Animal Ordinances in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)
11 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Barbara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, chickens and poultry are regulated as "small non-hoofed animals" under the County Land Use & Development Code Section 35.42.060. Hens are generally allowed in residential and agricultural zones without numeric caps, but roosters and peacocks are restricted, and enclosures must sit at least 25 feet from a dwelling on another lot.
Santa Barbara County Chickens and Backyard Poultry Rules
Light RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 7-67 (Ord. 5200, adopted Jan. 23, 2024)
Each rooster on a premise shall be housed in an enclosure that is located a minimum of 25 feet from property lines and 150 feet from any dwelling located on another lot. Rooster keeping operation permits shall not allow more than twenty-five (25) roosters to be kept or maintained on any premise regardless of the property size.
Dog Leash Laws
Dogs and other animals in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must be kept under restraint whenever they're on public or private property without that property owner's permission. An unrestrained animal is declared a public nuisance under County Code Sec. 7-11 and can be seized and impounded on the spot.
Santa Barbara County Dog Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 7-11
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having custody and control of any animal to fail to keep such animal under restraint when such animal is in or upon any public or private property or area without the express permission of the owner or custodian of such property or area.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having custody and control of any animal to stake out or tethe...
Breed Restrictions
Santa Barbara County does not impose breed-specific bans. County Code Chapter 7, Article VIII (Vicious and Restricted Dogs), Sections 7-53 through 7-62, regulates dogs by behavior, not breed, defining "restricted" and "vicious" dogs based on aggression and bite history, consistent with California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683.
Santa Barbara County Dangerous Dog and Breed Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 7-54 & 7-60 (Ord. Nos. 3856, 4059)
'Vicious dog' means: (a) Any dog that engages in or has been found to have been trained to engage in exhibitions of illegal fighting; or (b) Any dog which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts severe injury to a person, as defined in Section 7-54, or kills a person... A dog determined to be a restricted dog shall be properly licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinat...
Beekeeping
Santa Barbara County's beekeeping ordinance keeps apiaries away from roads, neighbors and dry brush in the unincorporated area. Hives must sit at least 300 feet from any property line or road (except while pollinating crops) and at least 600 feet from a neighbor's dwelling without that neighbor's written permission.
Santa Barbara County Beekeeping Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 7-31
No person shall place or keep an apiary, or cause to allow an apiary to remain so close to a public or private road used by the public as to constitute a nuisance or hazard to persons using such road. Except when pollinating crops, no apiary shall be located within three hundred feet of a property line or road. No person shall place or keep an apiary, or cause or allow an apiary, to remain clos...
Pet Limits
In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, Land Use & Development Code Section 35.42.060.F.1 limits households to no more than three dogs per lot as an accessory residential use. County Code Chapter 7 defines a kennel as a premises where four or more dogs four months or older are kept, which requires a kennel use permit.
Santa Barbara County Pet Limit Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Chapter 7 (whereas clauses, Ord. 17-_____)
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section §121690 and California Code of Regulations §§2606 and 2606.4 the local county health department is responsible for rabies control activities within the County; and pursuant to Food and Agriculture Code §30801 state law authorizes the County to license dogs.
Cat Rules
Unaltered cats six months or older need a county unaltered animal license and tag, valid one year, before their owners may keep them in Santa Barbara County. At the shelter, staff must verify whether an unclaimed stray cat is genuinely feral before deciding between the standard adoption hold and euthanasia or rescue transfer.
Santa Barbara County Cat Licensing and Feral Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Secs. 7-18(4), 7-13(d)
4.Unaltered Cat Licenses.(a)It shall be unlawful to own or have custody of an unaltered cat six months of age or older unless an unaltered animal license has been procured.(b)Upon payment of the license fee and the presentation of a current veterinary certificate, the county shall issue an unaltered animal license and cat license tag to the person paying the license fee. The cat tag shall be wo...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Every dog or cat over six months old in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must be spayed or neutered, unless the owner instead buys an unaltered animal license after a licensed veterinarian certifies, in writing, that breeding is appropriate. County Code Sec. 7-18(1) sets the mandate and its narrow exceptions.
Santa Barbara County Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 7-18(1)-(2)
1.Unaltered Animal License for Responsible Owners.(a)Owners of dogs and cats shall act responsibly when considering whether to breed their dog or cat.(1)Spaying or neutering of dogs and cats is recommended.(2)Owners of dogs and cats may purchase an unaltered animal license from animal services if a California licensed veterinarian issues a veterinary certificate stating in writing that the owne...
Pet Groomer Rules
Grooming shops in unincorporated Santa Barbara County cannot open without a county grooming shop permit, renewed every January 1. Animal Services will only issue one after confirming the facility meets state care standards and sits in a zoning district that allows it.
Santa Barbara County Grooming Shop Permits
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 7-6
(a)It shall be unlawful to establish or maintain a kennel, cattery, rooster keeping operation, pet shop or grooming shop without having obtained a county kennel, cattery, rooster keeping operation, pet store or grooming shop permit. ...(c)A pet store or grooming shop permit shall be granted only after the animal services director or designee has determined that:(1)The pet store or grooming shop...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the county's AG-I and AG-II agricultural zones, an animal hospital needs a Minor Conditional Use Permit (AG-I) or a Land Use Permit (AG-II) under Development Code Table 2-1, and every animal must be kept in a fully enclosed, soundproof building so odor and noise do not reach nearby homes.
Santa Barbara County Animal Hospital Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County LUDC Sec. 35.21.030, Table 2-1, Note (6)
(6) All animals shall be kept within a completely enclosed, soundproof building designed to eliminate outdoor odor and reduce the level of noise so that adjacent residential properties will not be adversely affected in any way by noise or odors. [Table 2-1: Medical services - Animal hospital: AG-I — MCUP(6); AG-II — P(6)]
Bird Protection
Sec. 26-26 makes it unlawful to injure, take, kill or molest any bird, or disturb its habitat, within a Santa Barbara County park, beach, trail or other recreation area in the unincorporated county, unless the community services director or a deputy director issues a permit. The same section also protects other wildlife.
Santa Barbara County Bird Protection in Parks
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 26-26
Sec. 26-26. - Injuring, killing or molesting animals. No person shall injure, take, kill or molest any bird, mammal, reptile or other animal or disturb its habitat in any county recreation area except by permit of the director of community services, or deputy director.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Santa Barbara County does not require a permit to nurse sick or injured wildlife back to health. LUDC Sec. 35.42.060(F)(5) allows wildlife species rehabilitation by right in every zone in the unincorporated county, so long as the operator stays within the standards that apply to it.
Santa Barbara County Wildlife Rehab Permits
Few RestrictionsSanta Barbara County LUDC Sec. 35.42.060(F)(5)
5.Wildlife species rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of wildlife species that commonly occur within Santa Barbara County is allowed in all zones subject to the following requirements. For the purposes of this Section, the rehabilitation of wildlife species shall mean the provision of nursing care to sick or injured wildlife prior to returning the animal to the wild.a.Permit requirements. No pe...
Animal Ordinances by City in Santa Barbara County
1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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