10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 10 cities in Ventura County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Keeping chickens and other fowl as an accessory to a home in unincorporated Ventura County is allowed under the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance, with the number tied to your zone and lot size through an animal-unit system. Roosters are separately capped, and birds must be contained on the property with required setbacks.
In unincorporated Ventura County, dogs must be securely leashed and held by a responsible person able to control the dog whenever on any public street, park, or place open to the public. Dogs are also barred from public beaches except service dogs, and owners must remove their dog's feces.
Ventura County does not ban or restrict any dog breed. California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits cities and counties from regulating dogs by breed, except for spay/neuter or breeding rules. The County instead regulates individual dogs by behavior under its potentially-dangerous and vicious-dog ordinance.
California Food & Agricultural Code § 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...
Backyard beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated Ventura County under Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance Section 8107-2.6.2. As an accessory use, generally up to four colonies are permitted on a lot of 10,000 square feet or more, with setback and location rules keeping hives a safe distance from densely built (urbanized) areas.
Exotic and wild animals are heavily restricted. California bans private possession of restricted species such as ferrets, most non-native carnivores, and many reptiles, under CCR Title 14 Section 671 and Fish & Game Code Section 2118. Ventura County also regulates wild animals through its Wild Animal Control ordinance (Article 7 of Chapter 4).
California Code of Regulations Title 14 § 671 (Restricted Species)
Restricted Species Permits are required for every person who imports, exports, transports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in Section 671(c), Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) (PDF) . Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment New: $155.53 Renewal and Amendment: $80.60 Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of an existing permit, nonrefunda...
Feeding wild animals is prohibited in Ventura County. The County advises that California law bars feeding wildlife, and Ventura County Animal Control Officers enforce those state laws. Intentionally feeding coyotes and other predators - or leaving out pet food and trash that attracts them - is discouraged and can lead to enforcement.
Keeping livestock such as horses, cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs in unincorporated Ventura County is governed by the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance's animal husbandry standards. The number of large animals allowed is tied to your zone and lot size through an animal-unit system, with required setbacks for corrals and enclosures.
Ventura County does not have a standalone 'hoarding' statute, but excessive animals are controlled through the zoning pet/animal limits and the public-nuisance ordinance. Under Section 4467, animals kept so as to disturb neighbors are a public nuisance, and state animal-cruelty law (Penal Code 597) applies when conditions threaten the animals' welfare.
Unincorporated Ventura County does not set a single flat cap on dogs or cats; the number of 'pet animals' allowed is calculated by zone and lot size under the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Sec. 8107-2.4). Keeping more than the allowed number requires a permit for additional pet animals, and excessive animals can trigger nuisance enforcement.
California has no statewide cat leash law and no flat statewide cat limit. In unincorporated Ventura County, cats are treated as 'pet animals' under the zoning ordinance's lot-size-based number system, and a cat that disturbs neighbors can be addressed as a public nuisance. Spay/neuter is required for cats over four months.
10 cities in Ventura County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
7 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
13 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
7 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
7 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
14 verified rules • Animal Hoarding, Beekeeping
6 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
6 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
6 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
6 verified rules • Beekeeping, Breed Restrictions
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