11 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Sutter County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Sutter County allows backyard chicken hens in residential zones under its Zoning Code, but roosters are prohibited in those districts and the number of small animals is capped. Agricultural and ranchette zones have far broader allowances, while standard residential lots are limited.
Sutter County Zoning Code Sec. 1500-06-030(G)(2)-(3)
Hens and Similar Animals. Up to 10 hens (no roosters), rabbits, guinea pigs or similar small animals for home enjoyment or consumption are allowed in the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 districts, subject to item 3 below. ... Odor and Vector Control - All outdoor animal enclosures, including but not limited to pens, coops, cages and feed areas shall be maintained free from litter, garbage and the accumu...
California has no statewide leash law, so control of dogs at large in unincorporated Sutter County is handled through the county animal code and zoning rules requiring animals to be contained on the owner's property. Dogs may not run free, chase people, or create a nuisance, and Sutter Animal Services Authority enforces these standards.
Sutter County Code Sec. 800-220(a)
[It shall be unlawful to permit such dog] (a) In or upon any public street or other public place in the County or in or upon any property belonging to the County unless such dog is restrained by a leash and is under the complete control of the person owning or at the time in possession of such dog. Such leash shall not be more than eight feet in length.
Sutter County does not impose breed-specific bans; California state law generally preempts breed-based dog restrictions. Instead, dangerous and vicious dogs are handled case-by-case under the California Food & Agricultural Code, with Sutter Animal Services Authority investigating bites and dangerous-dog complaints.
California Food & Agricultural Code Sec. 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 as prov...
No beekeeping-specific ordinance was found in Sutter County's published animal regulations for the unincorporated area. Beekeeping is generally treated as an agricultural activity and is most clearly allowed in agricultural, ranchette, and estate residential zones, while California requires beekeepers to register hives with the county agricultural commissioner.
Sutter County Zoning Code Secs. 1500-03-040(H)(1), 1500-06-030(G)
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry. Includes aviaries, bee keeping, fish farms, grazing, livestock pasturing, and similar uses, does not include uses defined under "Intensive Animal Operations" (1500-03-040(J)). ... Animal Keeping. Animal husbandry including the keeping of animals such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, hogs, chickens, rabbits, birds, etc. is permitted in the RAN, ER, and where the Ag...
Exotic and wild animals in unincorporated Sutter County are governed primarily by California's restricted-species law rather than a local ordinance. The state prohibits possessing many non-domestic animals, including big cats, primates, ferrets, hedgehogs, and sugar gliders, without a state permit that is not issued for pet ownership.
No Sutter County ordinance specifically banning the feeding of wildlife was found for the unincorporated area. Feeding wild animals can still trigger the county's nuisance-animal provisions if it attracts pests or disturbs neighbors, and California law restricts feeding certain wildlife such as big game and predators.
Livestock keeping in unincorporated Sutter County is set by the Zoning Code. Large animals like cattle, horses, and hogs are permitted in agricultural, ranchette, and estate residential areas, with a density of two large animals per 10,000 square feet in the Agriculture Combining District. Standard residential lots are far more limited.
Sutter County Zoning Code Sec. 1500-06-030(G)
Animal Keeping. Animal husbandry including the keeping of animals such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, hogs, chickens, rabbits, birds, etc. is permitted in the RAN, ER, and where the Agriculture Combining District has been applied. Within the Agriculture Combining District, the keeping of large animals such as cattle, horses and hogs shall be permitted at a density of two such animals per 10,0...
Animal hoarding and neglect in unincorporated Sutter County are addressed primarily through California's animal-cruelty law and the county's nuisance and pet-limit rules. Sutter Animal Services Authority can investigate, and officers may seize animals in immediate danger under state law, with offenders facing misdemeanor or felony charges.
In unincorporated Sutter County, the Zoning Code limits standard residential lots to a combined total of four dogs, cats, or similar household pets. Small animals such as hens and rabbits have a separate combined cap of 12, while the Ranchette district has no household-pet number limit.
Sutter County Zoning Code Sec. 1500-06-030(G)(1)
Domestic Pets. In the ER, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 Districts, up to any total combination of four dogs, cats or other similar and common household pets are allowed. No limitation on the number of domestic pets is applied to the RAN District. Except for in the ER and RAN districts, no hoofed animals are permitted in the Residential Districts, except up to two pot bellied pigs are allowed as pets.
Cats are not required to be licensed in unincorporated Sutter County, where only dogs need licenses. Cats still count toward the residential household-pet limit of four, and owners must keep animals contained and avoid creating nuisances under the county's animal and zoning rules.
Sutter County does not require privately owned dogs or cats to be spayed or neutered. Only animals adopted out by the shelter must be sterilized, as required by California state law and implemented in County Code Sections 800-230 and 800-370.
California Food & Agricultural Code Sec. 30503(a)
[N]o public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away to a new owner any dog that has not been spayed or neutered.
1 cities in Sutter County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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