10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Cruz County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, keeping chickens and other small animals is governed by the County zoning code (Ch. 13.10) and depends on zone and parcel size. The County Animal Shelter states small animals such as fowl and rabbits are allowed in single-family residential on lots of 6,000 to 15,000 sq ft at roughly one animal per 1,000 sq ft.
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, a dog off its owner's premises must be under actual physical restraint or control, such as a leash, tether, or in the grasp of a competent person, under County Code Chapter 6.12. A dog not restrained that way is an 'animal at large.'
Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 contains no breed-specific ban (no pit bull or other breed prohibition). Dangerous dogs are regulated by behavior, not breed: any 'vicious animal' under Code 6.12.140 may be ordered confined. California Food & Agricultural Code 31683 also bars breed-specific laws that are not breed-neutral on the dangerous-dog issue itself.
Beekeeping in the unincorporated county is governed by zoning. The County Animal Shelter states no bees are permitted in single-family or multiple-residential zones, while bees are allowed in agricultural-residential zones with a discretionary (level 5) permit. Apiculture is treated as an agricultural use under County Zoning Code Ch. 13.10.
County Code 6.12.150 prohibits possessing, keeping, or controlling any animal of a 'wild species' as defined in California Fish & Game Code 2118 anywhere in the unincorporated county. The Animal Shelter likewise states no exotic (zoo-type) animals are permitted in residential zones. California also bars common 'exotic pets' like ferrets and hedgehogs.
Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 contains no general ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife such as deer in the unincorporated county. The only feeding-with-conditions rule is for feral cat colonies (Code 6.10.040). California law separately makes it unlawful to feed big-game mammals like deer (Cal. Code of Regs. Title 14, 251.3).
Livestock keeping in the unincorporated county is governed by zoning (Ch. 13.10) and depends on parcel size. The County Animal Shelter states a maximum of about two horses per acre is allowed (a discretionary permit applies in some residential zones), and farm animals other than horses are generally limited to rural and agricultural zones by acreage.
Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 has no statute titled 'hoarding,' but it controls excessive-animal situations through zoning pet limits (5+ dogs/cats is a kennel), care-and-housing standards, and a cruelty provision. Code 6.24.030 authorizes Animal Services to stop cruelty as defined in California Penal Code 599b; California Penal Code 597 and 597.1 also reach neglect.
Pet limits in the unincorporated county depend on zone. Per the County Animal Shelter: single-family residential allows up to 2 dogs and 2 cats; multiple-residential up to 1 dog and 2 cats; and rural-residential and agricultural-residential up to 4 dogs or cats, no more than 4 total. Five or more dogs/cats is a kennel.
Cats over six months in the unincorporated county must be spayed or neutered under County Code 6.10.030 unless the owner holds an unaltered-animal certification. Feeding a feral/community cat colony requires registering with Animal Services and following trapping, sterilization, testing, and vaccination conditions (Code 6.10.040). Pet limits allow up to 2 cats in most residential zones.
1 cities in Santa Cruz County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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