, approach, disturb, frighten, hunt, trap, capture, wound, kill, chase, pursue, or disturb the natural habitat of, any wild bird, mammal, reptile, fish, amphibian or invertebrate within a County Park or Recreation Area or within any San Francisco Fish and Game Refug...