Animal Ordinances in Solano County, CA (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Solano County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Solano County, keeping chickens and other fowl is regulated through the County zoning code (Chapter 28) by district and use, while County Code Chapter 4 makes it a nuisance to let fowl or rabbits run at large or onto a neighbor's property. Animal keeping must also satisfy zoning setback and use-permit standards.
Solano County Chickens, Fowl, and Backyard Livestock
Some RestrictionsSolano County Code § 4.120(a), (d)
(a) No person shall keep, maintain or harbor five or more roosters on any property within unincorporated Solano County. This section shall not apply to commercial poultry ranches whose primary commodity is the production of eggs or meat for sale as permitted by the County, public or private schools as registered with the California Department of Education, FFA or 4-H sponsored projects, or to l...
Dog Leash Laws
Solano County bars dogs and other animals from running at large on any public street, road, alley or unenclosed lot unless restrained by leash, lead or chain, at heel beside a competent handler, or confined. Animals caught at large in a park, school or commercial district must be seized and impounded.
Solano County Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsSolano County Code Sec. 4-13
4-13 Running at large - animals (a) No owner or person having control of any animal shall suffer or permit the same, under any circumstances, to run at large in any public park or public place, or in any school or upon any school grounds, or in any commercial district as defined by this chapter; and every animal found running at large in violation of the provisions of this section shall be i...
Breed Restrictions
Solano County's animal code (Chapter 4) contains no breed-specific ban or restriction. Dangerous and vicious animals are regulated by behavior, not by breed. Under California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683, local dog-control programs cannot be breed-specific, except for spay/neuter or breeding programs allowed by Health and Safety Code section 122331.
Solano County Dog Breed Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsSolano County Code § 4-52
(a) A person who owns or keeps an animal and who allows, permits or causes the animal to be at large in or upon a public street, sidewalk, park, or other public property or in or upon the premises or private property of another person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if the animal bites, attacks or causes injury to any human being or other animal. (b) Any person convicted under this section sh...
Exotic Pets
Keeping a wild or exotic animal in unincorporated Solano County requires an annual permit from animal control plus zoning that allows the use, and any exotic animal that needs a state license must also be registered with the county's animal control division.
Solano County Wild and Exotic Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSolano County Code Sec. 4-82, Sec. 4-85(a)
4-85 License Requirements (a) No person shall maintain or operate a kennel or cattery or keep, harbor, or maintain a wild or exotic animal within the geographic area of the county governed by this chapter without first, being appropriately zoned for such activity and second, applying to and receiving from the director an annual license or permit to do so. 4-82 Exotic animals All exotic anim...
Pet Limits
Solano County Code Chapter 4 sets no fixed numeric limit on how many dogs or cats a household may keep in unincorporated areas. Instead, keeping dogs or cats over four months of age as a business, or in numbers that create a nuisance, can trigger kennel/cattery licensing or animal-nuisance rules. Dogs over four months must be licensed.
Solano County Pet Number Limits
Light RestrictionsSolano County Code § 4-85(b)-(c)
(b) A person shall be deemed to maintain or operate a commercial kennel if the person, without an applicable general business license in effect, keeps, harbors, or maintains dogs over four (4) months of age. (c) A person shall be deemed to maintain or operate a commercial cattery if the person, without an applicable general business license in effect, keeps, harbors, or maintains cats over four...
Cat Rules
Unlike dogs, cat licensing in unincorporated Solano County is optional: owners "may procure" a license rather than being required to, but any cat that is licensed must carry current rabies vaccination proof first, using the same fee and procedure as dog licenses.
Solano County Cat Licensing Rules
Light RestrictionsSolano County Code Sec. 4-142
4-142 Licensing of cats Every person owning or having control, custody or possession of any cat within the county may procure a license for such cat. The licensing procedure and times thereof shall be the same as for licensing of dogs, and the fee shall be determined and set by ordinance of the board of supervisors.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Every dog or cat adopted, purchased or rescued from the Solano County Animal Shelter must be spayed or neutered within 30 days if four months or older, or 60 days if younger, backed by a refundable deposit of up to $40 and a fine of up to $200 for noncompliance.
Solano County Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Heavy RestrictionsSolano County Code Sec. 4-180
4-180 Spaying and neutering of animals adopted from the Solano County Animal Shelter (a) No person adopting, purchasing, or rescuing a dog or cat from the Solano County Animal Shelter shall allow the dog or cat to go unspayed or unneutered. ...(c) All dogs or cats four months of age or older adopted, purchased, or rescued from the shelter will be spayed or neutered within 30 days of the d...
Microchipping
Every dog and cat adopted, released, redeemed or rescued from the Solano County Animal Shelter must be implanted with a microchip before leaving, and the owner is responsible for registering it and keeping the registration current if the animal moves.
Solano County Shelter Pet Microchip Rule
Heavy RestrictionsSolano County Code Sec. 4-183
4-183 Microchip requirement (a) For purposes of this chapter, microchip shall mean a permanent radio transponder used for identification purposes and implanted under the animals' skin by, or under the supervisor of, a licensed veterinarian or other qualified individual approved by the Director of General Services, or designee. (b) All dogs and cats adopted, released, redeemed or rescued f...
Pet Groomer Rules
A grooming parlor keeping dogs or cats over four months old counts as an "animal facility" under the county's animal code and must get a license from the animal control director before opening, on top of any general business license.
Solano County Pet Grooming Business License
Significant RestrictionsSolano County Code Sec. 4-11(c), 4-81
4-81 License required Any person owning or operating any kennel, cattery or animal facility as defined in this chapter shall obtain a license. Applications for license shall be on forms provided by the director of animal control. Any person applying for a license to operate a kennel or cattery shall pay a license fee in accordance with the fee schedule set forth by the Board of Supervisors.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics permitted as commercial service uses in unincorporated Solano County must be run by the property owner or occupant, control noise and odor, and may not incinerate refuse on-site, under Section 28.76.10(B)(1).
Solano County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsSolano County Code § 28.76.10(B)(1)
1. Animal Hospitals and Veterinary Clinics. Animal hospitals shall be operated by the property owner or occupant and shall show that adequate measures and controls shall be taken to prevent offensive noise and odor. No incineration of refuse shall be permitted on the premises.
Animal Ordinances by City in Solano County
3 cities in Solano County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Solano County ordinances
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