10 rules for unincorporated Yuba County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Yuba County's Development Code 11.32.050 counts chickens and similar birds as livestock by animal unit: 20 birds equal one animal unit. Inside the valley growth boundary, RS/RM/RH parcels allow 1 animal unit per acre (max 3 per parcel) and roosters are prohibited. Coops must sit at least 50 feet from any neighboring dwelling.
In unincorporated Yuba County, no owner may let any animal run at large on streets, public places, or another person's lot. Off its own property a dog must be either under the owner's immediate control or restrained by a leash not exceeding eight feet. Yuba County Code 8.05.310 makes a violation an infraction; Animal Care Services enforces it.
Yuba County does not ban or restrict any dog breed. Its dangerous-dog rules (Code 8.05.220 and 8.05.230) track California Food & Agricultural Code 31602 and 31603 and judge individual dogs by behavior, not breed. State law (Food & Ag Code 31683) forbids local breed-specific dog-control programs, except spay/neuter programs under Health & Safety Code 122331.
Yuba County's Development Code 11.32.050(3) prohibits keeping bees within the valley growth boundary except on existing agricultural properties, and where bees are allowed they are subject to the Agricultural Commissioner's requirements. Statewide, every apiary in California must be registered annually with the county Agricultural Commissioner under Food & Agricultural Code 29040.
Yuba County Code 8.05.115 states that possession of wild animals requires a permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Under Development Code 11.32.050(4), keeping wild animals is limited to wildlife sanctuaries or rehabilitation facilities that hold an administrative use permit plus required licenses from Animal Care Services and Fish & Wildlife.
Yuba County's animal code has no ordinance dedicated to feeding deer, bears, or other wildlife, and its Animal Care Officer has no authority over animals under U.S. Wildlife Services or California Fish & Wildlife (Code 8.05.070). Statewide, California law (Fish & Game Code 4181.1 / Title 14 CCR) prohibits intentionally feeding big game such as deer and bears.
Yuba County's Development Code 11.32.050 sets livestock limits by animal unit: 1 horse/cow = 1 AU, 2 swine = 1 AU, 4 sheep/goats = 1 AU. Within the valley growth boundary, residential parcels allow 1 AU per acre. Code 8.05.390 requires substantial fencing, and 8.05.310 bars livestock running at large except on open range.
Yuba County has no ordinance using the word 'hoarding,' but addresses it through several rules: the public-nuisance animal provision (Code 8.05.210), animal-neglect rule (Code 8.05.340), zoning pet and animal-unit limits (Development Code 11.32.050), and kennel permits. State Penal Code 597 cruelty law also applies. Excess animals or unsanitary conditions can be abated and animals impounded.
Yuba County's Development Code 11.32.050(5) caps dogs over four months by zone: RS/RM/RH allow up to 4 per unit; rural and agricultural zones allow up to 6 under 5 acres and up to 8 over 5 acres. Larger numbers up to 15-20 require a hobby-kennel use permit. The county sets no numeric cap on cats.
Yuba County does not license cats or cap how many you may keep. Code 8.05.080 states the animal-care chapter does not regulate domestic cats except for disease-control provisions. There is no cat leash or at-large law, though the spay/neuter-on-adoption rules in Code 8.05.400 and the general nuisance and neglect rules still apply to cats.
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